Warsaw’s Pam Miller looks to get past the defense of Skylar Axsom of Elkhart Memorial Wednesday night. Miller had 11 points and eight rebounds in a 45-44 Warsaw win in overtime.

ELKHART –  Pam Miller wanted be at the line with the game on the line Wednesday night.

The Warsaw senior stepped up and made the most of the moment too.

Miller calmly drained two free throws with 5.5 second to play in overtime to lift the Tigers to a huge 45-44 win at Elkhart Memorial.

The Northern Lakes Conference nail biter, the second league win on the road in an extra session in the last five days for Warsaw, was still not decided.

Sophomore Dayton Groninger, who led Warsaw with a game-high 16 points, then deflected not one but two Memorial inbounds pass attempts. The second one turned into a Warsaw steal as the final horn sounded.

“It was really good to be in that spot and a humbling achievement for me to make those free throws,” said Miller. “I missed from the line last year in the sectional in our loss to Northridge. I said if I was ever in that situation again that I would make them.

“My Dad and I have practiced those kind of situations. There was no chance that those were not going in tonight. It feels so good to win these last two NLC games at Northridge and Memorial in overtime. But. what I’m really excited about is the potential this team has.”

Miller finished with 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds. It was her final rebound of the night that mattered the most as she corralled her own miss with 5.5 seconds to play and then was fouled to get to the line for the game winning charity tosses.

Pam Miller eyes the game winning free throw with 5.5 seconds to play in overtime for Warsaw at Elkhart Memorial Wednesday night.

“The thing with Pam is that she’s a winner and a com[petitor,” said Warsaw coach Michelle Harter. “She does what we need for us to be successful as a team. She’s taken it upon herself to have confidence at the line and that’s great leadership. She is not starting for us now, but the last two games have been two of her best of the season and that’s exactly what you want as a coach from a senior leader.”

Memorial took a 44-42 lead with 3:12 to play in overtime on a driving bucket by freshman Sierra Peete. Warsaw cut the lead to 44-43 as Groninger hit 1-2 free throws with 1:56 left. The hosts then had a crucial turnover on a traveling call with 1:38 remaining. After a timeout by Harter, Warsaw drained the clock until Miller was fouled on her outback attempt with just 5.5 ticks on the clock.

Warsaw, which won 37-35 at Northridge Saturday night in overtime, improves to 10-7 overall. The Tigers are 3-1 in the NLC and still in contention for the league title. NorthWood leads the NLC at 3-0. Warsaw still has NLC games at home versus Goshen on Saturday and at Concord and at NorthWood.

Memorial used a 12-2 first-quarter run to lead 15-7 after the opening period. The Crimson Chargers led 25-19 at halftime and stretched their lead to 35-25 late in the third period. Warsaw closed the third quarter with a key 7-0 run, keyed by a three-point play by Madi Graham, to get within 35-32.

Memorial led 42-40 on a hoop by Skylar Axsom with 1:32 left in the final period.  Peete then missed a free throw with 1:05 left after a Waraw turnover. Miller then hit a layup with 45 seconds to go to tie the game at 42-42. Both teams had final chances to take the lead but Peete missed a driving layip with 30 seconds left and Groninger missed two free throws with 3.8 seconds left in regulation.

“We just wanted to play good defense and not foul them,” said Groninger of the frantic final 5.5 seconds of overtime. “After I deflected the first pass, I had confidence I could get the second one too. We are playing well as a team and doing the little things to help us win these close games lately.”

Dayton Groninger scored a game-high 16 points and two huge defensive deflections late in overtime for the Tigers.

“We put Dayton on the ball on those final two inbounds plays because she has long arms and reads those plays well,” Harter explained. “She listened and went out and executed what we wanted her to do.

“These girls are winners. They have a winning mentality. Down the stretch these last two games, they have not panicked and have picked each other up. That impresses me for such a young team. Road wins are difficult to come by and they have kept their composure and stepped up at the end when we needed them to.”

Memorial, which saw its four-game win streak snapped, drops to 7-8 overall and 2-2 in the NLC. The Chargers were hurt by the offensive rebounding of the much taller Tigers and at the line, where they were outscored 19-11.

“I could point to 1,000 things, but they pounded us on the boards and there’s the story,” said Memorial coach Steve Scott. “We basically controlled the game, but our tallest player I start is 5-8 and rebounding is definitely not our strength. I’m happier than hell with our defense. We have struggled to score all year.

“I would have love to have won this game, but I’m not down about it. I’m happy with where we are at right now. I’m playing four freshmen in our top 7-8 players.”

Senior Vicki Harris protects the ball for Warsaw.

Graham had eight points and Erin Clemens four for Warsaw.

Junior Adreana Jones led Memorial with 15 points. Peete had 11 points and junior Alexsis Miller 10.

Warsaw won the junior varsity game 29-20. Maryann Marandet led the JV Tigers with 10 points in the victory.

Warsaw hosts Goshen Saturday night and Memorial plays at Wawasee Saturday afternoon in NLC games.