INDIANAPOLIS — The two best teams in Sectional 10 bumped heads on Tuesday night and it was a thriller. By the time the smoke cleared North Central was dancing at half court after knocking off the defending Class 4A State Champs Warren Central 41-39.
North Central jumped out of the ride and went on a 7-0 run to start the game. It wasn’t until Warren Central’s Trinity McClendon knocked down a 3-pointer to put the Warriors on the board. The defending state champs seemed to be unsettled early on as North Central kept them on their heels.
It was obvious early on who the hunter was and who was being hunted. North Central’s freshman Tanyuel Welch stepped off of the bus with crazy confidence as she knocked down a three ball to put the Panthers up 11-3. She led the Panthers with 13 points. At the end of the first quarter North Central was in complete control 13-5.
Ohio State recruit, Rikki Harris, didn’t start but did enter the game at the 6:24 mark of the second quarter. She didn’t waste any time getting to the rack to put NC up 18-5. At that point it looked dim for the girls from the FAR EAST SIDE because they couldn’t get comfortable. They weren’t being aggressive and was turning the ball over like crazy.
However, Indiana recruit, Shaila Beeler, did let folks know that she was in the building as she knocked down a three to get the wheels turning for the Warriors. On the very next possession K’Ja Talley pulls up from behind the arc and delivers. Just like that North Central’s only up 18-11.
Warren started to settle down as they got to within 6 points with 3:09 left in the half. Problem for the Panthers? Naw playa, they answered going into the break up 22-14.
Warren Central’s Stacy Mitchell must have settled his players down at the half reminding them that there was a reason why they were the defending state champs because they came out of the break on a mission. They went on a 5-0 run to start the half and before I could bite into my hot dog they were down 22-19 with 5:48 left in the third.
The Panthers continued to fight and never loss their confidence ending the third quarter up 26-21. It was “Do or Die” at that point and North Central had been in complete control from the word go.
With 6:02 left to play Shaila Beeler picked up her fourth foul and boyz got really nervous because she’s the leader of the Warren Central attack. They were down 28-23 at the time and on the next possession Trinity McClendon came up big with the layup to get to within 3 at 28-25.
Trinity was not playing with these girls as she dropped off another huge three-ball to get to within 2 points at 30-28 North Central. She drops off another three and the Warriors are down 32-31. Unfortunately, they didn’t get back on defense and the Panthers, who were hunting continued to hunt going up 34-31.
K’Ja Talley drains the three to tie it for the first time all night 34-34. After a few exchanges Talley knocks down two free throws to tie it again at 36-36. Then the North Central freshman Tanya Welch came up big playing like a senior as she stepped to the foul line and made two free throws like a four year veteran to put the Panthers up 38-36 with 2:07 left.
On the next possession sophomore Meg Newman came down the floor and gave Dub-C the business with a smooth turn around jumper to put the Panthers up 40-36. The intensity in the building was NUTS at that point.
Shaila Beeler was fouled and she missed the front end of the first free throw and knocked down the second to make it 40-37. With 1:05 left Warren Central freshman Le’Aijie Ellington missed two free throws. Then NC’s Meg Newman misses a one and one.
With 53.9 seconds Shaila Beeler get to the rack to make it 40-39. This game is making everybody in the building a nervous wreck at that point. North Central had the ball and was trying to run the clock out and were doing a great job of it. However, Warren let way too much time get away before fouling Rikki Harris. She missed the first of two free throws to make it 41-39 with 11.7 seconds left.
Shaila Beeler had one last chance as she tries to get to the rack and she misses the contested layup. Ball game North Central wins and advances. K’Ja Talley led the Warriors with a game high 14 points.