When the Valparaiso girls arrive at Warsaw on Saturday for the Class 4A Semistate game, they’ll see a team on the other side that has only one thing in common with themselv es — balance.

That may not seem apparent from the outside, especially with an Indiana Miss Basketball candidate who stands out like a sore thumb.

Senior forward Jaclyn Leininger has averaged more than 25 points per game this season, and it’s been an efficient point production. She has shot 55 percent from the field, including an impressive 57 percent from behind the 3-point line, and more than 85 percent from the free-throw line.

She’s not the only player for the Tigers who can score, and that’s the challenge for the Vikings — find a way to stop a team that has balance and explosiveness. It will be like looking in the mirror.

“She’s not the only weapon on their team, although she is a great player,” said Valparaiso coach Greg Kirby. “(Julie) Seiss is an excellent point guard and can score from that position, and (Michelle) DeGeeter is very consistent and athletic around the basket.”

In Warsaw’s regional championship victory over Huntington North, Leininger scored her average with 25 points. But what helped the Tigers get the win more was having the rest of the starters score 14, 10, 10 and seven points.

Sounds like a monumental task for the Vikings, but then again, Valparaiso has the No. 1 ranked defense in the state in points allowed (32.4). Don’t think that statistic goes unnoticed by Warsaw’s coach.

“That man defense Valpo’s known for is going be tough,” said Warsaw coach Will Wienhorst.

The veteran coach also acknowledged the Vikings’ size will be an issue, though by the numbers, the heights of the front lines are really close.

“Rebounding will be a big key,” Wienhorst said. “They don’t give up second shots too much. We have to stop Kerns inside and Hutton outside.”

All the 18-year coach of the Tigers can base his game plan on this year is film and what he’s heard from other coaches.

Up until this year, though, Warsaw had faced Valparaiso in a tournament. The new Duneland double round-robin schedule eliminated the Vikings’ ability to play in the tourney.

Both teams do have a common opponent. The Tigers defeated Crown Point 62-47 in the second game of the season, while Valpo won two out of three against the Bulldogs, including the sectional semifinal after trailing by six at halftime.

“Warsaw is very balanced. They go six or seven deep on their bench,” said Crown Point coach Tom May. “Leininger is real good. Gustke and Kerns can’t guard her. That leaves Humes and she’s bigger than Humes.”

That scouting report by the veteran coach paints a dreary picture for the Vikings, but as May has repeated all year to anyone who would listen, he still thinks the fellow DAC school can win.

“Even after seeing Warsaw, I still say Valparaiso is the best team we played all year,” May said.

One of the reasons the Vikings impress other coaches is Kirby himself, who has been to this point in the tournament before.

The Vikings are looking for their sixth trip to the state finals with Kirby being the coach the last time they made it past the semistate in 2000.

Besides going over the game plan, part of this week was spent making sure the girls just keep playing on that even keel they have been on most of the season.

“We can’t neglect the things that have made the team successful,” Kirby said. “It’s been a very exciting week for them, but they’ve been focused about Warsaw.”

Reporter Steve T. Gorches can be reached at 648-3141 or by e-mail at sgorches@post-trib.com.