Warren Central and Franklin-Simpson squared off in what would be a very intriguing high school basketball game on Tuesday night at Warren Central High School.
The explosive Dragons, who were coming off a 73-71, double-overtime win over Butler in the Apollo Holiday Classic, welcomed in a mighty Wildcats club that fell to Bowling Green in the Meijer Holiday Classic championship game, losing by a score of 55-42.
Thanks to a stellar performance from Tavin Lovan, who scored 22 points and grabbed 6 rebounds, Franklin-Simpson outlasted Warren Central, winning 49-37 in front of a energetic crowd at Tim Riley Court.
Along with Lovan’s big outing, Trey Radcliffe dropped 11 points while Carlesso Doaks added a production of 10 points. In their loss, Skyelar Potter carried the load for the Dragons by tallying 15 points.
From the time the ball was thrown up for the opening tipoff and for most of the match, both teams went back and forth.
Warren Central and Franklin-Simpson traded baskets all throughout the first quarter, as the Dragons held a slim 9-8 lead after eight minutes of action. At the time, Potter and Lovan each had 5 points for their respected clubs.
The Dragons outscored the Wildcats 11-8 in the second period and helped build a four-point lead at halftime, with the scoreboard reading 20-16. Neither team shot well in the opening half, as Warren Central went 8-of-23 and Franklin-Simpson was just 5-of-23.
After two quarters, Potter had 11 points and 8 rebounds while Lovan, who battled foul trouble in the first half, had registered 7 points and a pair of boards.
Trailing by pair of baskets, the Wildcats came out of the locker room and opened the third quarter with a 9-3 run to take a 25-23 advantage with 5:57 remaining in the period. Doaks nailed a pair of three-pointers while Lovan hit one of his own.
Datravion Jewell hit a full-court shot just before the buzzer to give the Dragons a 33-29 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
In the final period, Franklin-Simpson’s Doaks hit another three and Lovan started scoring at ease, helping give it a 46-37 advantage with 1:26 left to play in the affair. Warren Central would try to respond, but wouldn’t be able to, as the Wildcats escaped with a hard-fought victory over the Dragons.
Warren Central returns to action on Friday at home against crosstown rival Warren East at 7:15 p.m. while Franklin-Simpson hosts Todd County Central also on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
–Follow Sporting Times High School Insider Tyler Mansfield on Twitter @_TylerMansfield—
