Dragons rally past South Warren in double overtime

Published 11:31 am Saturday, January 25, 2025

by Micheal Compton

The Warren Central boys’ basketball team found itself in a bit of a bind for most of Friday’s game at South Warren High School.

Facing a team it beat by 30 points at home earlier this month, Warren Central trailed most of the night before finally getting control — battling back for a 72-66 double-overtime win over the Spartans.

The Dragons survived a huge shooting night from South Warren — which connected for 12 made 3-pointers — to avoid the upset and escape with the road win.

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“I told the kids after the game I was proud of them,” WC coach William Unseld said. “I told them that’s a game you normally lose when they hit that many 3s and shoot the way they did. The seniors stepped up and made big plays.

“ … They had to win a game like this. We haven’t had one like this. I looked over at the bench at one time and I was like, ‘Damn, we need this,’ because they were out there making plays.”

South Warren (12-6 overall, 1-3 District 14) started hot and stayed in control through three quarters.

The Spartans were 6-for-10 from 3 in the first, building a 20-12 advantage. The lead grew to 30-20 after a 3 from Jaxen Decker late in the half. Warren Central (15-2, 4-0) was able to close the half with a flurry, with Armani Byrd’s 3 cutting the deficit to 34-31 at the break.

“We went in down three and I was tickled,” Unseld said. “We gave up too much dribble penetration. We didn’t fight like we needed to get the ball. It’s hard when you beat a team like we did the first time to get your kids up again. I told them for two days it was going to be tough over here. They had to see that. They had to feel that.”

Robert McAfee’s 3 to open the second half tied the score for the first time since the game tipped, but the Spartans responded with a layup from Decker to regain a lead.

South Warren continued to hold the advantage into the fourth before a 3 from McAfee gave Warren Central its first lead with 6:18 left in regulation. The Spartans answered with eight straight to regain the advantage, but Warren Central used an 8-0 run of its own — capped by a 3 from McAfee — to move back in front 60-58 with 2:41 left.

The Spartans tied the score on a drive to the basket by Griffin Rardin with 2:05 left. After an empty possession by Warren Central, South Warren ran the clock down to the final seconds but turned the ball over giving the Dragons a chance to win. Byrd’s corner 3 with 0.6 seconds left hit off the top of the backboard, sending the game to overtime.

Both teams scored once in the first overtime, with South Warren turning the ball over with 10 seconds left and Ryan Hulbert’s long 3 for Warren Central off the mark as time expired.

Warren Central finally got control in the second overtime when Jarek Kirk’s 3 made the score 65-62 and gave the Dragons the lead for good. The margin grew to 69-64 with 16.8 seconds left.

South Warren got it back to three points, but the Dragons added a free throw and a dunk from Kirk at the horn to seal the comeback.

“We just needed something to get our motor going,” Kirk said. “(That shot) gave us the confidence to win the game.”

McAfee led the Dragons with 23 points. Kirk added 18 points, while Hulbert finished with 10 points.

“We are getting there,” Unseld said. “There is still stuff we are working on to get better. I was happy with the win. A big win for us. Fourteenth district games on the road are tough. I’m proud of my guys because we fought. We battled.”

Thad Hall led South Warren with 18 points. Rardin added 15 points and Decker finished with 14 points.

“The difference in the game is we had a couple of critical mistakes down the stretch that really, really hurt us,” South Warren coach Carlos Quarles said. “I’m proud of my guys. We were in position to win a basketball team over one of the best teams in the state, but another step of growth for us is we’ve got to not make critical mistakes in crucial times.”

Warren Central hosts Christian County at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday. South Warren travels to Logan County at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

WCHS 12 19 16 13 2 10 — 72

SWHS 20 14 14 12 2 4 — 66

WC — McAfee 23, Kirk 18, Hulbert 10, A. Byrd 8, Carter 8, Anthony 3, J. Byrd 2.

SW — Hall 18, Rardin 15, Decker 14, Shively 7, Button 6, Willis 4, Perkins 2.

GIRLS

South Warren 64, Warren Central 19

The Spartans built a 31-point halftime lead and cruised from there to make it three wins in the last four games.

“I thought the girls came out focused tonight,” South Warren coach Lane Embry said. “That’s what we work on is having 32 minutes of focused basketball. That’s what we work on this time of year — being focused all the way through, playing together and growing up together.”

McLaine Hudson led South Warren (7-11 overall, 2-2 District 14) with 17 points and eight rebounds. Jenna Lindsey added 11 points, while Averi Fugate added eight points and six rebounds.

Myra Mayberry had nine points to lead Warren Central (0-14, 0-4).

“I tip my hat to Warren Central,” Embry said. “I thought they came out and played really hard tonight. Their girls came out and really fought and battled.”

Warren Central will host Christian County at 6 p.m. on Tuesday. South Warren plays at Logan County at 6 p.m. on Tuesday.

WCHS 5 2 10 2 — 19

SWHS 22 16 16 10 — 64

WC — Mayberry 9, Faustine 5, Tambadu 3, Perdomo 2.

SW — Hudson 17, Lindsey 11, Fugate 8, Strow 7, Overbay 6, Harl 5, Osborne 5, Calvert 3, Gatewood 2.

About Micheal Compton

I am a sports reporter and movie critic for the Bowling Green Daily News.

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