After suffering a last-second defeat to Carmel last week, Warren Central needed a win on Tuesday to clinch their first outright MIC title in school history. Using a big run to start the second half, the Warriors would get the victory they needed over Pike. Senior guard Mack Smith would score 16 of his game high 21 in the final 16 minutes.

Offense was definitely hard to come by early on, as a Trequan Spivey three-pointer would be the only points for either side for the first five minutes of the game. Warren Central star Mack Smith seemed to hurry the looks he did get, resulting in misses from behind the arc. Paul Minor would bury a corner three for the home team, but Pike's leading scorer, Justin Williams, would put the momentum squarely with the visitors. He worked his way free for a 17 footer, then got fouled on a layup attempt and made both free throws. After a Warren Central miss, Williams would get an outlet pass and race up the floor. Just before the buzzer, he would launch a three that banked in while being fouled by Ki-ng Tyler. Williams would miss the free throw, however, and Pike would hold a three point lead after one.

The teams would claw back and forth in the second period. Isiah James of Pike gave the Red Devils a two point lead with a big putback dunk, but Warren would respond. Pike's defensive pressure seemed to rattle the Warrior offense, making every catch on the perimeter difficult and disrupting the rhythm of Warren Central. Pike would take a two point lead into halftime.

The start of the third quarter would show why Warren Central has been atop the MIC standings all season. A 14-4 run to open the period gave them a 32-24 lead halfway into the quarter. Trequan Spivey and Mack Smith would be key to the run. Smith, whose shot struggled to fall earlier, would refuse to be stopped on the perimeter, muscling his way to the hoop for layups and free throw opportunities. Isiah James would do his best to keep Pike close, scoring six in the quarter, including a thundering transition dunk on Warren Central's Paul Minor.

Pike's leading scorer, Justin Williams, had the unenviable task of trying to score on Warrior sophomore David Bell. Bell held Williams without a field goal throughout the entire second and third quarters. Williams finally got back on track with a jumper at the 4:46 mark of the fourth, but Mack Smith would promptly respond with a layin. A Dean Tate triple with just under three minutes remaining would push the Warren Central lead to seven, and it would reach eight on a David Bell free throw before Pike would make their final push. Isiah James and Darian Porch would cut the deficit to four points, and Pike nearly got an over and back call against the Warriors with a minute remaining.

That would be as close as they got, however, as Mack Smith would salt away the game at the stripe, handing the outright MIC title to Criss Byers and his Warren Central squad.

Pike 11 9 11 24 - 55
Warren Central 8 10 23 21 - 62

Pike: Darian Porch 16 points (6/9 FGs, 4/5 FTs), 11rbs; Isiah James 15 points (6/10 FGs, 3/5 FTs); Justin Williams 15 points (5/9 FGs, 3/6 3Ps, 2/3 FTs); Ditwan Gary 9 points

Warren Central: Mack Smith 21 points (5/10 FGs, 11/12 FTs), 5rbs; David Bell 10 points (3/4 FGs, 4/6 FTs), 7rbs, 3ast; Trequan Spivey 8 points (3/3 FGs, 1/1 3Ps); Dean Tate 8 points; Paul Minor 7 points (2/2 FGs, 2/2 FTs); Ki-ng Tyler 5 points; Allante Harper 3 points