Warren Central came into the match-up against Hamilton Southeastern undefeated on the season and riding high after beating Lawrence North on Friday night. HSE was looking to stop the Warriors in their own gym as the Royals travelled to Warren.

Warren Central was insanely hot from the field in the first quarter. The shooting was exemplified by Mack Smith’s banked-in three-pointer near the end of the period. Smith scored 13 points in the opening frame for Warren Central.

Hamilton Southeastern wasn’t far beyond Warren Central in the shooting department. The Royals were 7-12 from the field in the opening quarter with Zach Gunn and Aaron Etherington leading the way. Gunn had seven points in the first period.

The game and shooting slowed down in the second quarter. Smith didn’t play in the second quarter because he had two fouls called on him in the first period. After shooting 13-15 including 7-8 from three-point range in the first period, Warren Central shot 5-13 in the quarter going into halftime. The Warriors did get a three-pointer from Allante Harper right before the break to give them the 33-27 lead.

Hamilton Southeastern was called for only one foul in the first half. That was not the case in the second half as Jack Davidson was called for three fouls in the first two and half minutes of the third quarter. Overall the third quarter was played at a slow pace, but Warren Central extended its lead to nine points. Davidson returned to the lineup to hit two three-pointers late in the period to bring Hamilton Southeastern within 42-39 heading into the final quarter.

The story of the game was Warren Central’s three-point shooting. Warren Central seemingly hit a three-pointer each time that Hamilton Southeastern cut into the Warrior’s lead. Trequan Spivey hit a number of clutch outside shots. Spivey, not known as a shooter, went 4-5 from the three-point line in the game. Warren Central shot 12-21 from three-point range in the game.

Dean Tate and Mack Smith combined for 15 points in the fourth quarter to keep Hamilton Southeastern at bay. Warren Central won 69-58.

Mack Smith had a game-high 25 points. Trequan Spivey added 18 while Dean Tate finished with 13 points in the win.

Zach Gunn led Hamilton Southeastern with 18 points, but Warren Central did a good job of keeping him off the glass. Aaron Etherington had 14 points and six rebounds while Noah Smith scored 12 points in the loss.

Warren Central is now 9-0 on the season. Hamilton Southeastern drops to 11-2.

HSE – Jack Davidson 6 (2-3 3FG), 3 assists, Aaron Etherington 14 points (5-9 FG, 3-4 3FG, 1-2 FT), 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, 3 turnovers, Connor Rotterman 8 (2-5 FG, 4-4 FT), 1 assist, 2 turnovers, Noah Smith 12 points (5-11 FG, 1-2 3FG, 1-1 FT), Zach Gunn 18 (7-14 FG, 0-1 3FG, 4-4 FT) 4 rebounds, 1 block, 1 turnover, Austin Holzum 1 rebound, Chaz Birchfield 2 rebounds, Nick Bowman 1 rebound

Warren – Paul Minor 5 points, Mack Smith 25 points (8-10 FG, 4-4 3FG, 5-5 FT), 5 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 assist, Trequan Spivey 18 (7-8 FG, 4-5 3FG), 3 assists, 3 turnovers, Dean Tat 13 points (2-5 FG, 8-10 FT), 2 assists, David Bell 0 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 turnovers, Allante Harper 8 points (2-3 3FG)