QUICK HITTER STORY/Posey’s 3-pointer at the buzzer lifts South Warren past Barren County, 67-66

SPARTANS IMPROVE TO 12-1 OVERALL; SOUTH WARREN GIRLS TURN BACK TROJANETTES

GLASGOW — South Warren High School swingman Justin Posey followed the ball up the floor and set up shop in the left corner of the court.

Andrew Goley, the Spartans’ senior point guard, found Posey in the final 3.2 seconds, taking the inbounds pass and getting the ball upcourt in a hurry.

Posey took Goley’s pass and unleashed a 3-pointer from the baseline, with Barren County’s 6-foot-7 Eli Brooks closing in just a split-second late.

Posey’s dramatic 3-pointer fell through the net, a dramatic winning shot that allowed the Spartans to squeeze past Barren County, 67-66, on Tuesday night.

The Spartans (12-1) will open KHSAA 14th District play on Friday night, when they travel to play Bowling Green High School. Barren County (8-6), meanwhile, will play host to its new district opponent, South Warren, in a KHSAA 15th District opener on Friday night.

The lead exchanged hands several times in the second half on Tuesday night, with Brooks providing much of the Trojans’ firepower. Brooks had a game-high 29 points while teammates Aiden Miller and Corey Beckham added 12 and 11, respectively.

South Warren forward Brandon Rowe, one of seven seniors on the Spartans’ roster, led South with 17 points. Teammate Andrew Linhardt added 11 points.

Posey said his game-winning shot “took forever to get there” and the Spartans’ bench stormed onto the court to congratulate him after the ball fell through the net.

“Off the hand, (the shot) felt pretty good,” Posey said. “Up in the air, I didn’t think so … It was real good execution on Andrew Groley’s part.”

Carlos Quave, South Warren’s first-year coach, will lead the Spartans into their district opener Friday night at the BGHS arena.

South Warren has never defeated the Purples in boys basketball, since opening its doors 12 years ago.

“It’s going to be a tough game,” Groley said. “We just have to keep playing with the same attitude, the same toughness. Stay positive.”

SOUTH WARREN GIRLS 48, BARREN COUNTY 36 — Freshman guard McLaine Hudson scored a game-high 19 points to spark the Lady Spartans to victory.

South Warren improved to 7-8 while Barren County fell to 11-4.

“I think we’re starting to figure out our identity,” South coach Lane Embry said. “McLaine can do multiple things at the offensive end of the floor. We did a good job of sharing the ball and getting to the free-throw line in the second half.”

Junior guard Abigail Varney led Barren County with 11 points.

I’ll have a comprehensive story on South Warren’s impressive sweep on Wednesday morning.

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