Above: Warren Central's Rondell Green (from left) shoots over Warren East's Brandon Walker and Mason Lee on Feb. 7 at Warren Central. Miranda Pederson/Daily News ••• Right: Warren Central coach William Unseld shouts during the Dragons' game Feb. 14 against Greenwood at Warren Central. Joshua Lindsey/Daily News

The Warren Central boys’ basketball team gave Warren East its best shot Friday night, then kept on punching.

The Dragons (17-4 overall, 7-0 District 14) shot 57.4 percent against the Raiders and left their foot on the gas pedal throughout a 73-29 win at WCHS.

Warren Central utilized its whole bench as the lead grew with 11 players scoring. The Dragons netted seven 3-pointers, including six in the first half.

“We’re starting to play our best ball at the right time,” Warren Central coach William Unseld said. “We got healthy late in the season, but I wasn’t worried about it. We got a lot of kids better, and we’re starting to play well.”

The Dragons scored 26 points in the second quarter against Warren East (13-7, 1-5) and started the second half with a 13-0 run to start the KHSAA-mandated running clock with a lead of at least 35.

WCHS went deep into its bench early and often, but the coaching staff continued to encourage the players on the floor to keep up their intensity.

“We just played good defense,” said senior guard Wayne Baird, who scored nine points. “We can’t give up on nobody. It’s good to see everyone play like that. We make everyone work in practice so they’re ready out here.”

Senior forward Chris Porter-Bunton led the way for Warren Central with 15 points and seven rebounds. Senior forward Robert Edwards and junior guard Jared Savage added eight points apiece.

The seven made 3s were a welcomed sight for the Dragons, who’ve been working to break out of a shooting funk by getting up more shots in practice, Unseld said.

Savage, Baird and Edwards each made two 3s.

“Today, it felt good,” Baird said. “Everybody was knocking down shots, even our big guys.”

Junior forward Dylan Whitney led Warren East with eight points. The Raiders travel to Caverna at 5:30 p.m. Monday.

Warren Central hosts Franklin-Simpson at 7:30 p.m. Monday. The Dragons have won 11 straight home games dating back to last season.

Warren Central played just one of its first 15 games at home this season. It will play three more games at home in the regular season, which Unseld said also makes the players more comfortable offensively.

“We were on the road so much that I called the coaches and said, ‘Schedule a walk-through for 5 o’clock,’ because I’m thinking we’re on the road again,” Unseld said. “I had to call back once I realized we were at home and the girls would be getting ready. It’s nice to be back home. We’re getting better.”

Warren Central honored its athletic hall of fame inductees – Lonnell Dewalt, Rusty Dyer, Todd Steward and the 2004 state championship boys’ basketball team – between games.

Dewalt was a standout football and basketball player and competed on the 2004 state title hoops team. He later played football at the University of Kentucky. Dyer excelled at football and baseball and played both sports at Austin Peay before playing baseball for two seasons at Louisville.

Steward spent 13 seasons as WCHS softball coach and 14 as girls’ basketball coach. He was also an assistant for multiple programs, including his current stint with the girls’ basketball team, and resigned in 2013 from his athletic director post.

WEHS 7    9 6 7 — 29

WCHS 17 26 22 8 — 73

WE — D. Whitney 8, Walker 5, Strange 4, Lee 4, Barnett 2, Cardwell 2, Jones 1, B. Whitney 1, Graham 1, Kh. Britt 1

WC — Porter-Bunton 15, Baird 9, Savage 8, Edwards 8, Caldwell 7, Green 6, Hall 6, Amos 5, Ja. Moore 5, Carver 2, Je. Moore 2

Warren Central 73, Warren East 42 (girls)

The Lady Dragons (11-9, 3-4) pulled away in the fourth quarter and dominated the boards in their home victory.

Warren Central outrebounded Warren East 50-25. Senior forward Angel Hill led the way with 19 points and 15 rebounds.

“We’ve got two or three other players who can rebound it really well, too,” Hill said. “But we’ve just still got to get better. We’re still working at playing as a team more and getting in the rhythm of our offense.”

Sophomore guard Tia Barnett also had 19 points, and junior forward Lashae Halsel added 11 points and 12 rebounds. The Lady Dragons led by 12 at halftime and outscored Warren East 27-7 in the fourth quarter.

Senior forward Jill Renfro paced Warren East (3-16, 0-6) with 12 points. Sophomore guard Erin Houchins chipped in eight points.

The Lady Raiders visit Caverna at 7 p.m. Monday. WCHS is off until hosting Greenwood at 6 p.m. Friday.

WEHS 5 14 16 7 — 42

WCHS 10 21 15 27 — 73

WE — Renfro 12, Houchins 8, Gibbs 6, Peters 6, Glass 6, Bibb 4

WC — Hill 19, Barnett 19, Halsel 11, Satterfield 6, Cousin 6, Edwards 6, Patterson 4, Leach 2

— Follow prep sports writer Zach Greenwell on Twitter at twitter.com/zach_greenwell or visit bgdailynews.com.