Bowling Green 69, Warren East 59

**Stardust** · 02-11-2012, 08:23 PM

WEHS 14 10 14 21 â 59
BGHS 20 16 12 21 â 69
WEHS â Barnett 16, Wheeler 10, Whitney 10, Dunn 8, Bryant 5, Bootz 4, Chatman 4, Stockton 2.
BGHS â Hunter 18, Fant 16, Hollis 11, Wright 8, Ayers 6, Sowell 4, Simmons 4, Sine 2

**Stardust** · 02-11-2012, 08:24 PM

With a late stand and a little help across town, the Bowling Green boys’ basketball team helped make District 14 a little more interesting Friday night.
The Purples (22-6, 6-2 District 14) withstood a final push from Warren East, earning a share of the district regular-season title with a 69-59 win at BGHS.
“They got aggressive and made this thing tight, and they’ve got a great team,” BG coach D.G. Sherrill said. “They’re dangerous because they shoot it so well and guard really well in the halfcourt. We think this is a really good win.”
With Greenwood’s loss Friday at Warren Central, Bowling Green is now in a three-way tie with the schools for the No. 1 seed in District 14.
The seeding will be determined at the district draw scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday at WCHS.
“This is the way this district is supposed to be,” Sherrill said. “I think the one team dominating things is kind of coming to a close. You’ve got to be ready to go. We’ll have to be a lot better than tonight because everyone’s bringing their best.”
Warren East (13-11, 2-6) trailed by as many as 15 in the game but pulled within four twice in the final two minutes. After a layup by WEHS junior guard Chase Bryant closed the gap to 60-56 with 1:25 left, the Purples scored nine of the final 12 points.
“If we play like we want to, this shouldn’t happen,” BG senior forward Jalen Hunter said. “If we play three good quarters, they should be done. We’ve got to work harder and keep getting better.”
Hunter led Bowling Green with 18 points and 16 rebounds, including 10 in the first quarter as the Purples opened a 20-14 lead.
After Bowling Green extended its lead to 10 early in the second quarter, Warren East answered with back-to-back baskets from senior guard Adarius Barnett to pull within 24-19 at the 6:13 mark.
But BG followed with a 10-0 run over the next five minutes, stretching its advantage as large as 34-19 and leading by 12 at the break.
The Raiders trailed 48-38 going to the fourth quarter, but cut their deficit to 58-54 with a 3-pointer by Barnett with 1:46 remaining.
Hunter eventually stymied the rally with six straight BG points, and Warren East didn’t come closer than eight points again.
“If Jalen hadn’t got in foul trouble, he could have had a monster night,” Sherrill said. “Everything he was doing was positive, hanging around the rim and snatching rebounds. He’s always been that kind of solid kid.”
Sophomore guard Nacarius Fant scored 16 points for Bowling Green, while senior guard Scooter Hollis added 11.
Barnett paced Warren East with 16 points.
The Purples play at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Russellville, while Warren East hosts Franklin-Simpson at the same time.
But all eyes will first be on Sunday’s district draw.
“We took Greenwood to three overtimes, East two overtimes, Central is a great rivalry, South has been close games,” Hunter said. “I don’t know how that’s going to go. We’ll have to wait until Sunday and see what happens.”