Jim Mashek

DOMINANT DRAGONS ELIMINATE BARREN COUNTY, 73-38; SPARTANS OUTLAST GRITTY MONROE COUNTY SQUAD, 54-51

Warren Central High School’s boys basketball team left nothing to chance on Monday night.

The Dragons, ranked ninth statewide by Kentucky Sports Radio and On3, strolled onto the court at WKU’s historic E.A. Diddle Arena with a purpose. Erase the disappointment of Barren County 58, Warren Central 44, in last year’s KHSAA 4th Region quarterfinals.

They did that, and a lot more.

Warren Central dominated both ends of the floor in thumping a seasoned Barren County squad, 73-38, in the first of two quarterfinals at DIddle Arena on Monday night. The Dragons outscored Barren County, 23-4, in a dazzling second quarter, on their way to a 73-38 victory.

Then it was South Warren’s turn.

The Spartans, playing in the 4th Region Tournament for the first time in school history, built a 10-point lead in the third quarter of their semifinal against Monroe County. But the Falcons stayed within striking distance, and South Warren held on for a 54-51 victory, sending the Spartans into Tuesday night’s championship game against the mighty Dragons.

Don’t get the wrong idea.

The Spartans aren’t just happy to be there.

“We’re coming to battle, we’re coming to win a 4th Region championship,” South Warren coach Carlos Quarles said after the Spartans’ hard-fought game with Monroe County.

The Dragons are looking to claim their fifth KHSAA Sweet 16 trip in the last six years, and they have the wind at their back.

“When we share the ball, we’re really good,” Warren Central coach William Unseld said. “We have a lot of guys who can handle the ball … “

And shoot it, too.Warren Central shot 67 percent from the field in the second quarter, before relying on its defense, in earning its 25th victory of the season against three defeats. The Dragons are looking to return to Lexington’s Rupp Arena for the KHSAA Sweet 16, after last year’s loss to Barren County left them on the outside, looking in.

Dominique Anthony, the Dragons’ slick-shooting senior guard, turned in a masterful performance, finishing the game with a team-high 14 points and four rebounds in less than 17 minutes on the floor. Nine Warren Central players finished in the scoring column, as the Dragons won for the 10th time in their last 11 games.

WARREN CENTRAL 73, BARREN COUNTY 38

Warren Central hit four of its first eight shots from 3-point range, pulling the Trojans’ defense away from the lane, and the Dragons turned it on by motoring to a 45-16 halftime lead.

Warren Central went into cruise control in the second half, as veteran WCHS coach William Unseld used his deep bench to salt away its second victory over the Trojans this season.

“We played with a lot of energy,” Unseld said. “Our length, and speed, I think, bothered them … They’re a reall good team, but we’re a better team.”

Barren County finished its season at 19-14 overall.

“We kind of ran into a buzzsaw tonight,” Barren County coach Warren Cunningham said. “When we have time to look back (on the season), and reflect, we’ll be able to embrace what we were able to accomplish … (Warren Central has) an outstanding team.”

Sophomore guard Weston Shelton led the Trojans with 13 points. Unseld wanted to pay particular attention to BCHS point guard Kade Hardy — “he’s a really good player,” Unseld said before Monday’s game — and the Dragons could counter with their own playmaker, senior guard Kaleb Prince.

Prince, a transfer from Warren East High School, needed just 17 minutes and change to finish the night with 12 points, five assists and three rebounds. Dominique Anthony was particularly effective near the basket, hitting six of nine shots while finishing with 14 points and four rebounds. And sophmore guard Ian Daniel, who has strengthened the Dragons’ bench with his shooting range, hit two 3-pointers while adding eight points.

Near the basket, as is often the case, it was Armani Byrd’s world, and the Trojans were just living in it.

Unseld often changes four or even five players at a time, over the course of a game, which can have a cumulative effect on the Dragons’ opponents.

“Sometimes, we’ll play 11 guys in the first quarter, and that wears on people,” Unseld said.

The Trojans remain one of the steadiest squads in the KHSAA’s 4th Region.

“It’s hard to go out this way, but it’s been a great ride,” Barren County forward Jaxson Byrd said.

SOUTH WARREN 54, MONROE COUNTY 51

Sophomore guard Brandon “Junior” Perkins, a multi-sport standout in basketball and baseball, led the Spartans with a game-high 18 points, along with seven assists, six rebounds and a critical steal in the game’s final two minutes.

Monroe County, which finished its season at 18-13 overall, went down fighting. The Falcons’ Brison Nuckols hit a deep 3-pointer from the right wing, with six seconds left in the game, to trim their deficit to three points. Monroe County coach Ashley Geralds used his last timeout at that point, to set up his defense, but the Spartans were able to inbound the ball and kill the clock before the Falcons could stop it again.

“They gave us all we wanted,” South Warren coach Carlos Quarles said. “We had some resilience. We grinded and got it done … We were getting great looks (at the basket), we probably missed 10 to 15 layups tonight. We finally settled down and made some shots. We made some key free throws down the stretch.

“We took care of business.”

Perkins, the tough-minded South Warren sophomore, may had his best game in some time. Teammate Jax Decker finished with 10 points while fellow senior Owen Shively had nine points. The Spartans outrebounded Monroe County, 29-21, while scoring 19 fast-break points.

“We live for moments like this,” Perkins said when it was over.

Quarles used just seven players in eliminating Monroe County, so the Spartans will be tested when taking the floor against a deep team like Warren Central.

“I’m good with being the underdog,” Quarles said. “This isn’t a particapation type thing. We’re coming to battle. We’re coming to win a 4th Region title.

“We’re coming to play.”