By Chris Whitaker

Delta Democrat Times

GREENVILLE — De’Shaven Flowers scored a game-high 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as he sparked an 8-0 run to end the first half, and Greenville went on to beat Warren Central 52-38 in the Division 4-6A semifinals on Tuesday.

The Hornets (25-4) will play Murrah, which beat Clinton 67-61, in the championship game on Friday. Warren Central will play Clinton for third place, with the winner advancing to the Class 6A state tournament and the loser going home for the summer.

Jessie Wilson led Warren Central with 14 points, while Shaun Walton scored 12. Mario Doyle, the Vikings’ leading scorer, was held to four points.

“We didn’t execute our game plan,” WC coach Bruce Robinson said. “(Doyle) got open shots. Every time he shot, someone was either touching him or fouling him. When a kid don’t get that call, it’s tough for him to play through that. You’re supposed to be able to, but that’s the way our season’s gone this year.”

Ahead 14-13, Greenville scored eight straight points over the final 1:50 of the first half to take a nine-point lead into halftime. Greenville got out on the fast break for three of the baskets, with the other coming on a dunk off an offensive rebound by Flowers.

The Vikings (11-17) never got closer than seven points the rest of the way.

“I thought Greenville played really well. They did what they do best and that’s crash the boards and make those mid-range shots,” Robinson said. “They defend and play like the home team should play. They played pretty good.”

“Greenville’s first double-digit lead came early in the third quarter on a tomahawk dunk from Flowers for a 26-15 lead.

Warren Central’s Chris Stamps had seven of his eight points in the third quarter, with his two free throws cutting the deficit to 31-24. But Greenville pushed it out to 35-25 at the end of the quarter following an Erick Grossley put back.

Grossley finished with 13 points and seven rebounds as he and Flowers controlled the paint. They both had three steals and Grossley dished out four assists.

 

(G) Clinton 47, Warren Central 40

Clinton made 8 of 10 free throws in the fourth quarter and finished the game on a 14-5 run to beat Warren Central and advance to Friday’s championship game against Murrah.

Murrah beat Greenville 56-48 in the other semifinal.

Warren Central will play tournament host Greenville in the third-place game Friday at 4 p.m.

Warren Central (15-13) finished the third quarter on an 11-0 run to take a 32-28 lead entering the fourth. Shae Bracey led the charge with 14 of her game-high 18 points in the second half.

Clinton’s Destiny Cyprian had six of her 10 points in the fourth, and the Lady Arrows’ final eight points came from the line.

“We didn’t execute our game plan. We played passive. We need to bounce back and try to get out,” Warren Central coach Jackie Glass said.

Olivia Jorden led Clinton (20-9) with 11 points while Kianna Walker had eight.

T.T. Sims had eight points and Lamaria Gray had six for Warren Central.

 

Division 4-6A Tournament

At Greenville High School

Girls

Tuesday

Clinton 47, Warren Central 40

Murrah 56, Greenville 48

Friday

Consolation game – Warren Central vs. Greenville, 4 p.m.

Championship – Murrah vs. Clinton,7 p.m.

Boys

Tuesday

Murrah 67, Clinton 61

Greenville 52, Warren Central 38

Friday

Consolation game – Warren Central vs. Clinton, 5:30 p.m.

Championship – Murrah vs. Greenville, 8:30 p.m.