It took an unexpected three overtimes, but Warren Central remained undefeated with a 71-67 victory over Zionsville Tuesday night.

From the start, it was an unusual game. Warren Central was passive against Zionsville’s zone early. As shots rimmed off for the Warriors, Zionsville built a 12-0 lead. Riley Bertram was aggressive early for the Eagles. He was able to convert in the paint a couple times to get things rolling for Zionsville.

After trailing 16-2 heading to the second quarter, Warren Central bounced back in the second period. Dean Tate was able to take the lid off the basket with a couple of three-pointers for Warren Central. The script was flipped in the second as Warren Central outscored Zionsville 14-4.

Zionsville opened the second half with a couple of baskets to extend its lead to 24-16. From there, David Bell asserted himself in nearly every play. Bell was all over the floor, like usual. He finished with 11 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and four steals. Bell spearheaded the Warren Central attack in the second half.

Despite being tied going to the fourth, it looked like Warren Central was going to pull away for the victory. The Warriors were up 10 points in the fourth. At the time, Warren Central had outscored Zionsville 42-18 in the final three quarters.

The game took another sharp turn from there. Isaiah Thompson started to pour in points. Warren Central failed to convert free throws that could have iced the game. Nathan Childress finished a crucial three-point play with 25 seconds left. After Warren Central split a pair of free throws, Isaiah Thompson hit a left wing three as he came off a screen to tie the game with six seconds left.

In overtime, each team scored then Warren Central held the ball against Zionsville’s zone. It was a zone that Warren Central struggled against most of the night. The only time Warren Central looked comfortable in the half court set was when the ball was entered into David Bell in the key. He kicked to Dean Tate and Jakobie Robinson a few times for three-pointers. That’s mostly how Bell finished with seven assists.

After melting over two minutes off the clock, Warren Central had a good look from Jakobie Robinson rim off. That took the game to a second overtime.

In the second overtime, the game resumed a normal pace after Warren Central planned to hold the ball but turned it over. Isaiah Thompson kicked off the scoring by knocking down two free throws. The Purdue-bound junior lived at the free throw line. Thompson went 14-14. He proceeded to hit some tough shots in the six to eight-foot range as well. Thompson finished with 34 points on the night.

Thompson’s scoring had Zionsville up two points late in the second overtime when a trap occurred resulting in a Zionsville foul. It sent Antwaan Cushingberry to the line with 13.4 seconds left. He knocked down two pressure free throws to the tie the game. Thompson had a decent look at a right win three-pointer but it was short as time expired on the rebound.

There were scores for both teams to open the third overtime scoring. Thompson buried a three-pointer to give Zionsville a one-point lead. Things got ugly for the Eagles when Thompson was called for a double foul with Antwaan Cushingberry moments later. The call fouled out Thompson and Cushingberry. The suspect call deflated Zionsville since they rely on Thompson to create so much of the offense.

Riley Bertram fouled out for Zionsville a couple plays later, and Warren Central held on from there.

In three overtimes, Warren Central (18-0) defeated Zionsville (12-3) 71-67. Dean Tate finished with 19 points. Jakobie Robinson had 16 points and 11. David Bell filled the stat sheet as mentioned earlier. Jesse Bingham had 12 points and nine rebounds. Antwaan Cushingberry added nine. Joe Rush had four points.

Isaiah Thompson led Zionsville with 34 points. Riley Bertram added 14. Nathan Childress compiled 13 points and 11 rebounds. Marke Stemme, Mark Smith and Hogan Orbaugh each added two points.