By Jason Martin:
Warren Central entered the Region 4 Championship game following an impressive 17 point win over top seeded Monroe County, but also with the knowledge that the team had lost two straight games to arch rival Bowling Green. Those two games meant nothing once the ball was tipped, but this one meant everything.
Bowling Green started slow and the Dragons scored early, but trailed 13-10 after the first quarter. Warren Central would never lead again, falling behind 24-16 at the half following a late off-balance Tucker Sine three pointer from the corner. In the third quarter, the Dragons opened up the offense a bit, improving on their 35% clip from the field in the first half. They cut the lead to three but still trailed by six going into the fourth quarter.
The Purples led 36-27 when Warren Central began to find themselves for one final run. With under 90 seconds to play, it was a two point game. Tucker Sine made a pair of free throws and the Dragons missed consecutive shots in the paint. In the end, Bowling Green would put the game away after rebounding two consecutive missed one and one free throw opportunities and earning a second and a third chance.
Warren Central made them earn it and in the process created the drama the Region 4 Championship deserved, but Bowling Green was a little too strong as the final horn sounded. Bowling Green has won back to back Region Titles, both over Warren Central in the finals.
FINAL: BG 46, WC 43 (Sine 16; Savage 15)
