BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Barren County defeated Warren Central 58-44 on Monday night in the fourth region quarterfinal in Diddle Arena. With the win Barren County advances to next Monday night’s semi final against Clinton County.

 

The Trojans were led by the duo of Tate Spillman and Kade Hardy. Spillman charted 17 points to lead all scorers. He added four assists, three rebounds, and one steal in the effort. Hardy managed 14 points highlighted by a 3-for-6 mark from beyond the arc. Ant McAfee led the Dragons with 12 points along with four rebounds, two assists, and a steal.

 

Barren County took the opening tip as Waylon Clemmons would feed Hardy for the layup to kick off the fourth region tournament. Tate Spillman then kicked off the barrage from deep for Barren County with a three from the wing. The Dragons would scratch the scoring column nearly three minutes in as Ant McAfee found Anthony for the layup.

 

Barren County then found their shot from beyond the arc, as Kade Hardy connected on back to back from beyond the arc. Brey Bewlye followed that up with another from deep, forcing the Dragons to take a timeout, trailing the Trojans 14-2 at the 3:02 mark in the first quarter.

 

Kirk’s 1-for-2 trip to the line combined with McAfee’s second basket of the night would make it a nine point game with 35 seconds left in the period. The Trojans would push the lead back to double digits with a pair from the stripe for the final points of the first, holding a 16-5 lead after the first quarter of play. Barren County held Warren Central to a mere 16.7-percent clip from the field in the first, connecting on just two from the field.

 

A pair of free throws by Spillman would kick off the scoring for the second, Kirk would connect on the Dragons first field goal of the period nearly two minutes in. Anthony connected on the Dragons first from deep forcing the Trojans into their first timeout and cutting into the lead, trailing 18-11 with 5:02 left until the break.

 

A turnaround jumper in the lane from KJ Johnson followed by a McAfee bucket from the wing cut the margin to five but Bewley went the distance to make it a seven point game and Hardy pushed it to 10 again with his third triple of the night. 

 

Hulbert found McCombs inside the paint and then forced a Trojan turnover as McAfee went up and over on the inbounds pass to make it a six point game again with just over a minute until the locker room break. Barren County would respond with a bucket of their own and then Hulbert would get charged with an offensive foul with less than 10 seconds left but Trojans couldn’t convert but would take a 27-19 lead into the half.

 

Sharp shooting beyond the arc from Barren County was the story of the first half as Kade Hardy would lead all scorers with 11 points, connecting on 3-of-4 from deep. Jarek Kirk managed six points in the first half to lead the Dragons.

 

Dragons would start the second half with possession. Kirk would get fouled on his way up charging Joshua Decker with his second foul of the game. He would connect on 1-of-2 to make it a seven point game. 

 

Miscommunication on the other end would mark the 11th Trojan turnover of the game. Johnson would connect from deep pushing the Dragons points off turnovers total to 12 and make it a four point game. 

 

A free throw from Kirk would make it a one possession game but the conventional three pointer from Gavin Nunn would push the Trojan lead back to six. Spillman would follow that up with one of his own to push the lead to 35-26. They then forced the Dragons into a turnover and Nunn would connect in the paint yet again putting the Trojans in front by 11 forcing Warren Central into a timeout with 3:47 left in the third period.

 

Out of the timeout, Anthony would feed McAfee for the lay-in. Kirk would secure the board on the other end as Johnson’s triple would make it a two possession game, down 37-31. Spillman would answer with a three of his own leading to a frenzy for the fans in cardinal and gold. 

 

The big man, Joshua Decker would get in on the action from beyond the arc, pushing the lead back to double figures for the Trojans. McAfee’s pull up jumper from deep was off the mark as the third expired with Barren County holding a 43-33 advantage.

 

Going into the fourth the Trojans would score the first three points, forcing Warren Central into their third timeout, trailing 46-33 with 6:38 left to play. Nunn would connect again after multiple offensive boards for Barren County, now up by 15 with five minutes and change left. 

 

Kirk would find a lane to the basket and the Trojans would get whistled for a traveling violation but an offensive foul called on Kirk would send possession back to Barren County with less than five minutes to play. 

 

The Trojans would slow the tempo, sharing the ball around the perimeter before the Dragons fouled with less than three minutes on the clock. McAfee would cut it to 14 with 2:39 left, trailing 52-38. Jackson Reece would score his first points with a minute to play, pushing the lead to 56-39. Anthony would answer with a quick three to make it a 14 point yet again as the Dragons would take their final timeout with 39 seconds left. 

 

With 30 seconds left Hardy would connect on a pair at the stripe to push the lead to 16. Ramaun North would convert the layup down low with 15 seconds left. Barren County would take a timeout with 13 seconds on the clock, leading 58-44. The Trojans would dribble out the final seconds as they sent the three-time defending region champs home with a 58-44 win, advancing to the semifinals.