MONTICELLO, Ark. – After a hard fought battle Thursday night, December 29, 2022 in the second round of the Commercial Bank SouthEast Arkansas Holiday Class basketball tournament hosted by Drew Central in Monticello, the Warren Lumberjacks fell to the tournament host Pirates by the final of 57-50.
Top photo: Neon’dre Thomas drives inside for a layup during the second half of Warren’s Thursday night game vs. Drew Central. Photo by Saline River Chronicle.
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A faced-paced first quarter offensive strike from Warren put Drew Central on notice that the orange and black were going to give them all they wanted. Warren guard Neon’dre Thomas was a major part of the first quarter blitz Warren put on the hosts. He scored nine points in the first period to help Warren go to the second with a 15-8 lead.
Although Warren put up 12 points in the following period, an early quarter cold spell on the offensive end, coupled with a strong response from Drew Central saw Warren’s lead dwindle to just one point by the half. The Lumberjacks took a 27-26 lead into the midway break.
Warren struggled in the third to get much going, scoring just seven points and giving up 16. Several Jacks found themselves in foul trouble which added to the third quarter woes.
The Lumberjacks hit back in the fourth, and came to within four points late on, but it wasn’t enough as Drew Central pulled away for a 57-50 win over Warren.
Neon’dre Thomas was named the Saline River Chronicle Player of the game. The sophomore scored 16 points and posted nine rebounds.
Fellow sophomore Antonio Jordan, who scored 25 the night before against Trinity Christian High of Texarkana, tallied 13 points and seven rebounds. Jordan’s night was cut short as he fouled out with 6:21 to go in the fourth.
Jordyn Ingram put in one of his best performances to-date, scoring nine. Senior point guard Malik Day scored seven, Jalin Lee three, and Jayden Ridgell two. Lee also totaled eight rebounds.
The loss bumps Warren’s season record to 1-3. They’re tournament venture isn’t finished however, as they play in a consolation game Friday at 4:30 p.m.
