Warren Central exhibited why they are a favorite to win this year’s boys Fourth Region. The Dragons---led by the 28-point performance of DeAndre Boyd---defeated the Allen County-Scottsville Patriots 84-62 Monday night in the 2A Championships, Section 2 semifinals at Dragon Gym.
“Warren Central is a reality good basketball team,” AC-S coach Brad Bonds noted. “But, I think we can compete better than what the final score margin says. They shot the ball really well. The biggest difference in the game was offensive rebounds. We have to do a better job of getting physical inside. Their second chance points was the difference in the game.”
Central raced to a 24-12 lead after the
first frame. In the second, the Patriots matched the Dragons point-for-point before
a 3-point basket at the halftime horn gave the hosts a 41-26 lead at the break.
Central used a 19-14 third period to extend their lead. The Patriots played
tough in the final eight minutes before falling to the Dragons.
“Central would make a run and we couldn’t really answer,” Bonds said. “We would play even and then they would make another run.”
The Patriot scoring reflected balance. Jax
Cooper led the way with 13 points with Michael Smith adding 12 points. Mason
Shirley and Owen Stamper chipped in 10 points. Shirley led the team with nine
rebounds.
AC-S finished the night 22-40 from the floor
(55%) and 15-19 (78.9%) at the foul line. Central was 33-70 from the field
(47.1%) including 12-33 (36.4%) from three-point range---a stat that really
aided the Dragons in their win. On the glass, Warren Central (8-4) outrebounded
AC-S 30-29 but grabbed 15 offensive rebounds---rebounds that led to 23
second-chance points. The Dragons forced 20 AC-S turnovers, resulting in 15
points.
Despite the setback, Bonds saw several
bright spots.
“There was a lot of parts of our games we have shown growth in,” Bonds added. “The match-up zone coverage looked pretty good and we shot free throws well.”
ACS vs
Bullitt Central
The Allen County-Scottsville Patriot
basketball team bounced back from a disappointed loss to Hancock County with a
65-60 win over Bullitt Central on Monday, December 30. Juniors Jax Cooper,
Michael Smith, and Mason Shirley led the way as the Patriots picked up their
seventh win of the year.
Cooper led the way with 21 points on eight
of 12 shooting from the field. The talented junior guard was a perfect
five-of-five at the foul line. Cooper also grabbed six rebounds and recorded
three steals. Smith added 14 points. Finding open looks in the paint, Smith
made seven of his nine field goals and also grabbed a team high seven rebounds.
Shirley struggled to make shots from the floor (two of 10) but canned 10 of 12
free throws. The junior guard also dished out 14 assists---matching his career-high
and marking the fifth time in 12 games this season that Shirley had been in
double-digits in assists.
Bullitt Central---a team coach Brad Bonds
likened to Greenwood or South Warren---trailed 15-10 after the first quarter
but bounced back to grab a 29-28 lead at halftime. The Cougars led 46-44 after
the third period before the Patriots closed the game on a 21-14 run to record
the five-point win.
The Patriots’ ability to make shots proved pivotal in the win. AC-S sank 23 of their 45 attempts from the floor and buried 18 of 22 free throws in the win. The Patriots outrebounded the Cougars 36-19, recorded 22 assists, and turned the ball over 13 times. Bullitt Central was 22 of 49 from the floor, eight-of-eight at the foul line.
AC-S dropped a 61-42 game to Glasgow Tuesday, January 7 at Patriot Gym. The Scotties used an 18-6 second quarter and strong third and fourth frames to record teh district win.
Mason Shirley tallied 12 points and Owen Stamper added 10 points for the Patriots. AC-S shot a season-low 33.3% from te floor in the game wule Glasgow connected on 53.2% of their shots.
AC-S (7-7) will host Monroe County (4-7) Friday night at Patriot Gym. Next Tuesday, the Patriots travel to Ffranklin to face the Franklin-Simpson Wildcats (6-6).