(photo courtesy Warsaw Tigers athletics)

(New Castle) — Warsaw’s girls basketball team beat Norwell in the second game of the season, but since then, the Knights have ascended to the top spot in the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association poll.

Monday night, the Tigers proved that November win was no fluke.

Lenny Krebs’ third-ranked squad forced officials to use a running clock in the second half, as they took #1 Norwell to the woodshed in a 71-37 whipping in the finals of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame Classic at Chrysler Arena in New Castle.

Miami University commit Brooke Zartrman earned MVP honors, while teammates Joslyn Bricker and Alexis Neely joined her on the all-tournament team. Bricker, a Butler commit, led the Tigers with 25 points, while Zartman tallied 19 and Neely chipped in 14. Reagan Huss also added 11.

The Tigers jumped to an 11-0 lead in the championship game and never looked back, raising their record to 13-1 on the season. The only loss was a 64-59 defeat to Jennings County on Nov. 22

Warsaw will unquestionably rise in next week’s rankings, but will they soar past Indianapolis Pike, currently ranked ahead of the Tigers?  That remains to be seen.

Sports Michiana viewers can see Warsaw’s girls play on January 10 when they face #14 Northridge in a key Northern Lakes Conference game.