5th Place Semifinals
Consolation Bracket
Trinity def. DeSales 55-48
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Harlan County def. Male 62-59
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Fairdale def. Spencer County 82-78
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Central Catholic (PA) def. Woodford County 49-47
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In our final quarterfinal matchup of the day, it was 24th ranked DuPont Manual taking on 2nd ranked DuPont Manual. It was a pair of early three pointers for Manual that gave the Crimsons control as they burst ahead 10-4 midway through the opening quarter. A Tay'vion Wells three pointer with 3:27 remaining would pull Warren Central within 3 points, but the Crimsons responded with a 4-0 spurt to pull away to 16-9. The Crimsons remained hot from three-point range using a trio of long-range jumpers to take a 25-14 lead into the quarter break. Chappelle Whitney's scored five points for the Dragons during 10-5 run cutting the Manual lead to 29-24 with 4:36 remaining in the half. A basket by Manual's Justice Decker pushed the Crimson's lead back to 8 points with 1:37 remaining in the half, but it was a late 5-0 run by Warren Central that sent them to the locker room trailing 31-34.
Demarion Walkup gave the Dragons their first lead of the game at 35-34 just over a minute into the second half as part of an 18-2 run by Warren Central to take control of the game. The Crimsons got as close as 7 points with 1:40 remaining in the third quarter following a Brady Hurley basket. The Dragons responded with a pair of three-pointers by Wells and Unself to push back ahead 55-42 going into the fourth quarter. Manual never got closer than 14 points in the final quarter with Warren Central extending their lead to as many as 20 points. The Dragons advanced with the 73-55 victory.
Warren Central's Demarion Walkup earned Central Bank Player of the Game honors with 11 points and 5 rebounds. Kade Unseld led the Dragons with 16 points and 7 rebounds. Omari Glover added 13 points and 10 rebounds and Chappelle Whitney had 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Dragons. Justice Decker and Damone King led DuPont Manual in scoring with 12 points apiece.
Warren Central advances to Monday's semifinals to play North Oldham at 9:00pm. DuPont Manual will take on Sagemont (FL) at 4:30pm on Monday in the consolation bracket.
DuPont Manual got off to a strong start defensively forcing a pair of Woodford County turnovers and holding the Yellow Jackets scoreless on their first eight field goals attempts. Brady Hurley connected on a free throw and field goal on back-to-back possessions for the Crimsons giving them an early 5-point lead. Aden Nelson layup with 1:30 remaining in the first quarter capped a 6-0 Woodford County run to give the Yellow Jackets a 10-9 lead. The two teams would exchange the lead three more times to end the first quarter with Damone King's in the final 10 seconds of the quarter giving Manual the 13-12 lead at the quarter break. A steal and basket by Santonio Wade two minutes in the second quarter would tie the game back up at 17-17. Josh Darst would score five of the next six for the Crimsons who used their own 6-0 run to move ahead 23-17 midway through the quarter. A J.J. Jenkins' three-pointer in the closing seconds of the half capped a 10-2 Woodford County run to give the Yellow Jackets a 27-25 lead. Brady Hurley would connect on Manual's final possession of the first half to send the teams to the locker room tied at 27.
The two teams battled back-and-forth early in the second half staying within a possession of each other until a 7-2 run by Woodford County looked to give the Yellow Jackets some breathing room at 37-33. DuPont Manual quickly responded with Damone King's basket a minute late tying the game at 37-37. The Woodford County lead grew back to as many as four points before King's basket in the final minute of the quarter pulled Manual within 39-41. An 8-2 run by Woodford County to open the fourth quarter put the Jackets ahead 49-41. The Crimsons just wouldn't give up though with back-to-back three-pointers by Malachi Coleman and Justice Decker ending a 10-1 Manual run that put them ahead 53-52 with 37 seconds remaining in the game. Damone King took a charge on the other end to give the Crimsons possession again with 18 seconds remaining in play. A final basket by Decker gave Manual the 55-52 lead they would hold onto after a last second miss by Aden Nelson.
Brady Hurley led the way for DuPont Manual with 13 points and 6 rebounds earning Central Bank Players of the Game honors. Damone King added 12 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists for the Crimsons. Woodford County was led by Aden Nelson with a game-high 15 points. Makhi Smith and J.J. Jenkins added 12 points apiece for the Yellow Jackets.
DuPont Manual advances to Sunday's quarterfinals to play the winner of Warren Central vs. DeSales at 9:00pm. Woodford County will take on the loser of Warren Central vs. DeSales at 9:00pm on Sunday in the consolation bracket.
