GBB Marion Co. Tourney: #8 Warren, #20 Roncalli advance to quarters

INDIANAPOLIS – Warren Central suffered through a feast or famine first half in its opening round game of the Marion County tournament Tuesday evening. In the end, the Warriors brought enough to the table to subdue a wounded but gallant Perry Meridian team 56-44.

Warren Central enjoyed a 21-14 margin at halftime. That sounds low scoring but comfortable. It wasn’t. The Warriors scored 16 of those 21 points in the space of four and a half minutes during the first two quarters. For the rest of the half, they accounted for only five. Indeed, they trailed nearly the entire half.

Due to injury, Perry Meridian has been playing this season without Lindsay Spears, one of the Falcons most potent offensive weapons. Nonetheless, when you play a Mike Armstrong coached team the one thing you are sure of is that there will be a stiff defense in your way. That was certainly true early in this contest. Warren Central clearly started the game wanting to establish its ability to get to the basket. The problem came when the Warriors got there. Perry’s inside defense stonewalled the Warriors throughout the first quarter and at the end of one period the Falcons led 12-5.

That effort from the Falcons was completely erased in the first 1:14 of the second quarter. Warren opened on a lightning 7-0 run to tie the contest. They then went three and a half minutes without scoring a point. It may have been the key moment in the game. Despite holding the Warriors without a point, Perry Meridian was unable to regain control. The Falcons only totaled two points during that time. The main reason was four missed free throws including the front end of a one and one. That would be a recurring theme.

You wouldn’t expect the high powered Warriors to be held in check for too long and they weren’t. Warren Central closed the half on a 9-0 run fueled by six points from Brandi McKinney. That gave them the seven point cushion at intermission and set the table for the second half.

Warren Central is very quick and loves to use that in its style of play. Once behind, Perry Meridian had little choice but to oblige and the second half pace was furious. The Falcons did a nice job of staying in the game, but McKinney did a better job of keeping the Warriors in control. She scored 10 of her game high 20 points in a third quarter that ended with Warren holding a 40-31 lead. It had been closer much of the quarter and could have been very tight had it not been for the Falcons continued woes at the charity stripe. On the night, Perry Meridian shot just 10 of 25 from the line.

The final period was more of the same. Perry managed to stay in the contest but could never draw closer than seven points. Warren central began to dominate the offensive boards late in the contest and it was enough to keep the margin at a comfortable level. As the final minutes ticked by, Warren did a magnificent job of controlling the ball and insuring there would be no comeback.

In the evening’s first game, Roncalli easily downed a plucky but outmanned Speedway squad 61-36. The Rebels raced to a 14-1 lead after one quarter and were never headed.