June Buchanan vs. Warren Central

The final quarterfinal team is set, and it is the Warren Central Dragons. They advanced after dropping the Crusaders of June Buchanan 71-53 before 14,000 at Rupp Arena. The final score was not as close as the game itself was. Believe it or not, June Buchanan came out hot and jumped out to an early lead over a surprised Warren Central team. The strength of June Buchanan showed in the first half, as they distributed the basketball with dazzling passes and assists for easy buckets. They hit 4 or 7 threes in the first half and were 5 of 19 from behind the arc for the game. All-State point guard Clark Stepp came into the Sweet 16 averaging 25 points per game. He led the Crusaders in scoring, putting in 18 points. Buchanan also got 12 points from Tate Cox, just below his season average of 14.1ppg. Warren Central only led by a point at the break 32-31, but used their superior athleticism to come out of the intermission and go on an 18 to 7 third quarter run that put the game away. June Buchanan was never within single digits after that. Warren Central used precision passing to find seams in Buchanan's 2-3 zone defense, lighting it up from 3 point land and also getting it done at the free throw line. Warren Central showed what a balanced team they are, as they had four players in double figure scoring. Joe Hood and Monie Hudson had 18 points a piece. Nick Britt chipped in 16 and Aaron Rhodes came off the bench to give 10 points. Warren Central shot well from everywhere it seemed, shooting 48% from the field, 44% from 3, and 60% at the line. For the first 16 minutes, it seemed the small school from Pippa Passas, with its entire student body (all 75 of them), was going to show up the 6-time 4th Region champions. Warren Central used that as motivation that fueled their second half drive, but hats off to June Buchanan, they never quit and kept fighting til the end even though they gave up size, speed, strength, and overall athleticism. Warren Central advances to take on tournament first-timers Elliott County in tomorrow's quarterfinal nightcap.


Derek Kirchner

Posted by: Derek Kirchner

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