LEXINGTON, Ky. (KT) – Damarion Walkup, Kade Unseld and Omari Glover scored 17 points apiece Saturday night to lead Warren Central to the UK Healthcare Sweet 16 state championship with a 64-60 victory over defending champion George Rogers Clark.
It was revenge for the Dragons, who fell 43-42 to GRC in last year’s championship game.
The Cardinals trailed 52-42 entering the fourth quarter before fighting back. Jerone Morton made two free throws to make it 52-46 but GRC could never catch up although pulling within three points twice and then 62-60 with 12 seconds remaining after back-to-back baskets from Sam Parish. Unseld locked up the win with two free throws with eight seconds remaining to set the final score.
Warren Central was efficient offensively, shooting 55% from the field, 54% from 3-point range and made 11 of 15 free throws. The Dragons also committed only six turnovers.
It was the 26th consecutive win for Warren Central, which finished 36-1.
Morton collected 23 points, six rebounds and six assists for GRC in the championship game.
Earlier Saturday, GRC defeated Frederick Douglass 51-44 and Warren Central held off Woodford County 56-48 in semifinal games before more than 14,000 in Rupp Arena.
With 11,664 fans watching the finals, it was the best attended Kentucky High School Athletic Associaton Boys' Sweet 16 since 2014 with a total of 99,565 over the four-day event.