Warren East isn’t winning a midseason trophy or gaining ground in any hypothetical Region 4 standings by defeating Barren County 58-52 Tuesday night. The Raiders are 6-4 in the region, but thin margins in defeats and sustained leads that turn into victories is cause for some recognition for a Raiders team full of youth and inexperience.

At least one of the team’s three seniors believes so.

“It’s just a win, but it’s also a big one,” senior Tashawn Neal said. “It sends out a message to our region that we can go out and play. We’re not scared to go out and do what we’ve got to do.”

Neal had 17 points and a key second-quarter spark that gave Warren East (10-6 overall, 6-4 Region 4) its six-point win over the Trojans (8-8, 4-2) at Warren East High School. Sophomore Treante Patterson had 14 points, most of which came on his eight free throws in the fourth quarter that helped the Raiders maintain a double-digit lead on their way to a win.

“We’re in a good spot,” Neal said. “Not too far down in the region – we should be better. We lost a couple of close games in the season and we fought back. We’re playing our ball.”

Warren East shot 22 of 44 (.500) from the floor and on the other end held Barren County to 34 percent shooting – the Trojans took 20 more shots than the Raiders – with Trojans leading scorer Jared Coomer making just 4 of 14 shots from the field for 11 points.

Neal led a tight first half of five ties and a single lead change with 10 points as the Raiders took a 27-24 lead into halftime. Neal’s individual 8-0 run in the second quarter pushed Warren East into its first lead, 25-22, at the 2:35 mark.

Warren East stretched the lead to eight with Adante Barber’s triple and Neal’s put-back off his own miss. Barren County made just three field goals in the third quarter and could never pull closer than nine points the rest of the way.

“They did a nice job and made some plays and made some nice shots and we didn’t,” Barren County coach Warren Cunningham said. “We struggle at times and tonight we were in the low 30s in field goal percentage. That just puts everything else at a premium. It puts pressure on you to play error-free in other areas. When you don’t do that, it costs you.”

Lockdown defense and free throws, coach Brandon Combs said, is what hurt the Raiders early in the year during an 0-3 start. For a team that graduated 51 percent of its scoring between two players last season, advancing their record to 10-6 by holding the lead during the entire second half against Barren County – a team that defeated Bowling Green last week – is indeed grounds for calling Tuesday night a momentum win.

Warren East had won nine of its last 10 before a one-point loss at Russellville and an 11-point home loss to Warren Central last Friday.

“Defensively, we’ve been really good at holding our opponent in the 50s between Warren Central and Barren County,” Combs said. “Also, we had dropped two in a row. We needed a win and Barren County did, too. I thought we executed and played really hard in the second half. We kept the lead and expanded on it and made our free throws late, things we weren’t doing earlier in the year. We’ve grown up a bit doing it.

“We’re close. The good thing about this bunch is we’ve taken the motto, “New Day, New Game,” just like we’re not going to mention tonight’s game (Wednesday). This bunch has bought into that. I didn’t know how quickly. Playing-wise, we’re young. They’ve bought into that and we’re young and hungry and we want to keep working.”

BCHS 11 13 6 22 – 52

WEHS 11 16 14 17 – 58

BCHS – Stephens 11, Coomer 11, Bandy 11, Arterburn 9, Bush 4, Smith 2, Reed 2, Withrow 2.

WEHS – Neal 17, Patterson 14, Barber 7, Whitney 7, Maxey 6, Perdue 5, Wallace 2.

Girls

Barren County 52, Warren East 30

So far, Barren County isn’t having any issues in the absence of its leading scorer. But the Trojanettes’ biggest concern is sustaining this run with uncertainty lingering regarding her return.

Barren County won its third straight Tuesday night with a 52-30 win at Warren East, the second full game its played without leading scorer Elizabeth Bertram. The sophomore averaging 17.7 points per game is out indefinitely after suffering a knee injury Saturday against Warren Central.

Coach Piper Lindsey said a doctor’s second opinion will give a clearer idea on her return date.

Junior Bailey Pedigo picked up the slack with a career-high 27 points, and Barren County’s defense helped keep the Trojanettes’ lead secure the entire night.

Pedigo was clutch for Barren County (12-5 overall, 7-1 Region 4) in more than just shooting where she made 11 of 18 attempts. The junior also hauled in nine rebounds, issued four assists and grabbed six steals.

“That’s one that’s played all year and doesn’t get much credit,” Lindsey said. “I think this is big for her to finally get a little recognition. She usually guards one of the better players and so defensively she’s always outstanding. Nine rebounds are big for her. I think she just does all the little things right and sometimes doesn’t get the credit.”

Barren County might’ve scored its fewest points in four games, but holding Warren East (9-9 overall, 6-7 Region 4) to 30 marked the third straight game its allowed fewer than 35.

“I think defensively we’re still good and offensively we’ve had to depend on some kids who can score. As you can see tonight, Bailey Pedigo stepped up. … Everyone is still playing and getting better and being positive with the situation.”

Slowly and defensively, Barren County inched away from Warren East in the first quarter and built a double-digit lead before halftime behind Bailey Pedigo’s 13 points. The Trojanettes stingy defense forced 13 Warren East turnovers and held them to 6 of 17 shooting in the first half.

Pedigo scored the last six points of the second quarter, pushing the Trojanettes lead to 26-15 at the break.

Barren County forged ahead with a 15-4 fourth quarter led by Pedigo’s nine points. An 8-0 run to end the third gave the Trojanettes a 41-19 lead into the final eight minutes.

Cressida Duncan finished with 10 points and eight rebounds for the Lady Raiders, who have lost five of their last seven. Warren East hosts Greenwood Friday night and Barren County will travel to Monroe County.

BCHS 10 16 15 11 – 52

WEHS 8 7 4 11 – 30

BCHS – B. Pedigo 27, Bush 8, M. Pedigo 6, Hammer 3, Jackson 3, Delk 3, England 2.

WEHS – Duncan 10, Hymer 4, Z. Blankenship 4, H. Blankenship 3, Abney 3, Patterson 2, Howard 2, Forrester 2.{&end}