Warren Central's Skyelar Potter (center) grabs a rebound Tuesday, March 6, 2018, during Warren Central's 65-53 win over Bowling Green in the Region 4 boys' basketball tournament championship at E.A. Diddle Arena. (Bac Totrong/photo@bgdailynews.com)

Warren Central senior guard Skyelar Potter used a game to forget as motivation for a night he’ll always remember.

After being held scoreless in the second half of Warren Central’s District 14 loss to Bowling Green – a game in which the Purples rallied from 15 down to win in the final seconds – Potter played a big hand in the Dragons’ 65-53 Region 4 tournament championship win over the Purples on Tuesday at E.A. Diddle Arena.

Potter had 19 points and 10 rebounds in Tuesday’s victory, including some key baskets at moments that helped the Dragons secure the program’s first region title since 2013.

Potter said a talk with Warren Central coach William Unseld after the loss in the district tournament helped him approach the region tournament with a new mindset – culminating in Tuesday’s win.

“It feels great,” Potter said. “There was no pressure. If we lose, he takes all the blame. If we win, it is all us. That’s what he told us, so we just came out here and played.”

Unseld said Potter’s performance in the District 14 championship game was uncharacteristic for the Wright State signee and Mr. Basketball finalist.

“He kind of did some things he hadn’t done all year,” Unseld said. “We talked to him and figured out what the problem was. He told us, ‘Coach, I feel so much pressure to get us to state.’ I told him, ‘Stop. You don’t have to get us there. If we get there, we get there. If we don’t we don’t, but you need to have fun and enjoy this moment.’

“After we had that talk you could see him start having fun, because about the last 2½ weeks of the season you could feel all that pressure on him.”

Potter played more in character Tuesday.

After the Dragons fell behind early, Potter helped right the ship by hitting three 3-pointers in the first half to help Warren Central cut the deficit to 25-23 by halftime.

His drive to the basket late in the third quarter gave Warren Central its first lead of the night and Potter was able to contribute in the last 5:07 of the game despite playing with four fouls.

Potter’s steal near midcourt and dunk made the score 61-49 with 2:09 left, the exclamation point on a 27-point fourth quarter for the Dragons.

“I act like I was going to drop back, then I got it and got everybody pumped,” Potter said.

Potter said it came down to doing what the Dragons were unable to do in the District 14 championship – finishing.

“We had to figure out how to finish games,” Potter said. “At next practice we worked on them coming to trap. We just had to learn how to finish. I got the ball a little bit in the fourth quarter, but when they were coming to trap I had to give it up and share the ball.”

Warren Central junior guard Jamale Barber said Potter’s performance Tuesday was what everyone has come to expect from him.

“He’s amazing,” Barber said. “He’s a great player and great players make big-time plays.”{&end}