It was a slow start for South Warren in the third place game of the Warren East Christmas Tournament as Bullitt Central senior Zack Humphrey hit three from downtown to lead his team to a 17-7 early advantage. In the second period, the Spartans defense tightened up and held the Cougars to just nine total points, while scoring 17 themselves and trailing by only two at the half.
Led by Zack McDaniel and Brandon Stacker offensively, the supporting cast started making shots as the game saw its share of lead changes in the third period and early in the fourth. Humphrey’s 18 points and the inside aggression of center Brett Bourland, who also had 18, was just a little too much for the Spartans.
Jacob Smiley hit a three to make it a one possession game and Dayton Gumm finished an old fashioned three point play to cut into a 50-48 lead in the final minutes. Smiley had a look from the left wing to tie it at the buzzer but it hit front iron and rolled off as the buzzer sounded. South Warren heads home for the Christmas break and then to South Oldham for the John Fendley Classic before coming back to their own gym to open 2014 against Bowling Green.
Zack McDaniel – 17 (POG)
Brandon Stacker – 11 (All Tournament Team)
Jacob Smiley – 8
Dayton Gumm – 6
Cameron Buckner – 5
Wes King – 2
Brad Logsdon – 2
