There’s a well-worn axiom in high school basketball circles that the postseason offers everyone a fresh start. No matter what has happened in the previous three months, a team that pulls it together at the right time can shock the world.

Exhibit A is the Warren Central Vikings.

They had only beaten Clinton twice in the past four seasons, lost by 37 and 25 points in two head-to-head matchups this year, and still haven’t won consecutive games since early December. On Monday night, however, everything fell into place and they pulled off a stunning upset in the first round of the Division 4-6A boys tournament.

Jalen Glass scored 15 points, the Vikings went 13-for-14 from the foul line in the fourth quarter, and they led for all but a few seconds in a 50-47 win over their division nemesis.

Warren Central (11-14) advanced to the championship game Friday at 7:30 p.m. It’ll face the winner between Murrah and Greenville, who play another first-round game Tuesday night at 7:30 at Warren Central.

Clinton (20-8) lost for just the second time in its last 12 games. It will face the Murrah-Greenville loser Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Warren Central in the third-place game.

With its victory Monday, Warren Central clinched a spot in the Class 6A tournament that begins next week. It also advanced to the division tournament championship game for the first time since 2013. It has not won a division title since 2004.

“That’s really huge for us. It’s been a season of adversity, but to get to this part of the season and to win — especially against a team like Clinton that was preseason No. 2, they dominated us in the district — and just for us to come out and the guys to execute a game plan almost to perfection and head into the playoffs, it’s huge. It’s real huge,” Warren Central coach Bruce Robinson said.

Warren Central rode the momentum of a nearly perfect first quarter all the way through to the end. The Vikings found room in the lane to drive to the basket and jumped out to a 14-1 lead as Clinton struggled with its shooting.

Clinton didn’t score until Jerrez Porter split a pair of free throws with 1:35 left, and didn’t make a field goal until Alabama signee Galin Smith got a floater to fall with six seconds remaining. The Arrows eventually came all the way back from their early deficit to take the lead midway through the third quarter, but were fighting an uphill battle all night.

“I don’t think they matched our intensity. By the time they got to where they tried to match it, it was too late because we had confidence and momentum. There’s nothing greater in sports than confidence and momentum,” Robinson said.

Porter hit a long jumper to put Clinton ahead 28-27 with 4:55 left in the third quarter. It was the first and only lead of the game for the Arrows. Chris Early answered with a bucket on the ensuing possession for the Vikings, and they outscored Clinton 6-0 the rest of the quarter.

Clinton got as close as one point midway through the fourth period, but never saw the lead again. Warren Central closed out the game with some excellent free throw shooting and defense down the stretch.

Chavis Smith hit four free throws in the last 18.5 seconds and also had a steal with 8.4 seconds to go that helped seal the victory.

Smith finished with eight points and Kevin Virges scored seven for the Vikings. Galin Smith led Clinton with 20 points and Porter had 19, but only two other players scored.
Warren Central was 20-for-23 from the free throw line in the game.

“We preach it. We’ve got a lot of guys wanting to be scorers, and if you’re going to be a scorer you’ve got to get to the free throw line. I think some nights they understand it and some nights they don’t understand it,” Robinson said. “We knew if they got past 50 that we probably weren’t going to win. So we kept it right where we needed.”

Division 4-6A Tournamemt
At Warren Central
Boys
Monday
Warren Central 50, Clinton 47
Tuesday
Murrah vs. Greenville, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday
Clinton vs. Murrah-Greenville loser, 7:30 p.m.
Friday
Warren Central vs. Murrah-Greenville winner, 7:30 p.m.

Girls
Monday
Warren Central 47, Greenville 26
Tuesday
Murrah vs. Clinton, 6 p.m.
Thursday
Greenville vs. Murrah-Clinton loser, 6 p.m.
Friday
Warren Central vs. Murrah-Clinton winner, 6 p.m.