GROTON – Groton came out on the attack Tuesday night and set the tone early on the way to a 67-32 non-conference boys’ basketball win over Warner.

The Tigers scored the game’s first nine points, quickly built a double-digit lead and were never threatened after that in picking up the victory in just the second game for both squads.

Things were much different for Groton compared to its season-opening setback against Hamlin last month.

“We didn’t play the best in Hamlin,” said Groton junior Lane Tietz, who led three players in double-figure scoring with 19 points, “so tonight was definitely a night where we tried to get everyone involved and just come together as a team.”

The Tigers consistently spotted open teammates for high-percentage shots throughout the contest.

“Lane had 32 points at Hamlin,” said Groton coach Brian Dolan, “and he had to because guys were standing around and not moving.”

That was not the case against the Monarchs.

The Tigers either found players in the lane, drove to the basket and kicked the ball out for open looks, or swung the ball around the perimeter to move the Warner defense.

“The ball travels a lot faster in the air than it does on the floor,” Dolan said, “getting the defense to play side to side.”

The former college coach said that if the ball moves 3-4 times at that level it leads to baskets and the same principle applies to prep basketball.

“If we get it side to side 2-3 times in high school, odds are you’re going to get the defense stretched out a little bit, and you ought to be able to get the pass in there, and then make the secondary pass for a bucket,” Dolan said.

That strategy worked well against the Monarchs, who were unable to contain the Groton offense.

“That’s a good basketball team. They’re quick. They’re very athletic,” said Warner coach Derek Hoellein. “We didn’t get in a stance and anticipate very well, which made them look very fast.”

Meanwhile, the Monarchs were unable to find sustained offense, managing double-digit points in just one quarter on the evening.

“That’s what pressure does. We got all out of sorts,” Hoellein said. “When you’re catching the ball 30 feet from the basket on every entry pass, that’s kind of a tough deal. We didn’t get in the flow and that’s what pressure did.”

That pressure defense does not happen by accident. The Tigers work on it at length in practice.

“Coach Dolan really emphasizes defense. We work every day on defense forever,” Tietz said. “That’s what Coach Dolan really thrives on. Defense wins championships.”

The Tigers qualified for the State A tournament last season and Dolan believes that defense played a key role. That’s why the team drills on it at length during practice sessions.

“We talk about how hard work is fun. It may not be fun in the moment, but if you’re at the state tournament in March, you can look back – the first day back after Christmas we went three hours – that wasn’t fun then, but it might be fun in March that we did that,” Dolan said, “because maybe it gets us back to where we’re trying to go.”

Jacob Zak added 16 points to the Groton total and Cole Simon followed with 11.

Tietz said it’s important to win games at this time of the season to help obtain a goal of getting back to the state tournament.

“We lost three seniors, so obviously it’s a hard role to replace, but we have the guys and I truly believe that we can make it back to the state tournament,” Tietz said. “That takes winning these games right now so we can get high seed points and get a good Sweet 16 matchup, and make it to Sioux Falls.”

Hunter Cramer scored 15 points to power Warner.

The Monarchs have three games in four days this week after a long layoff.

“We took a long break and this is not the game you want to come back to and deal with this kind of pressure,” Hoellein said. “We’re going to take some things from tonight and we’ll be better.”

WARNER (1-1): Hunter Cramer 5 3-6 15, Ashton Schuchhardt 1 0-0 2, Brodey Sauerwein 2 2-2 7, Drew Bakeberg 1 0-0 3, Tanner Walberg 1 0-0 3, Zane Evans 1 0-0 2. Totals 11 5-8 32.

GROTON (1-1): Lane Tietz 8 0-0 19, Cole Simon 5 0-0 11, Jacob Zak 5 6-8 16, Tate Larson 3 0-0 6, Ryder Johnson 2 1-1 5, Logan Ringgenberg 2 0-1 4, Keegen Tracy 1 1-2 4, Dillon Abeln 1 0-0 2. Totals 27 8-12 67.

Warner 6 21 25 32

Groton 19 41 55 67

3-point field goals – Cramer 2, Sauerwein, Bakeberg, Walberg; Tietz 3, Simon, Tracy. Total fouls – Warner 8; Groton 13. Rebounds – Groton 24 (Larson 5). Turnovers – Groton 3. Assists – Groton 16 (Tietz 4, Larson 4). Steals – Groton 12 (Zak 5, Tietz 4).