WARSAW – Dayton Groninger and defense.

A big dose of each carried the Warsaw girls basketball team past Huntington North for a 58-46 win Friday night.

Senior star Groninger continued her early season excellence with a game-high 31 points as the host Tigers improved to 3-0 on the season.

Warsaw also held the Vikings to just 15 points in the second half to remain undefeated.

The Tigers led 12-9 after the opening period before the Vikings took a 31-28 lead at intermission. Huntington North drained seven 3-pointers in the first half. Groninger netted 19 points in the opening half for Warsaw.

Warsaw took control of the game by shutting down North in the pivotal third period. The Tigers outscored the Vikings 16-5 in the quarter to take a 44-36 lead.

Groninger hit 13-20 shots from the field in the win. The standout guard, who has signed to play at Indiana Wesleyan next year, has now scored 74 points in the first three games.

Page Desenberg scored nine points and Madi Graham had eight for Warsaw. Mariah Rivera chipped in with six points.

Kylie Kaylor scored 15 points and Hollyn Anderson 11 to lead Huntington North, which drops to 1-1.

The Vikings, who beat Warsaw 60-32 last season, made just one 3-pointer in the second half.

Warsaw won the junior varsity contest 46-18. The trio of Holli Shipp, Maddie Ryman and Kenzie Martz each scored 10 points to lead the winners.

Warsaw will host Class 3-A No. 4 Tippecanoe Valley (2-0) next Friday night. Huntington North hosts Carroll Tuesday night.