Warsaw, North Central a contrast in styles

Formal introductions won’t be necessary when Warsaw and Indianapolis North Central get together Saturday night at Conseco Fieldhouse. Although they haven’t officially met since the 1997-98 campaign (an 86-69 North Central win), the two schools did face off at a team camp last June at Purdue University with North Central coming out on top again. High school’s top prize is on the line when No. 6 Warsaw (23-2) meets North Central (24-3) for the Class 4-A state basketball championship around 8:30 p.m. Making it back to Indianapolis for the first time since 1996 has been no walk in the park for Warsaw. Winners of the 1984 state crown, the Tigers have had to battle back from second half deficits in three of their five postseason victories. It won’t get any easier against the Panthers, who average 78.5 points per contest, while allowing 54.5. In comparison, Warsaw is scoring 60 points and giving up 50. “Their team depth is unlike anything we have seen this season,” said Warsaw coach Doug Ogle. “They come at you with 10 or 11 guys that all have very good scoring power. The fact they are also very big, strong, and highly-skilled means we’ll definitely have our hands full.” North Central, back to the finale for the first time since 2007 (losing to East Chicago Central), has been led by 6-3 senior Terone Johnson (21.3 points per game) and 6-4 sophomore D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera (17.5 points, 6.1 rebounds). Johnson, a strong Mr. Basketball candidate and Purdue recruit, is a two-time Metropolitan Conference and Marion County player of the year. “Between Johnson and Smith-Rivera, you might have not only the best backcourt in the state of Indiana, but in the United States,” Ogle said. “We need to hope that one of them shoots poorly and that we can keep it to a low possession game. If we can keep the score in the 50s, I believe we have a chance. If the game gets into the 60s or 70s, then we will be in a lot of trouble. We just don’t have the depth or manpower to keep up with them.” Other players of interest for the Panthers include sophomores Ronnie Johnson (9.4 ppg) and Patrick Ingram (6.1 ppg). “Our strength has definitely been in our numbers,” said North Central coach Doug Mitchell. “Johnson and Smith-Rivera are our main guys, but everyone we put out there has the ability to contribute offensively. We are an uptempo team that likes to press and create points from our defense.” Warsaw’s 5-9 junior point guard Nic Moore is averaging 21 points, 5.2 assists, and 3.9 rebounds. “Warsaw is a tough team that will generally not beat themselves,” Mitchell said. “They have two accomplished players in Moore and (Justin) Clemens that both have the capability of taking over a game. They (Warsaw) are extremely well coached and very efficient on both ends of the floor.” In addition to the 6-3 senior Clemens (12.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg), Warsaw has gotten solid production from sophomores, 6-5 Lucas Grose (9.1 ppg, 6.6 rpg), and 6-3 Jordyn Coon (6.6 ppg). “I think having played them last summer will help in our preparation,” said Moore. “They’ve definitely got a lot of athletic players, but we’ve proven this season we can play and compete with anyone we go up against.’’ Staff writer Matt Kopsea: mkopsea@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6315