Seniors, Second-Half Surge Earn Tigers Title
GOSHEN – There was no containing the post game smile covering the face of Erin Clemens Monday night.
Just as there was no containing the Warsaw senior and her teammates from taking home a sectional championship.
Clemens led the way as the Tigers earned a hard-fought 39-33 victory over host Goshen in the title game of the Class 4-A Goshen Sectional.
Clemens scored five key points in the final frame as Warsaw held off the Redskins to win the 17th sectional title in program history.
“This means everything,” said Clemens as she waited to cut down her piece of the championship net. “This is what we have worked so hard for. It was our goal every day and now all the hard work has paid off for us.”
Clemens becomes the fourth member of her outstanding hoops family to help Warsaw claim sectional hardware. Her father Gordy helped the Tigers win a sectional title in 1976 and then older brothers Colin and Justin were part of sectional title teams in 2006 and 2010 respectively.
Clemens led Warsaw with 12 points and eight rebounds in the nip-and-tuck physical affair. Sophomore Dayton Groninger scored eight points and Jodie Carlson gave her team a huge lift with seven clutch points off the bench in a great effort by the senior.
Warsaw (15-10) advances to play No. 9 Merrillville (19-7) Saturday in the second semifinal game of the LaPorte Regional at approximately 12:30 EST. Merrillville drubbed Valparaiso 65-37 Monday night in the title game of the Michigan City Sectional. No. 5 Penn (22-4) meets No. 7 Lake Central (22-3) in the first semifinal game on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. EST at LaPorte. Penn beat Mishawaka 66-25 to win the Plymouth Sectional and Lake Central topped East Chicago Central 72-48 to win the Lowell Sectional Monday night.
The regional title game is set for Saturday at 8:30 p.m. EST.
The Tigers used a big second-half effort to net their second sectional title in the past three years.
The game was tied at 10-10 after the opening quarter and at 20-20 at halftime as Goshen hit 9-11 free throws and three huge treys in the opening half.
Goshen, which lost 44-37 at Warsaw back on Jan. 17, took a 22-20 lead with 5:00 to play in the third quarter on a rebound bucket by Olivia Love.
The Tigers then answered the call with a 14-1 run to take their biggest lead of the game at 34-23 with 4:55 to play in the contest. Everyone got into the act for the champions in the biggest stretch of the game as Pam Miller scored four points, Groninger hit a huge triple, Carlson scored on a sweet drive to the tin, Vicki Harris hit a layup and Clemens converted a three-point play on a rebound putback and a free throw.
“It was 0-0 at halftime and we were starting over,” said sophomore Groninger. “We had to slow down, look to the post and get nice shots and we did that. In the first half, I think it was nerves. We just had to figure it out.
“This feels great, fantastic. Moving on past sectionals was one of our goals.”
The Redskins, who finish at 11-13, did not go quietly. The hosts, thanks to a pair of clutch 3-pointers by junior Tahya Bruce, pulled within 35-31 with 1:04 to play on a trey by Bruce. The Tigers then turned the ball over, but Ashton Ellis missed a shot for Goshen. Madi Graham and Clemens then each hit two free throws in the final 38.9 seconds to seal the deal for the Tigers.
“We talked at halftime about that we were playing as five individuals out there,” said Warsaw coach Michelle Harter. “We needed to play as one unit and the girls did that in the second half. They did a tremendous job on defense. They pressured more and got their hands in the passing lanes.
“We got on that run and relaxed on offense. In the first half, we were not attacking and not going up strong.
“We knew that whoever we played in the sectional that it would be a dogfight. Early on this season we would not have made the little plays to win the two tough games that we did in the sectional the last week.
“This senior group has just been tremendous. They have taken advantage of their opportunity this year. I knew they would not go down without a fight. These seniors are the type of kids that you have to have in your program.
c”Erin was strong tonight and finished. She also got to the free throw line which is big for us. She’s a great free throw shooter. Jodie gave us a great spark off the bench. She’s our utility player. She does whatever we need. Our seniors just want the ball in pressure situations. That says a lot about them. They are winners.”
Warsaw shot 12-29 from the field, including 2-5 on threes, and were 13-19 at the line. Goshen finished just 9-33 from the field, including 5-17 on threes. The hosts were 10-19 from the line, but just 1-8 in the second half when they also had nine of their 10 turnovers for the game.
Senior Pam Miller had six points and a game-high nine rebounds for the champs. Sophomores Madi Graham and Mariah Rivera and senior Harris each had two points. Graham also had six key rebounds and three assists.
Bruce, who played at Warsaw last year, led Goshen with 13 points. Sophomore Ellis and sophomore Aylissa Trosper each had five points and Love four points and eight rebounds.
The Redskins, who started all underclassmen Monday night for coach Lenny Krebs, lose three seniors in Yadira Cabrales, Alexis Stevens and Macie Miller.