BGHS EVENS SERIES AT ONE GAME APIECE
Bowling Green High School point guard Turner Buttry missed his first four shots in Tuesday night’s KHSAA 14th District showdown against crosstown rival Warren Central.
Undaunted, the 6-foot Eastern Kentucky signee kept the Purples on the attack, and before long, the shots started to fall. So, too, would the gritty Dragons, a rusty team on the mend because of the COVID-19 protocol. Buttry scored 19 points and BGHS freshman Deuce Bailey added 15 as Bowling Green slugged out a 49-42 victory over Warren Central.
Buttry had the hot hand from 3-point range in the second half, and Bailey’s brilliant fourth quarter kept the Dragons (10-4) at arm’s length. Bowling Green improved to 14-4, heading into Friday night’s road game against Greenwood. Warren Central and BGHS entered the game as the top two teams in the Daily News’ rankings for high school teams in South Central Kentucky.
Bailey, a 6-foot BGHS freshman, became the Purples’ starting quarterback three games into the 2021 KHSAA football season. Veteran Purples coach DG Sherrill knew his team had a clutch performer with plenty of promise.
“It was kind of a coming-out party for Deuce,” Buttry said with a smile. “He’s not scared of anything. Knows how to play. Deuce is flowing with confidence.”
Bowling Green never trailed in the game, but the Dragons’ Izayiah Villafuerte fired up a 3-pointer that would have given Warren Central a one-point lead late in the third quarter. Then it was Bailey’s turn, as he beat the Dragons inside for a high-percentage shot before his baseline 3-pointer put Bowling Green in front 38-32.
After a Warren Central timeout, Bailey beat the Dragons on a baseline drive, and he got the ball to Buttry for an open 3-pointer that extended the Purples’ lead to 43-32.
“The first half was kinda rocky,” Bailey said. “At halftime, I had to get myself together. Once I saw the ball go through the basket (in the fourth quarter), I was ready to shoot again.
“This is a pretty big win for us. We’re all trying to get the No. 1 seed for the district tournament.”
Warren Central was without junior guards Damarion Walkup and Malike Jefferson, and the Dragons were playing for the first time since their impressive 91-69 victory over Bowling Green on January 4.
“We just ran out of gas,” Warren Central coach William Unseld said. “We were missing a lot of our scoring punch. And we’re just getting our legs back under us, on the practice floor.
“Early on, we needed to do a better job of moving the ball. We took too many quick shots, right off the bat. (Bowling Green) earned that one. They won the game. They’re a good team. Very good.”
Sherrill’s sophomore and junior front-line players helped the Purples dictate the pace with impressive work on the boards. Elijah Starks led the Purples with eight rebounds, before fouling out in the fourth quarter, while 6-foot-4 sophomore Mason Ritter and Buttry each finished with five rebounds.
“They were a little nicked up, coming in, and we wanted to make the game as fast as possible,” Sherrill said. “We got off to a good start (opening a 24-8 lead early in the second quarter), but we knew they’d have a run in them. We just needed to get this win … Our guys are growing up in these games.”
Villafuerte led the Dragons with 12 points, and Kaiden Unseld finished with 11. Senior forward Jaiden Lawrence had seven points and gave Warren Central a solid defensive performance before fouling out in the fourth quarter.
DG Sherrill was encouraged by Deuce Bailey’s brilliant fourth quarter that kept the Dragons at bay. Bailey hit four consecutive free throws in the final two minutes.
“Deuce got real aggressive on offense and we thought he might be able to create some mismatches,” Sherrill said. “Deuce was our catalyst, in the fourth quarter … big night for Deuce.”
BGHS GIRLS 61, WARREN CENTRAL 14 — All 14 Bowling Green players scored as the Lady Purples improved to 14-4 overall and 5-0 in KHSAA 14th District play. Warren Central dropped to 2-12 and 0-4 respectively.
Tanaya Bailey led the Lady Purples with 15 points, and teammate Saniyah Shelton finished with 13.
