For Warren Central senior forward Skyelar Potter, it wasn’t how he started, but how he finished Saturday in the Dragons’ 61-54 victory over Paducah Tilghman in the Rafferty’s Shootout at South Warren High School.

Benched for disciplinary reasons in the first quarter, Potter scored 25 of his 28 points in the second half – 16 in the fourth quarter – to help Warren Central rally from a halftime deficit and improve to 4-0 on the season.

“I got in a little trouble at school (for something) attendance-wise,” Potter said. “It hurt. I didn’t like sitting in the first quarter. I came back out and did my business in the second half.”

Warren Central coach William Unseld said he was proud of the way Potter handled the first-quarter benching.

“When I told him he wasn’t starting today he understood and told me he would be ready when his number was called,” Unseld said. “I continue to say this, if he’s not one of the top three seniors in the state, then I don’t know what else is going on. People are missing the boat.”

Even without Potter, the Dragons got off to a good start before Paducah Tilghman (3-2) surged ahead in the second quarter.

After falling behind 5-0, Warren Central closed the first quarter with a 15-3 run to take a 15-8 lead.

Potter hit a 3-pointer in the opening minute of the second quarter to make the score 18-8, but the Dragons went cold and Paducah Tilghman surged in front – scoring the final 17 points of the half to go into the locker room in front 25-18.

“We shot too many jumpers,” Unseld said of the second-quarter drought. “Making too many 3s early is false confidence. The second quarter we just kept shooting them and they wouldn’t go in. At halftime, I told them that I wanted the ball to go inside the rest of the second half.”

Potter ended the drought with a basket in the paint a minute into the second half, sparking a 9-2 surge that allowed the Dragons to pull even at 27. Jordan Cousin’s layup with 1:02 left in the third gave Warren Central a 34-33 advantage, but the Blue Tornado quickly regained the advantage and led 37-36 heading into the fourth.

The lead changed hands three time until Potter’s 3 with 4:52 made the score 45-42. Paducah Tilghman pulled even on a 3 from Joe Workman with 3:58 left before Warren Central scored eight straight to put the game away.

Potter finished 7-for-11 from the field, including two 3s, and was 12-for-14 from the free-throw line.

“Skyelar scores 28 and doesn’t play the first quarter,” Unseld said. “That tells you how special he is. He’s bought into playing around the basket and it makes him hard to guard. That makes us a better team.”

Michale Mee added 15 points for the Dragons, while Rodriguez Thomas led Paducah Tilghman with 20 points.

Warren Central will host Glasgow at 7:15 p.m. Monday.

PTHS 8 17 12 17 – 54

WCHS 15 3 18 25 – 61

PT – Thomas 20, Laster 16, Workman 12, Carruthers 4, Strayhorn 2.

WC – Potter 28, Mee 15, Cousin 6, Esmic 6, Barber 4, Bibb 2.{&end}