MISHAWAKA – The Warsaw girls basketball team is providing a little bit of payback this season.

Make that a lot of payback right now for the red-hot Tigers.

That trend continued Tuesday night in another impressive win for the selfless and veteran Warsaw squad.

Warsaw, showing patience and a premium on possessions, subdued Class 4-A No. 6 Penn for a big 40-33 victory in the Penn Palace.

The Tigers used a dandy dose of defense late in the game to spark an 8-0 run to hold off the host and defending state champion Kingsmen.

Warsaw, which started its season 0-9 a year ago, improves to 5-0 with its second straight win over a ranked team. The Tigers took apart Class 3-A No. 4 Tippecanoe Valley 66-42 at home Friday night.

Penn, which lost seven seniors from its 28-2 team of last season, falls to 5-1. The Kingsmen beat Warsaw 61-37 during the regular season and 64-33 in the finale of the Goshen Sectional last season.

Star guard Dayton Groninger, one of six seniors for the Tigers, paced the winners with a game-high 15 points.  Senior Kenzie Welk had an outstanding night with 10 huge points for the Tigers, including a pair of key 3-pointers.

Lindsy Kline, the lone senior for Penn, led the hosts with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Junior Sara Doi added 10 points.

Warsaw shot an efficient 13-26 from the field by sharing the basketball. The Tigers had just six turnovers in the win and outscored Penn 10-4 from the line.

The Tigers responded like a seasoned team with the game in the balance in the final frame. Penn drew within 29-27 on a trey by freshman Reganne Pate with 5:38 to play.  After a smart timeout by coach Michelle Harter, Warsaw took command with its 8-0 run. Welk hit a layup to get her team going and then freshman Kaylee Patton drained a huge triple. Senior Page Desenberg then hit a free throw and Groninger made a pair of charity tosses to cap the run as Warsaw held Penn scoreless for almost five minutes.

“Our girls got big stops on defense down the stretch and we got to the line,” said Warsaw coach Michelle Harter. “They gutted it out. They took care of the ball, we got stops and then we executed on offense.

“Our confidence is growing and you can see it on the floor. Each possession matters to them. That happens with an extra year of maturity and growth.”

Groninger, who entered play Tuesday night averaging 21 points-per-game got her team going. The smooth guard scored her team’s first nine points of the game as Warsaw led 9-5 after the opening period. The Tigers led 18-13 at halftime  and had a 29-22 lead after the third period.

“Dayton has just been solid for us and she got off to a hot start tonight,” Harter said. “The thing is that she lets the game come to her and she looks to pass when the defense focuses on her. That allows others to step up and Kenzie did tonight. She had a great game for us.”

Warsaw used a very effective and active zone to hold Penn to a 5-19 shooting effort in the first half. The Kingsmen finished the game 12-41 from the field, including 5-18 from 3-point land.

“I thought that our zone was extremely effective,” remarked Harter, whose team trailed just once all night at 3-2. “Our hands were active and we pushed them farther out to shoot.”

“It’s a huge thing to come here and beat a good team. It feels really good to be 5-0. The girls took their lumps early last year. They were bound and determined this season to be united. There is no selfish play and it’s so much fun right now how they are working together to be successful.”

Desenberg finished with five points. Patton and sophomore Kacy Bragg each scored four points and senior Madi Graham added two.

Penn won the junior varsity game 42-33. Maddie Ryman led Warsaw with 13 points. Miah Holsclaw and Halie Shipp each scored seven points for the Tigers. Marissa Trewhella led Penn with 13 points. Erica Foust had nine and Caroline Morris eight for the winners.

Warsaw plays at Class 2-A No. 1 Whitko (6-0) Friday night. Penn plays Elkhart Central (3-2) at North Side Gym Saturday afternoon.