The Mail-Journal, Volume 20, Number 6, Milford, Kosciusko County, 23 February 1983 — Page 34

Can Anyone Beat Warsaw ?

By GARY LEWIS Everything looks to be in order for the Warsaw Tiger basketball program to make a complete turnaround from last season’s 4-18 mark. Coach Al Rhodes’ basketball team got the all-important break in the sectional draw. His team will only have to play two games to win the sectional crown. Wawasee, the favorite in the five-team field, will have to go the distance requiring three games if the defending sectional champions are to repeat this season. Warsaw has beaten every team in the tourney this season, downing Wawasee 59-55 there, Rochester 82-69 at home, Tippecanoe Valley 73-70 on the road and Triton 70-55 at home. When the Tigers take on Triton in the second game Friday night, coach Al Rhodes will be looking to his talented guards and dependable big people to do the job. Tournament experience will be a big plus for the Tigers going into the sectional. Starting center John

• Warsaw 1982-83 Team Stats: <i FGA FGM FG% FTA FTM FT% TP AVG. ■ 1903 419 46 374 223 60 1061 62.411, i Warsaw ii 11 Season Record |1 I I _ . 110-7) w II ■ | Opponent Warsaw II LaSalle 64 60 11 11 Concord 60 64 11 ’! Huntington 46 51 I1 11 Goshen ' 59 48 11 Wawasee 55 59 11 11 South Bend Adams 60 50 11 j | Rochester 69 82 11 11 Tippecanoe Valley 70 73 11 Penn 46 44 11 ■' Columbia City 36 53 11 II North Wood 54 57 ][ I Whitko 76 64 ‘ | I Bremen 63 60 11 * 'Elkhart Memorial 95 101 11 I Plymouth 68 56 11 l Triton 55 70 11 l Waslnngton 56 J 1

Good Luck! Tigers Rogers TV Sales & Service, Inc. SHARP ZENITH G,BSON 216 Market St. 267-4408 Warsaw (fa™') 302 W. Market 2101 E. Center /Mason Health tare Facility y Go, Tigers, Go! j■.. ' ■ ■ 267-6611 2501 E. Center Warsaw

Snyder was a member of the 1980-81 final four team and as a senior leader, he’ll be a soothing influence on the team. The rest of the team, which includes seven seniors, is loaded with sectional tournament experience. So the Warsaw regulars should be well prepared for the psychological pressures of the tournament. t The season has been an up and down one for coach Rhodes, but the Tigers believe one facet of their game remains intact — defense. “Looking over the season, if there’s one thing that has helped the most it would be our defense more than anything else. For most of the season, we felt we’ve been a pretty good defensive team.” Defense is one aspect Rhodes will not change when sectional action begins next week. He’ll stay with his basic man-to-man coverage, no matter who the Tigers play On offense, the biggest switch this season has been the Tigers ability to run with the basketball. “We’ve been

able to come up with a lot more fast break baskets than we’d normally get here in the past. We try to push the ball up the court a lot more,” said Rhodes. Warsaw’s strong inside game and cunning defense is a major reason the Tigers are able to run the fast break. While Warsaw has . won some track meets with their fast-breaking style, the Tigers have also been involved in several lowscoring contests. “The amount you can push the ball up the court depends on the rebounding, the other team missing shots, and how many steals you can come up with,” said Rhodes. The change has resulted in some big dividends for the Tigers, and Rhodes will probably turn his kids loose at any opportunity in the sectional. One of the luxuries for Warsaw is versatility. With a front line of 6-5, 6-7 and 6-3, the Tigers own a solid height advantage over most of the tournament field. Another factor to consider, according to Rhodes, has been the team’s improvement from last season and throughout this season. Coming back from a dismal four-win season a year ago, the Tigers will be hungry for sectional success again. “I believe we’re a lot better basketball team than a year ago,” he said. Rhodes said two factors make this year’s team a big improvement over last season’s. The guard play of Tod Ritchison, a 5-9 senior, and Jeff Grose, a 6-1 sophomore, has been splendid at times. Rhodes is pleased with the unusual senior-sophomore tandem. Mixing a senior with an underclassman is a difficult task, but Rhodes believes he has succeeded. Snyder’s play in the middle for Warsaw is another positive trend. At 67, Snyder can play the inside as well as any big man in the tournament field. He averages 12 a game and 12 carems per contest. His play inside has keyed several

• DePuy P.O. Box 988 (219) 267-8143 Warsaw Good Luck Team BIXEL PAINT CORP. Phone 267-8641 513-17 W. Market Warsaw Good Luck In The Sectional Warsaw Tigers ( zimmer \ / WARSAW INDIANA 46580

pMbW . - urn—

wins this season for the Tigers. Maybe the most important factor in Rhodes mind has been the overall team improvement. “We have been improving throughout the season. All of the improvement has not necessarily channeled into wins, because we play a very tough schedule,” he said. Despite the Tigers dominance this season over the teams in the tournament, Rhodes said the tourney field is well-balanced. “I think there’s a good deal of balance... I think Wawasee, with the quality of basketball

they’ve played, would have to be the favorite going into the sectional, ’’said Rhodes. Looking at the Warriors overall record, including the

Tiiikey Oil Company <PHiIUPS> <241 nsn hour citgo EMERGENCY SERVICE Phone 267-8316 715 W. Market Box 1251 Warsaw Best Wishes To Warsaw Tigers In The Sectional Tourney BUFFALO STREET DRY CLEANERS FULL LAUNDRY SERVICE Shirt laundry Drapery Socialist DryCltaning Uniform t linen Rental 211 South Buffalo Street — Warsaw Phone: 267-5233 Rex Wildman Brent Wildman Pick-Up & Delivery Service

team’s 59-55 loss to Warsaw, and in the NLC, Wawasee’s young team is a natural (Continued on next page)