Corey Warren + Frankston Pull Even With Troup Atop District 18-2A Standings

TROUP -- Behind Corey Warren's 19 second-half points, the Frankston Indians knocked off the Troup Tigers, 53-42, on Tuesday and moved into a tie at the top of District 18-2A in the process.

Warren finished with 23 points, four rebounds and four assists for Frankston (20-8, 11-1), which pushed coach Robert Loper's career win total to 799.

"Corey is a big part of our offense," Loper said. "He had a terrible first half, got into foul trouble. He made some big shots for us down the stretch and that was important for us. It helped us separate a little at towards the end. Now, we're tied for first (in district) and we'll just wait and see what happens. We still have to go to Sabine, and have West Rusk at home, so we still have a ways to go."

Leading 33-28, Frankston went on a 13-5 run to start the fourth quarter. Indians' post Tye Griffin led off the final stanza with a layup in traffic. Then Griffin hit Waren cutting to the basket on consecutive trips down the floor, and that pushed Frankston's lead to 40-30, its biggest of the night. Warren then sank a floater in the lane to put the Indians up 46-33.

Troup's (19-8, 11-1) Shaq Rollins grabbed an offensive board and muscled in a bucket with 1:47 remaining to get within nine, 49-40. But that's as close as Troup would get.

Rollins led the Tigers' attack with 16 points and eight rebounds. Richard Lacy and Bradly Stewart each had 11 points, with Lacy adding three assists and a game-high five steals.

Frankston opened the game on a 10-2 run, thanks to a Ozzie Buckner steal and dish to Warren for the game's first points. But Lacy finished the first with a baseline drive and three-point play, getting Troup within four, 14-10, after one.

Both teams went ice cold in the second, for a total of nine points in the quarter. Troup went 0-for-10 from the 3-point line in the first half as Frankston led at the intermission, 18-15.

Troup's Lacy drained a 3-pointer early in the third, tying the game at 20-20. Then Frankston finished the third on a 13-8 run, thanks to big shots from Warren. He started with a left-handed layup in traffic, and capped it off with a fadeaway jumper at the buzzer for a 33-28 advantage.

Frankston travels to Sabine on Friday, while Troup is on the road at Winona.

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NOTE: Law enforcement officers were forced to intervene in an incident involving fans of both teams after the conclusion of the game. A few people were escorted out of the facility.