For only the second time in IHSAA tournament history a boys and girls team from the same school took home the championship trophy in the same year.
While following different scripts, these teams faced similar minefields of difficult paths to the title. The girls team, coached by Stacy Mitchell, came together at the end of the regular season and rode the momentum all the way to the end. Beating the likes of MIC opponents Lawrence North, North Central and Pike in the sectional and regional, the girls then traveled to southern Indiana to face Bedford North-Lawrence in the semi-state. The final pitted the Warriors against a formidable Zionsville team which they defeated 50-46.
The boys team fashioned an unbeaten 32-0 season, displaying poise, perseverance and tenacious defense. The Warren Central’s boys were never out of a game, staging comeback after comeback to claim the state title. The 32 wins included a Marion County championship, the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference championship, along with state championship. Their sectional included four top 20 teams while the regional round found them facing Ben Davis and 20-7 Terre Haute South. David Bell’s buzzer beater eliminated number 2 New Albany in the semi-state and the Warriors capped it off with a 54-48 come from behind victory over rival Carmel in the state championship game. Congratulations to coach Criss Beyers for a job well done.
On April 7, hundreds of east siders and fans of the Warren Central athletic programs, plus Mayor Joe Hogsett, braved cold conditions throw a parade and pep rally at Warren Central for the two winning teams, plus honor the school’s award-winning Winter Guard.