GBB Marion Co.: #8 Warren whips #20 Roncalli, #1 BD outlasts North Central

By E. Shawn Aylsworth

Managing Editor

INDIANAPOLIS – It took awhile for the juices to start kicking in Dec. 10, but Class 4A top-ranked Ben Davis got it going in the second half of its Marion County Tournament girls basketball clash at host North Central (Indianapolis) on the way to a 48-26 quarterfinals victory.

(CHECK OUT THE VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS AND INTERVIEWS AS WELL AS PICTURES!!!)

Bria Goss led all scorers with 17 points and Dee Dee Williams added 12 for the Giants (7-0, who led just 23-19 at the half but pulled away by creating 15 second-half turnovers. A 14-0 BD run to close out a third quarter in which the host Panthers (5-3) suffered nine turnovers certainly helped, as did North Central’s inability to hit open baskets throughout the contest.

In the evening’s opening game at North Central, 4A No. 8 Warren Central had little trouble in improving to 7-1 with a 57-42 win over 3A No. 20 Roncalli. Warren Central will host Ben Davis Saturday at 12 p.m. ET in one semifinal, with 4A No. 4 Decatur Central (8-0) facing Pike (6-2) in the first game at 10 a.m.

The winners will return for the championship at 7:30 p.m.

Box scores from all four semifinals:

Ben Davis 48, North Central (Indianapolis) 26

Ben Davis 15 8 14 11 – 48

North Central 9 10 3 4 – 26

Ben Davis: Goss 17, Williams 12, Nunley-Lash 8, Holcomb 6, Arnold 3, Teague 1, Windham 1, Huber 0, Campbell 0, Jones 0, Dowler 0. 3-pointers: Williams. Totals: 17 13-20 48

North Central: Hayden 7, Akande 6, Gregory 5, Greene 2, Penny Ingram 2, Edwards 2, Tracy 2, Prosha Ingram 0, Reagan 0, Motley 0, Makata 0, Williams 0. 3-pointers: Akande 2, Hayden. Totals: 10 3-10 26

Warren Central 57, Roncalli 42

Linzi Moore scored all of her 12 points in the first half to help the Class 4A No. 8 Warriors (7-1) defeat the Rebels (4-4) in the Marion County Tournament at North Central.

Roncalli 9 5 6 22 – 42

Warren Central 5 18 19 15 – 57

Roncalli: Brewer 13, Perry 8, Clark 7, Hansen 5, Green 4, Hasty 3, Allard 2, Hayes 0, Williams 0. 3-pointers: Hansen, Clark. Totals: 15-46 10-16 42

Warren Central: McKinney 21, Moore 12, Denny 6, Moss 6, Barton 5, Ford 4, Smith 2, Proffitt 1, Haskins 0, King 0, Davis 0. 3-pointers: Moore 3, Denny, McKinney. Totals: 20-62 12-29 57

Decatur Central 55, Lawrence North 33

Decatur Central 13 14 16 12 – 55

Lawrence North 7 8 9 9 – 33

Decatur Central: Jovanovic 29, Munn 11, Murry 11, B. Capps 2, A. Capps 2, Childress 0, Dailey 0, Smith 0. 3-pointers: Munn 1, Murry 1. Totals: 18 18-26 55

Lawrence North: Ahlivia Spencer 15, Owens 5, Rogers 4, Ashburn 3, Miller 2, Bryant 2, Moore 1, Ashley Spencer 1. 3-pointers: Owens 1. Totals: 16 3-13 33

Pike 50, Southport 40

Pike 21 3 14 12 – 50

Southport 8 11 8 13 – 40

Pike: Pulliam 19, Chandler 11, Smith 9, Holder 9, Long 2, Jones 0, Ashford 0, Ferrell 0, Williams 0. 3-pointers: Smith 3, Holder 1, Pulliam 1. Totals: 18 9-18 50

Southport: Walker 12, St. Shobe 11, Case 5, Wright 4, Sa. Shobe 4, Brothers 2, Pieper 2. 3-pointers: Walker 2, St. Shobe 1. Totals: 16 5-8 40

The round-by-round 2009 Marion County Tournament results:

Opening round

4A #4 Decatur Central 65, Indianapolis Lutheran 20

4A #19 Lawrence North 78, Park Tudor 44

Southport 52, Franklin Central 43

Pike 42, Lawrence Central 32

3A #20 Roncalli 61, Speedway 36

4A #8 Warren Central 56, Perry Meridian 44

North Central (Indianapolis) 72, Beech Grove 44

4A #1 Ben Davis 62, Brebeuf 19

Quarterfinals (Thursday, Dec. 10)