Warsaw enters the season looking to extend its recent run of dominance in the Northern Lakes Conference, fueled by returning talent and new energy across the roster. Senior wing Mydin Burgher, who averaged 11.7 points per game last year while shooting 55% from the field, headlines the returning core as a dynamic two-way threat. Junior guard Sam Lara also returns after shooting an impressive 57% from the floor and providing steady perimeter scoring. Alongside them, seniors Jaron Courtois and Sam McDaniels, and sophomore Drew Jones, bring balance and depth to a lineup that blends experience with youthful athleticism.
Jones, in particular, is one to watch after a little bit of varsity time as a freshman. With the length of a post, he is able to play every spot on the floor and could provide a matchup issue often for opposing defenses.
The Tigers will lean on that combination to offset the graduation of key leaders Carson Gould, Luke Bricker, Brandt Martin, and Robbie Finlinson, who accounted for much of last season’s scoring and rebounding. Fortunately, Warsaw’s hallmark length and size remain strengths, with emerging players like Gabe Ioane providing interior presence, while freshmen Alex Higdon and Nash Wiggins inject fresh talent into the backcourt rotation.
Head coach Matt Moore’s squad knows that its biggest challenge lies in reestablishing an identity after such heavy graduation losses. With several new roles to define, the early season will test the team’s chemistry and resilience. Still, the Tigers’ summer performance showed flashes of strong defensive energy and unselfish ball movement—traits that could anchor their success.
For Burgher, Lara, and the senior class, the mission is clear: continue Warsaw’s winning culture. The Tigers aim to capture their third Northern Lakes Conference championship in six years and secure a third consecutive sectional title. That pursuit will require the new roster to embrace both the expectations and the grind that come with being one of the area’s premier programs.
“We have a number of players that will get the opportunity to step into bigger roles in Tiger basketball,” said coach Matt Moore. “This will test us early with a very strong schedule but I believe that as we settle in, this group will find its footing for a strong second half push in 2026.”
WHY #7?
Warsaw has a lot to prove with the graduation of so many key players that made the game move. But the reality is that coach Matt Moore is well aware of that and he has done a tremendous job in his tenure of having the next group or next man up prepared.
The expectation, of course, then has to be that he will have this group prepared despite minimal big varsity experience. What helps is that some of these new faces in big spots did get some varsity run last year when they could. It is that kind of forward thinking that has kept Warsaw as a strong program.
They will still have to prove things to climb the Bounce power poll over the season, but for now this feels right.
KEY GAME
November 29 at Columbia City
Enjoy the Thanksgiving festivities, because this opening game on Warsaw’s schedule is going to set the standard for tough out of the gate scheduling.
The Tigers follow this up with Homestead, Huntington North and Blackhawk Christian so there is literally no rest to start the season. But those games are also home games where this one sees a bit of an untested team going in to visit the defending NE8 champions.
We talk alot in the key games about baselines for the season and this could prove to be a big baseline for Warsaw. Manage to open up with a win and it changes a lot of the dynamic of the season immediately.
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