South Warren Spartans (3-2) @ Warren Central Dragons (3-1)
January 29, 2021 – 7:30pm – Dragon Gym
By Perry Swack
Warren Central invites crosstown rival South Warren to Tim Riley Court for each team’s second district game of the season. The Dragons have won three-straight games to improve to 3-1 on the year. South had also won three-consecutive contest before dropping a home game Monday night against Apollo.
Current District Standings
Bowling Green 2-0
Warren Central 1-0
Greenwood 1-2
Warren East 0-1
South Warren 0-1
Last Time Out
South Warren dropped a home game with Apollo, 55-53
Warren Central defeated Greenwood, 65-43
Last Meeting – February 25, 2020
Warren Central eliminated South Warren from the 2020 postseason with a 70-56 win in the 14th District Semifinals. The Dragons put four players in double figures as Dre Boyd led the way with 21 points and 10 rebounds. The Spartans were led by Caleb Mitchell with 19 points, while Caden Veltkamp grabbed 7 rebounds in the loss.
What to Watch For
South Warren’s calling card this season has been defense. Outside of an opening-night loss to Greenwood, the Spartans are allowing only 43.5 points per game. Coach Jason Holland’s club has improved its offensive output since the opening game as well. The team is averaging 57 points in its last four games. Luke Burton is the team’s leading scorer at 11.2 points per game. The junior forward is shooting a high mark from three at nearly 50% on the season. Junior Caden Veltkamp is nearly averaging a double-double with 9.8 points and 9.0 rebounds per contest. Cooper Myers has been a steady third option with 7.0 points per game and making six three-pointers through four games.
As for the Dragons, coach Will Unseld’s crew has also exploded after an opening-night loss. In its last three games, Warren Central is averaging 74 points per game while only allowing only 55.7. The team has been on fire from three-point land in the three wins. The Dragons have hit 32 three-pointers, an average of more than 10 per night. It has been a balanced approach with Izayiah Villafuerte, Jace Carver, Tyson Garrett, and Jaiden Lawrence each recording at least three three-pointers in one game over this stretch. Chappelle Whitney has been hard to guard in the post, leading the team with 12.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.
Prediction
Warren Central will remain hot from downtown, nailing ten three-pointers on the night as it coasts to an 18-point win over South Warren. I predict the game will be tight through the first half as the Spartans will hang tough behind solid performances from Burton, Veltkamp, and Tayshaun Jones among others. However, just as the Dragons did last week – when it went on a 24-6 run to blow the game open in the third quarter against Greenwood – I expect Central to do the same tonight. South has great defenders that will be able to limit the Dragons in spurts, but Unseld’s club has too many shooters. In the end, WC will move to 2-0 in district play in preparation for a three-game week with road games against Hopkinsville, Bowling Green, and Barren County.
Warren Central 69, South Warren 51
Stat to Know – 37
Warren Central has been dominant on the glass this season averaging 37 rebounds per game. Led by Whitney at 8.5, Omari Glover is averaging 7 rebounds per game, while Lawrence (6.2), Carver (6.0), and Damarion Walkup (5.7) also have been reliable in the rebounding department.
