No. 1 St. Xavier proved once again why it is the defending King of the Bluegrass champion, finding a way to win even when the offense wasn’t flowing at its usual pace.
The Tigers committed 17 turnovers but leaned on timely shooting, rebounding, and late-game composure to pull away from No. 13 Warren Central for a 62-54 victory Thursday night in King of the Bluegrass play at Fairdale High School. The win marked St. Xavier’s fifth straight KOB victory and improved the Tigers to 4-1 on the season.
Josh Lindsay delivered the difference-maker performance for St. Xavier, earning Central Bank Player of the Game honors after scoring a game-high 23 points. Lindsay hit 8 of 12 shots from the field, knocked down three 3-pointers, and sealed the game at the free-throw line in the final seconds as Warren Central made one last push.
Despite entering the game averaging 88.5 points per contest, the defending champions were held to 62 against a physical Warren Central defense that forced turnovers and kept pressure on the ball throughout the night. The Dragons led 13-11 after the first quarter and briefly slowed St. Xavier’s rhythm with early steals and transition buckets.
St. Xavier responded with a decisive second-quarter surge, using a 16-2 run to seize control. The Tigers outscored Warren Central 21-7 in the period, turning defensive rebounds into scoring chances and taking a 32-20 lead into halftime.
The Tigers extended the margin to as many as 19 points late in the third quarter behind balanced contributions. Jeremiah Jackson added 17 points and eight rebounds, while Chief Cameron provided key second-chance opportunities and perimeter shooting. St. Xavier finished with a 37-31 rebounding edge, including 13 offensive boards that helped offset the turnover total.
Warren Central, now 3-1, refused to go quietly. Armani Byrd paced the Dragons with 19 points, and the Dragons cut the deficit to eight late in the fourth quarter. But the defending champions answered with stops and free throws down the stretch to close it out.
It wasn’t the Tigers’ cleanest performance, but it was another statement win that sends the Tigers to Saturday's quarterfinals where they will face North Oldham at 7:30pm. Warren Central will face Grayson County on Saturday at 7:30pm in the consolation bracket.
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