Warren Central Upsets No. 7 Bowling Green; to Defend its Sweet 16 Title at Rupp Arena
A Shocking Showdown in Bowling Green
The Warren Central Dragons pulled off an impressive upset against No. 7 ranked Bowling Green Purples in a 64-57 overtime victory last Tuesday night. With these odds, Warren Central unseated the 4th Region title and is poised to return to the KHSAA Sweet 16 for a third consecutive year. The Dragons are now on the fast track to defend their 2023 state championship at the renowned Rupp Arena next week.
The Dragons Prove their Mettle
Warren Central clearly understands that come postseason, they have to wipe the slate clean and forget about past victories or defeats. The Dragons, who previously had a 16-11 tally this season, have shown their mettle at just the right time. Coach William Unseld had prepped the players for this deciding match-up, saying: “Everything was against us… but if you get me to Diddle, I promise you I’ll give you a shot to win it.”
The face-off marked the teams’ fourth meeting this season, with Bowling Green taking win in all previous matches, including the 14th District championship earlier this month. Despite these losses, the Dragons showcased their defensive skills by out-rebounding the Purples and restraining star players – MJ Wardlow and Deuce Bailey as much as they could.
Undeterred by Past Failures
The game was anything but a walk in the park, but Kade Unseld, a WKU commit appeared undeterred, achieving an impressive performance with 26 points and seven rebounds under his belt. The Dragons’ strategy paid off significantly, leading to a sweet victory.
A Nail-biting Finish
As the teams squared off for the game’s first half, the match evolved into a fierce tug of war, with numerous shifts in momentum. Jace Wardlow was successful in keeping the Dragons at bay, keeping Bowling Green’s offense on their toes and disrupting Warren Central’s defensive plans. Though Bowling Green had a comfortable lead for the most part, the Dragons maintained the pressure through some excellent plays by Cadin Hammer and Elijah Starks. The first half ended with Bowling Green leading 31-26.
In the third quarter, Bowling Green managed to keep their lead. But the tides turned as we entered the fourth quarter. Kade Unseld opened the fourth quarter with a three-pointer that changed the game’s momentum completely. Warren Central managed to limit the Purples to just three points in the fourth quarter. With the game tied at 48-48 at the end of the fourth quarter, the match extended into overtime.
Warren Central showed their true grit in the nail-biting finale. Unseld scored back-to-back three pointers putting the Dragons ahead 54-51. Key rebounds off missed free throws bolstered their lead. Ultimately, the Dragons seized a 64-57 win, marking their victory in the 4th Region.
With this newfound momentum, the Dragons now turn their gaze towards their next challenge against Harlan County in the first round of the KHSAA Sweet 16 state tournament on Thursday, March 21.
