KSR's Friday night Kentucky high school hoops roundup
It was another busy Friday night for high school basketball action across the Bluegrass State. Once again, KSR had boots on the ground across the Commonwealth, stopping in Warren Central and Lexington Catholic this week for a packed evening of Kentucky hoops.
KSR’s Piper McCoun witnessed an overtime battle between top-10 foes and division rivals Warren Central (No. 1) and Bowling Green (No. 10), while Brady Byrdwell caught a top-20 matchup featuring two of the state’s top seniors vs. the top freshman. How did it all play out? Check out everything that happened below with a couple of recaps from our talented college interns.
Warren Central clinches overtime win against Bowling Green, remains undefeated in district
BY: Piper McCoun
The #1 ranked Warren Central Dragons pulled off a 75-67 win against district rival and #10 ranked team in the state, Bowling Green. The inter-district, top 10 matchup brought in quite the crowd at Warren Central. When it got right down to the wire, Warren Central made shots and stretched their lead to yield success in the four minute overtime period.
The game featured big time players making big time plays, especially when it mattered. Warren Central senior forward Chappelle Whitney dropped 26 points in a stellar performance against the Purples, who was also named all region MVP. Senior guard Omari Glover closely following at 22 and senior guard Izayiah Villafuerte with 16. Scoring was crucial for the Dragons as Bowling Green had a night of their own, with sophomore guard Deuce Bailey dropping 20 and junior guard Makayelus (MJ) Wardlow with 18.
Players Gonna Play
This was a highly anticipated matchup for both teams. Warren Central looked to remain on top in the region and Bowling Green sought revenge after losing to the Dragons 54-39 in mid-January. The high intensity game started with back and forth jabs from both teams.
After MJ Wardlow clutched a floater for the Purples, Bowling Green would go on a 9-2 run to push past the Dragons 14-8 with a few minutes to go in the first quarter. Warren Central’s Izayiah Villafuerte quickly put an end to that and scored back-to-back layups to tie the match back up at 14. The first quarter ended at 17-14 with the Dragon ahead.
The second quarter was extremely fast-paced, with both teams eager to take a lead of their own and stretch it to comfortably ride out for the rest of the game. Well, this happened for neither of them. Izayiah Villafuerte opened up the second quarter for the Dragons with a three and Warren Central built off of momentum from there. A clutch and-1 from Omari Glover kept the Dragons ahead.
Warren Central had a 12 point lead over the Purples at 33-21 mid-way through the second quarter. Feeling the heat, Bowling Green stepped it UP. The Purples went on a 17-4 run in just the last four and a half minutes on the second quarter. MJ Wardlow and Deuce Bailey were huge contributors to the Bowling Green run and pushed their team to lead at the half 38-37.
I’m Still Here
For most of the game, when one team made a play, the other would respond. It was like neither team could get away from one another. MJ Wardlow, who played so comfortably in the paint, opened the second half with a floater for Bowling Green.
Bowling Green would pull ahead 48-39 before the Dragons found a stop and went on their own run. Omari Glover and Kade Unseld pushed through to come back from a near double-digit deficit late in the third and allowed Warren Central to close the third quarter behind 53-51. It’s not that Warren Central was playing bad, it’s that Bowling Green was playing good. I’m sure they had a great week of fundamental practice, because Bowling Greens’ shooters were playing in their pocket.
The fourth quarter featured the most exciting eight minutes of the game. Although it was the lowest scoring quarter for both teams, defensive efforts and points in the paint is what kept both teams in the game. Bowling Green trailed 61-59 with 30 seconds to go in the half until junior center Mason Ritter fought through defenders for the layup to tie it at 61. What could’ve been the game winning possession for Warren Central turned into a turnover that left 3.6 seconds on the clock for Bowling Green. The Purples drew up this play after timeouts, but ended up taking the game to overtime.
Pulling Away
Although it was an overtime game, the Dragons had a clear turnaround and pulled away in the four minutes of overtime play. Combined efforts from all of Warren Central’s players allowed them to close out the game 75-67.
“I’ve got an older, mature group,” Warren Central head coach William Unseld said. “They fought through adversity. Got down multiple times, and I let them coach themselves a little bit. I sat back and watched them play, and I was happy with the way they responded multiple times.”
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Warren Central returns to play next Friday against Taylor County.
Lexington Catholic Fends off Late Trinity Comeback Attempt in Win
BY: Brady Byrdwell
The second-ranked team in the commonwealth got all they could handle on Friday night. Lexington Catholic defended its home court over the 16th-ranked Trinity Shamrocks in a 52-47 win. Lexington Catholic senior Hudson Sparks led all scorers with 21 points. Also, Miami (OH) commit Reece Potter added 15 points and 12 rebounds for the Knights. Freshman sensation Jayden Johnson scored 14 points in the losing effort, including four threes. The senior duo of Sparks and Potter proved to be too much for the Shamrocks, as they have been for the rest of the state.
Hudson Sparks spoke on their connection, “You always want to get Reece goin’ as fast as we can. When he gets going, it opens things up for me on the perimeter, and Tyler drives to the hoop. It makes things a lot easier when we can get Reece going.”
Lexington Catholic gets the Spark they needed
The Robert J. Bueter, S.J. Athletic Center crowd was eager to see the two top 20 teams square off on Friday night. The student section was full, the parents were excited, and the players were hungry for success—a recipe for a great high school basketball matchup. So when the seven-foot Reece Potter walked to half court, there was little doubt who would win the tip. However, Potter decided to win the tip wasn’t enough, as he scored the first seven points for the Knights. This included a top of the key three that kissed off the back and sank.
As if a seven-footer hitting a three isn’t enough, Hudson Sparks decided a seven-point run wasn’t that impressive. The senior went on to score eight straight points, including two threes. When Sparks attempted the second three from the volleyball line, he hardly had to look at the rim. “The hoop was looking big, I shot the second three, and it felt so good.” Sparks proved why he is the second-leading scorer on one of the best teams in the state.
Shamrocks continue to fight
Trinity junior Andrae Vasser kept the Shamrocks in the game in the first half as the guard opened up the defense. Vasser excels at controlling an offense and scoring from all three levels. However, he finished with a tough 2/10 night from the field, with only four points coming in the first half. His seven rebounds and three assists, though, proved essential throughout the game. On the other hand, the Shamrocks shot an abysmal 33% from the field in the first half, which is not a recipe for a close game.
Once the second half began, freshman Jayden Johnson seemed to come alive. The six-foot-five forward was able to find his game, as he buried four threes in the second half. Senior CJ Walls led the charge for the ‘Rocks as they stormed back from a 37-23 deficit. The resiliency shown by Trinity speaks to the coaching of Mike Szabo, as he’s known as one of the best in Louisville.
After a banked-in three from Alex Johnson, the Shamrocks were alive. The tension in the gym was palpable as Jayden Johnson cashed a three to cut the lead to three in the fourth quarter with four minutes to play. However, Johnson wasn’t done, as he hit another huge three to cut the lead to a single point with a minute and 28 seconds to play. When the ball hit the bottom of the net, Johnson flexed his muscles as he ran back on defense, and Trinity found their mojo. With 37 seconds left to play, CJ Walls made a beautiful drive to cut the lead to a point for the second time.
Chaotic ending brings fans to their feet
Two free throws for Lexington Catholic’s Tyler Doyle expanded the Knight’s lead back to three points. As the time began to dwindle, it became apparent that this ballgame would come down to the final possession. When the seconds began to tick down, Trinity’s Andrae Vasser drove and kicked the ball to Cam McClain in the corner. The gym collectively held its breath as the ball slowly exited McClain’s fingertips. Lexington Catholic’s Tyler Doyle made the play of the game as he soared for the block on McClain. Poetically, Hudson Sparks came down with the rebound and sealed the game with two free throws. A chaotic ending speaks to the talent on both sides of the ball, as Lexington Catholic escapes with the narrow victory.
Scores from around the state
| Pike County Central | 49 | vs.WestSide (Clear Fork), WV (at Williamson Fieldhouse) | 40 | Hatfield-McCoy Shootout |
| Tug Valley (Williamson), WV | 62 | vs.Belfry (at Williamson Fieldhouse) | 49 | Hatfield-McCoy Shootout |
| Central Hardin | 77 | vs.Newport Central Catholic (at Knightstown, Ind.) | 61 | Hoosier Gym |
| North Bullitt | 61 | vs.Brown (at Knightstown, Ind.) | 50 | Hoosier Gym |
| Ohio School for the Deaf (Columbus), OH | 73 | at Kentucky School f/t Deaf | 22 | KSD Basketball Homecoming |
| McLean County | 56 | vs.Breckinridge County (at Owensboro SportsCenter) | 55 | Ruoff Mortgage Classic |
| Breathitt County | 56 | vs.Letcher County Central (at Buckhorn) | 55 | Scott Blank Classic |
| Adair County | 65 | at Campbellsville | 60 | |
| Augusta | 86 | at Calvary Christian | 49 | |
| Ballard | 66 | vs. St. Xavier | 57 | |
| Barbourville | 78 | at Somerset Christian School | 57 | |
| Barren County | 54 | at Cumberland County | 35 | |
| Bell County | 69 | at Middlesboro | 53 | |
| Betsy Layne | 68 | vs. Lawrence County | 63 | |
| Bourbon County | 72 | vs. Bishop Brossart | 63 | |
| Boyd County | 88 | at Ashland Blazer | 80 | |
| Boyle County | 54 | vs. Lincoln County | 46 | |
| Bryan Station | 64 | at Sayre | 60 | |
| Bullitt Central | 61 | at Thomas Nelson | 41 | |
| Butler County | 65 | at Grayson County | 60 | |
| Carlisle County | 83 | vs. Ballard Memorial | 76 | |
| Casey County | 91 | vs. Garrard County | 84 | |
| Central | 80 | vs. Shawnee | 64 | |
| Cloverport | 53 | at Francis Parker | 52 | |
| Collins | 64 | vs. Shelby County | 26 | |
| Conner | 80 | vs. Mason County | 61 | |
| Corbin | 82 | vs. Knox Central | 35 | |
| Covington Catholic | 82 | vs. DeSales | 76 | |
| Danville Christian | 72 | at Danville | 65 | (overtime) |
| DuPont Manual | 88 | vs. Portland Christian | 32 | |
| Edmonson County | 41 | vs. Trinity (Whitesville) | 38 | |
| Elizabethtown | 70 | vs. Bardstown | 57 | |
| Estill County | 70 | vs. Lee County | 58 | |
| Fleming County | 69 | at Menifee County | 61 | |
| Floyd Central | 85 | at Prestonsburg | 59 | |
| Fort Knox | 54 | at Whitefield Academy | 38 | |
| Frankfort | 54 | vs. Franklin County | 48 | |
| Franklin-Simpson | 50 | at Russellville | 38 | |
| Frederick Douglass | 68 | at Scott County | 46 | |
| George Rogers Clark | 85 | vs. Scott | 56 | |
| Green County | 80 | vs. Hart County | 63 | |
| Harlan County | 76 | vs. Pulaski County | 71 | |
| Harrison County | 69 | vs. Robertson County | 24 | |
| Henderson County | 57 | at Muhlenberg County | 41 | |
| Highlands | 94 | vs. Bellevue | 42 | |
| Highlands Latin | 87 | vs. Frankfort Christian | 68 | |
| Holy Cross (Covington) | 87 | vs. Beechwood | 60 | |
| Iroquois | 70 | vs. Doss | 48 | |
| Jeffersontown | 88 | vs. Bullitt East | 64 | |
| LKY (Louisville), (KY home school) | 46 | at Foundation Christian Academy | 30 | |
| LaRue County | 64 | at Caverna | 45 | |
| Lewis County | 56 | at Greenup County | 44 | |
| Lexington Catholic | 52 | vs. Trinity (Louisville) | 47 | |
| Lexington Christian | 58 | vs. Lafayette | 54 | |
| Lyon County | 95 | vs. Crittenden County | 50 | |
| Madison Central | 63 | vs. Evangel Christian | 46 | |
| Madisonville-North Hopkins | 77 | vs. Caldwell County | 33 | |
| Magoffin County | 70 | vs. Martin County | 58 | |
| Male | 75 | vs. Eastern | 61 | |
| Marshall County | 62 | vs. Christian Fellowship | 20 | |
| Mayfield | 47 | vs. Graves County | 39 | |
| McCracken County | 61 | at Paducah Tilghman | 50 | |
| McCreary Central | 59 | vs. Wayne County | 41 | |
| Meade County | 78 | vs. Hancock County | 54 | |
| Mercer County | 88 | vs. Trinity Christian | 47 | |
| Model | 50 | vs. Nelson County | 49 | |
| Monroe County | 75 | vs. Russell County | 46 | |
| Moore | 67 | at Southern | 48 | |
| Murray | 42 | at Calloway County | 41 | |
| North College Hill (Cincinnati), OH | 50 | vs. Villa Madonna | 43 | |
| North Laurel | 90 | vs. Jackson County | 47 | |
| North Oldham | 53 | at Grant County | 47 | |
| Owensboro | 65 | vs. Apollo | 39 | |
| Owensboro Catholic | 72 | at Daviess County | 40 | |
| Paris | 58 | vs. Montgomery County | 43 | |
| Pendleton County | 66 | vs. Nicholas County | 64 | (overtime) |
| Pineville | 93 | vs. Ligon COGO (Ligon), (KY home school) | 48 | |
| Pleasure Ridge Park | 70 | at Fairdale | 45 | |
| Powell County | 81 | vs. Owsley County | 46 | |
| Red Bird | 56 | vs. Cordia | 38 | |
| Rockcastle County | 82 | vs.Madison Southern (at Berea College) | 78 | |
| Rowan County | 57 | at Bath County | 47 | |
| Russell | 51 | at Raceland | 41 | |
| Seneca | 72 | at Waggener | 67 | |
| Simon Kenton | 62 | at Oldham County | 50 | |
| Somerset | 67 | vs. Southwestern | 43 | |
| South Laurel | 68 | vs. Whitley County | 31 | |
| South Warren | 60 | at Greenwood | 57 | |
| Spencer County | 76 | vs. North Hardin | 48 | |
| St. Henry | 80 | vs. Holmes | 48 | |
| Todd County Central | 58 | at Logan County | 54 | |
| WEB DuBois | 71 | at Valley | 35 | |
| Walton-Verona | 96 | vs. Bracken County | 85 | |
| Warren Central | 75 | vs. Bowling Green | 67 | (overtime) |
| Warren East | 69 | at Allen County-Scottsville | 52 | |
| Washington County | 82 | vs. Bluegrass United (Lexington), (KY home school) | 61 | |
| West Jessamine | 86 | vs. East Jessamine | 44 | |
| Western | 84 | vs. Butler | 76 | (double overtime) |
| Western Hills | 51 | vs. Anderson County | 41 | |
| Williamsburg | 89 | vs. Lynn Camp | 82 | |
| Wolfe County | 63 | vs. Jackson City | 56 |
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