ERIE - Warren erased a 10-point deficit in the final 2:15 of regulation during Thursday's Region 7 game with Central Tech, but ran out of steam in overtime, dropping an 86-78 decision to the Falcons.
The Dragons had to play the overtime period without the services of senior standout Preston McMeans. McMeans scored a game-high 31 points for the Dragons on Thursday, but fouled out in the closing seconds of the fourth quarter.
Despite the loss, Warren coach Jeff Berdine was very pleased with the effort put forth by his Dragons (8-3, 3-2).
"For 32 minutes, I though we played a very solid game," he said. "In overtime, we just made a couple of mental mistakes and missed a couple of shots that we had been hitting up until that point. These last two games (Central and Tuesday's 60-46 loss to General McLane) have given us a good idea of where we are at and have showed that if we play like we are capable, we have a shot to be in the region race at the end of the season."
Things looked bleak for Warren with 2:15 remaining as Central pushed its lead to 10 points at 74-64. However, the resilient Dragons refused to go down quietly.
McMeans connected on his seventh and final three-pointer of the night with 2:00 left to get the Dragons within seven. After a Central make, Hank Morrison's three-point play cut the Falcons' lead to six at 76-70.
With 0:41 remaining, Kory Thomas put a three-pointer in the basket and Warren immediately fouled down just 76-73. Zack Hansen went to the line for Central and missed the front end of a one-and-one, giving the Dragons possession of the ball.
McMeans scored his final bucket of the night on the ensuing possession to make it 76-75 and the Dragons fouled Central's Eugene Husband, sending the Central star to the line. Husband went 0-for-2 at the line, Warren grabbed the rebound and Berdine called timeout to set up a last attempt.
The Dragons ran the clock down and with just a couple of seconds remaining, Hank Morrison was fouled and went to the line for a pair of free throws. Morrison made one of two and regulation ended in a 76-76 tie.
Overtime started well enough as Austin Jerman scored to put Warren up, 78-76, with 3:50 to play. However, Warren would go scoreless on its next nine possessions as Central pulled away.
Husband atoned for his two fourth quarter misses by going 6-for-8 at the charity stripe in overtime.
McMeans' 31 points were a game-high. Morrison had 14 rebounds to go with 14 points, Jerman had 14 points, seven boards and four assists and Mark Davis recorded a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Husband led Central with 24 points, Francis Nosant added 17, Martell Crockett 16, Kiev Williams 13 and Marquel Hilliard 10.
The Dragons will try to rebound from the loss Saturday when they visit Harbor Creek. Junior varsity tips off at 11:30 a.m. with varsity to follow.
Collin Fantaskey went off in the Dragons' 58-53 overtime junior varsity victory over Central. Fantaskey erupted for 33 points and was the only Warren player to reach double figures in the win.
WARREN (78): Mark Davis 5 1-2 11, Austin Jerman 4 6-7 14, Matt Sandberg 1 1-2 3, Kory Thomas 1 2-2 5, Hank Morrison 4 5-8 14, Preston McMeans 12 0-1 31, Jack Daley 0 0-0 0, Totals: 27 15-22 78
CENTRAL (86): Williams 4 3-4 13, Paige 1 0-0 2, Husband 7 9-14 24, Crockett 7 0-0 16, Muhammed 1 0-0 2, Nosant 8 0-0 17, Hansen 1 0-1 2, Hilliard 4 2-3 10, Totals: 33 14-22 86
Warren 17 17 21 21 2 - 78
Central 19 16 22 19 10 - 86
3-pointers: W- Thomas, Morrison, McMeans 7; C- Williams 2, Husband, Crockett 2, Nosant
Junior varsity game
WARREN (58): Grayson Foley 3 0-3 6, Austin Schwanke 0 0-0 0, Ryan Gustafson 2 0-0 5, Collin Fantaskey 13 6-8 33, Cody McGraw 1 0-2 2, Andrew Hammersley 2 1-3 5, Jacoby Passmore 2 0-1 4, Tanner Stanz 1 1-2 3, Andrew Stanton 0 0-0 0, Totals: 24 8-19 58
CENTRAL (53): Brinson 0 4-6 4, McKnight 3 0-0 6, Ferguson 7 0-0 19, Eddy 2 0-1 4, Mitchell 2 2-2 6, Wells 7 0-0 14, Totals: 21 6-9 53
Warren 19 11 13 6 9 - 58
Central 20 13 10 6 4 - 53
3-pointers: W- Gustafson, Fantaskey; C- Ferguson 5