Warsaw Survives In OT
ST. JOHN – Warsaw is proving it has some ice water in its veins. And mettle on opponents courts.
Playing in a hostile, unfamiliar environment Friday night, a rare matchup had Warsaw win at Lake Central 42-38 in overtime in another earmark win for the Tiger boys basketball program.
Kyle Mangas made up for a missed free throw late in regulation by canning a pair with less than 10 seconds go to, and Paul Marandet iced the game with two freebies as the Tigers move to 6-0 on the season. Mangas finished with a team-high 18 points while Marandet concluded with 12 points. The two added 17 rebounds, six assists and five steals, Marandet playing the entire 36 minutes, Mangas sitting for just 38 seconds.
The pair were also sparking from the free throw line, making 14-15 attempts. No other Tiger attempted a free throw on the night.
Mangas’ final free throws put Warsaw up five in the overtime session, but Gage Ray hit his seventh three-pointer of the night with five seconds left to cut the lead to two. Marandet’s successful tosses sent the Tigers to its second road win in as many nights and second overtime win of the season, the first a one-point, double overtime escape job at Columbia City in November.
Jeremy David added six points and three rebounds for Warsaw, scoring a key bucket late in the game to give the Tigers the lead.
Ray finished with 21 points for the Indians. Norell Smith had five points, nine rebounds and three steals for Lake Central, which drops to 2-3 this season.
In the JV game, a hot start from Lake Central propelled them to a 41-37 win over Warsaw. A 17-4 lead to open the game was enough for Lake Central, which had Justin Graciano score 16 points and Conner Tomasic add 14 points. Landen Ferber was the high man for Warsaw with nine points and Jack Rhoades tossed in eight points.
The freshman contest went to Lake Central in a 40-37 final. Nolan Groninger led Warsaw with 18 points and Tyler Metzinger chimed in with nine points.
The Tigers will have a week off before hosting Wawasee at the Tiger Den next Friday in the Northern Lakes Conference opener for both clubs.