DUNLAP - For 16 minutes, it looked like Northridge had solved the Warsaw puzzle that eluded 21 other teams this season.

Faced with what Concord coach Dan Ross had called a “three-headed monster,” the Raiders collapsed on 6-foot-1 Nikki Grose in the post, swarmed Jennifer Walker-Crawford when she penetrated the lane. and kept Lindsay Baker at bay from long range.

Northridge held Warsaw to two points and 1-10 shooting in the second quarter.

But for as aggressive as they were on defense, the physically imposing Tigers kept Northridge away from the basket on offense. Though Northridge held on to a 15-14 lead at the half, coach Doug Springer knew Warsaw’s best eight minutes were yet to come.

“Warsaw lately has been having a big third quarter and we talked about coming out and expecting them to pick up the pressure and really get after the rebounds,” Springer said.

“Obviously our 5-9 kids compared to their 6-1 kids ... We put an awful lot of effort into that first half but then their strength and size took over in that third quarter.”

Warsaw (22-1) outscored Northridge 14-3 in the third quarter and went on to win its first sectional championship since 2004, 46-35.

Haley Schrock’s trio of 3-pointers and game-high 15 total points kept the Raiders (19-5) alive in the fourth quarter but weren’t enough to quiet Baker, who scored 11 of her 13 points in the second half.

Schrock and her sister Madison graduate Northridge as the winningest senior class in school girls’ basketball history, Springer said. When the Schrock sisters, who had battled for a combined 15 fourth-quarter points, were finally yanked in the waning seconds of the game, they were greeted with a hug from Springer and a standing ovation from the crowd.

“I just told them I loved them,” Springer said. “I thanked them for putting our program on their back and really bringing us to state recognition and on the cusp of two sectional championships. Words can’t describe what those two mean to me and my family. They’re just two special, special girls.”

Though Northridge ends its second straight sectional championship loss, Springer said he wouldn’t want to be on any other sideline.

“For a group of girls who aren’t very tall ... Our kids really put forth the effort,” he said. “They really fought. I wouldn’t go to war with another group other than the kids that are in that locker room.”

4A Concord Sectional
Championship
Warsaw 46, Northridge 35
Warsaw — Sarah Ray 1-3 0-0 3, Melanie Holladay 2-8 1-3 5, Eryn Leek 1-4 3-4 6, Jennifer Walker-Crawford 3-5 3-4 9, Lindsay Baker 5-12 2-2 13, Brooklyn Harrison 1-3 2-5 4, Nikki Grose 2-4 2-6 6. Totals: 15-39 (.385) 13-24 (.542) 46.
Northridge — Brianne O’Dell 0-3 0-0 0, Morgan Miller 2-3 0-0 4, Haley Schrock 5-11 2-2 15, Madison Schrock 2-10 0-0 5, Ellie Lengacher 0-2 0-0 0, Mikela Zook 1-1 1-2 3, Taylor Miller 2-7 2-4 8, Molly Bontrager 0-0 0-0 0, Kim Swank 0-0 0-0 0, Keianna Yoder 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 12-37 (.324) 5-8 (.625) 35.
Scoring By Quarters
Warsaw 12 2 14 18 — 46
Northridge 10 5 3 17 — 35
3-point goals: Warsaw (3-12) — Leek, Ray, Baker; Northridge (6-18) — H. Schrock 3, Miller 2, M. Schrock.
Rebounds: Warsaw (29) — Grose 12; Northridge (27) — H. Schrock 6, M. Schrock 6.
Assists: Warsaw (10) — Grose 3, Harrison 3; Northridge (6) — O’Dell 2, M. Schrock 2.
Steals: Warsaw (6) - Leek 2 ; Northridge (3) — H. Schrock 2.
Turnovers: Warsaw 5, Northridge 11.
Fouls: Warsaw 12, Northridge 20. Fouled out — Miller.
Officials: Tom Hinz, John Walczewski, John Wright.
Records: Warsaw 22-1, Northridge 19-5.
Next: Warsaw vs. Penn in Class 4A regional semifinals 12:30 p.m. ET Saturday, Feb. 16, at Valparaiso.