LEXINGTON — Warren Central will be appearing in the UK HealthCare Boys’ Sweet 16 state title game for the second straight season after the Dragons outlasted Woodford County, 56-48, during Saturday’s semifinal action.
Chappelle Whitney turned in an 18-point, nine-rebound, five-assist effort for the Dragons while Kade Unseld scored 17 points, and Damarion Walkup finished with 16 points. Omari Glover scored four points while pulling down 10 rebounds, and six assists.
Warren Central finished with a 22-of-42 shooting effort, and 17 assists. The Dragons outrebounded the Yellow Jackets, 31-17.
Aden Nelson led Woodford County with 11 points, and six rebounds while Jasper Johnson followed with 10 points, and three assists.
Warren Central connected on 6-of-15 shot attempts in the first quarter while Unseld, and Walkup, each scored five points apiece to give the Dragons a 15-9 lead heading into the second quarter.
Woodford County misfired on 3-of-16 shot attempts while Stark led the way with four points.
Warren Central’s lead grew to 20-13 with 5:02 left in the second quarter after a 3-pointer and layup by Unseld, but the Yellow Jackets used a 9-4 run to close the first half while cutting their deficit to two points (24-22).
Unseld led Warren Central with eight points in the first half while Walkup had seven points, and Whitney scored six points.
Stark led Woodford County with eight points while Aden Nelson added five points.
The Dragons raced out to a 35-30 lead with 1:26 remaining in the third quarter after a 3-pointer by Walkup, but the Yellow Jackets had an answer once again with Johnson drilling a 3-pointer, and connecting with a floater to send the game tied at 35 apiece entering the fourth quarter.
John McCrear gave Woodford County a short-lived 37-35 lead with 7:43 remaining in regulation, but Warren Central used a 9-3 run late in the fourth quarter to put the contest away.
