Warren Central 85 - Franklin-Simpson 58

Warren Central High School, Bowling Green, Kentucky - 01-29-08

Something was trying to keep me from seeing Tuesday’s game between Franklin-Simpson and Warren Central. I had to work in Frankfort today, and one pesky problem after another cropped up during the weekday. On the trip home, I got caught up for over an hour on I-65 when some truck driver decided to turn a section of guardrail into modern art. That made me late getting back to the Rockfield Metropolitan Area.

After eating supper with my family, I was going to dash out the door and head for the Dragon’s lair on Morgantown Road. We were clearing the table when a line of thunderstorms sped through Warren County knocking out power to our house and apparently most of the southern end of the county. The wind blew a big hickory tree over on my garage. Somehow, it didn’t damage the building, but there is tree all over the backyard. There wasn’t anything I could do about the tree tonight.

I get a little antsy when there’s high winds because my property has 45 oak, hickory, and sassafras trees on it. One oak tree towers over the house. The thing is huge. It makes me nervous.

From our hill, which overlooks Bowling Green, I could see that the lights were still on in the city. So, I jumped in my truck and headed for Warren Central High School’s gym.

I got there at the end of the first quarter, and Franklin-Simpson had a 13-11 lead on the Dragons. I was sure I was in for a classic high school tilt between two very proud basketball programs.

In the second quarter, the Wildcats ran into a squall line that had the same ferocity as the one that rumbled through Bowling Green just an hour or so prior to the game. Franklin-Simpson failed to defend the perimeter, and the Warren Central storm starting raining treys on the Wildcats like an out-of-control super cell. I expected to see storm chasers flying into the gym with Doppler radars, IMAX cameras, and crazy electronic gadgets to measure what kind of storm could produce a thunderclap of three pointers like few have seen in these parts since the big hail storm in 1998.

Hail stones the size of basketballs and every one of them went through the net on Warren Centrals first half goal.

Warren Central hit five three pointers in-a-row, a lay-up, and another three-point shot. The furious run left Franklin-Simpson absolutely punch drunk.

That’s the cumulative effect of Warren Central’s press. They never stop pressing, and they never stop being aggressive. They are the most aggressive basketball team I've seen this season. Franklin-Simpson likes to attack the basket, but Central attacks everything. Central Coach Tim Riley uses the press the way it's supposed to be used: he uses it continuously. It's not a gimmick with Riley and not intended to spring a few steals or motivate his team. He uses the press the way the U.S. Air Force uses "shock and awe." The press is designed to wear down an opponent and to frustrate them. Warren Central does it masterfully.

The second quarter was a disaster for Franklin-Simpson. County Judge/Executive Jim Townsend should consider writing a letter to Governor Steve Beshear declaring the second quarter of Tuesday's game a disaster area. The governor's office would respond with one saying, "quit playing zone when Warren Central's shooters could throw a BB into a soda straw."

Warren Central outscored the Wildcats 31-12 in the second and took a commanding 42-25 lead to the break.

Franklin-Simpson continued to take atrocious shots in the second half, and the Dragons continued to grind them with a 2-2-1, no frills, press. Franklin-Simpson pressed the Dragons, as well. Any team that decides to play that type of defense against Warren Central better be prepared to play it with great intensity. They also make danged sure that they get back on defense because Central is going to attack the basket with the intensity of a west Kentucky thunderstorm.

The Dragons led 61-41 at the end of the third.

I don't have much to say about the fourth quarter. It was played because the rules say that it must be played. Late in the quarter, Coach Riley cleared his bench, and the reserves came out shooting and attacking the baskets. He has those kids programmed to play one way: all out.

Final: Warren Central wins by 27, 85-58.

OBSERVATIONS

Not Fair: An official called a charge on Rayco Bryant tonight that was clearly a blocking call. Bryant is a big player, and the ref might have taken that into account when he knocked the Central player to the court. "Sir Rayco" is going to have that happen to him. It reminds me of when Clarence Martin played at WKU. Referees whistled him for a lot of fouls that he didn't commit. Players sometimes ran into Martin and fell down. Then, an official would call "Big C" for the foul. Baby Bark...I mean Baby Shaq better get used to that.

What's That Sound: Warren Central has the best P.A. system Pick and Roll has ever heard. It is clear and crisp, and the announcer does an excellent job, too. He'll even comment on the action, but he is not overbearing. When Al Thompson shot a free throw that rounded the rim, he said, "made it around the turn and down the chute." I like that. It gets a "Three Thumbs Up" from Pick and Roll.

Shoot Out for Pizza: At halftime of Warren Central's games fans can pay a buck and take three point shot to win a free pizza. I love it.

In the Dark: I had to write this post in the dark. No names. No stats. It's all from memory. It's starting to get cold in the house, too. Battery powered laptops are great things.