Nikki Grose had 20 points as Warsaw topped Elkhart Memorial in the sectional opener Tuesday night at Northridge.

MIDDLEBURY – Nikki Grose admitted she was long on motivation Tuesday night.

That, in turn, made it one long night for first-round sectional opponent Elkhart Memorial.

Warsaw standout Grose turned in an outstanding all-around effort as the defending sectional champion Tigers crushed the Crimson Chargers in the opening game of the Class 4-A Northridge Sectional.

Senior star Grose doubled her fun with 20 points and 10 rebounds as Warsaw rolled to a 59-24 win.

Junior Pam Miller had nine points and senior Eryn Leek eight as Warsaw improved to 10-9. The Tigers have now won eight of their last 10 games since starting the season 2-7.

Senior Khadijah Moore led Memorial, which finishes 6-11, with 10 points.

The Tigers earn a spot versus host Northridge (16-4) at 6 p.m. Friday in the first semifinal game. Warsaw edged the Raiders 30-28 in their Northern Lakes Conference meeting on Jan. 11 at Warsaw.

Concord (8-12) will face Goshen (10-10) in the second semifinal Friday night at approximately 7:30 p.m. The Minutemen beat Elkhart Central 43-40 in the second game Tuesday night. The sectional title tilt is set for Saturday at 7 p.m.

Warsaw, which had not played since beating NorthWood on Feb. 3, also earns an NLC win for its victory Tuesday night. Due to inclement weather forcing their regular-season meeting to be postponed twice the last two weeks, the sectional contest also counted as a league game. The Tigers finish at 5-2 in the NLC, tied for second place with NorthWood and Plymouth and a game behind league champion Northridge (6-1).

Grose, who helped the Tigers reach the semi state a year ago, admitted that she had a little extra incentive Tuesday thanks to some fodder on social media offered up by Memorial star Khadijah Moore. The Crimson Charger star, who will play at Ball State, finished with a team-high 10 points on 4-16 shooting Tuesday night.

“I had some extra motivation,” said Grose, who was 9-11 from the field. “We wanted to make sure we where she (Moore) was on the floor tonight and find her. We wanted to frustrate her. The boards were key tonight because that is where Memorial scores its points. I know that I have to step up and make plays for us. The game Friday night with Northridge will come down to who wants it more.”

Eryn Leek moves the ball up court for Warsaw Tuesday night.

Warsaw, once it got rolling Tuesday night, was never challenged. The Tigers broke the scoreless start just over three minutes into the contest and led 14-5 after the opening period. Memorial did not score its first points of the game until Moore hit a 3-pointer with 1:35 to play in the first quarter.

Grose, a 6-0 center who will play at Indiana Tech, netted 14 points in the opening half as the Tigers led 31-6 at intermission. Leek also outscored Memorial herself with all eight of her points in the first half. Memorial shot just 2-15 from the field in the first half, while Warsaw was 13-25.

“We wanted to come out tonight and play a solid, all-around game on both ends and the girls did an excellent job,” said Warsaw coach Michelle Harter. “We wanted to not allow Moore easy looks and frustrate her. Our girls did a great job being focused on defense.  We wanted to make them play against our half court defense and keep them off the offensive boards.

“Nikki just stepped up and played huge tonight. This is what she is capable of and what you want to see from your senior leader in the sectional. It’s reminiscent of what she did for us last year in the tournament.

“It was just a complete team effort by everyone. Eryn Leek did a tremendous job hitting shots and getting the ball where it needed to be on offense. Brooklyn Harrison did a great job defensively.

“We know that Northridge is a very sound team. We have to come out Friday night and be patient and take care of the ball. We have to do a lot of the same things that we did tonight, but even at a higher level.”

Pam Miller focuses on a free throw for the Tigers.

Senior Brooklyn Harrison had seven points and six assists for Warsaw. Junior Erin Clemens and freshman Dayton Groninger each scored four points, freshman Madi Graham drained a trey for three points and juniors Jodie Carlson and Vicki Harris each had two points.

The Tigers shot 23-42 overall from the field, including 5-14 on 3-pointers. Warsaw had nine turnovers.

Memorial was 9-35 from the field, including 4-15 on trey tries, and had 20 turnovers.

Warsaw, which also defeated Memorial in the sectional a year ago, had a commanding 28-21 edge in the rebounding department.

The Chargers lose three seniors in Moore, Kacey Jackson and Hannah Dillman, all who started Tuesday night for coach Steve Scott’s squad.

Brooklyn Harrison looks to attack for Warsaw Tuesday night versus Elkhart Memorial.