To say Warren Central was short-handed for its Red Carpet Classic game with Pearl Saturday afternoon would be understatement.

The Vikings played without leading scorer Kourey Davis, its third-leading scorer Gerald Glass, and the team’s third-best rebounder, Jon Hood. Davis was left at home for disciplinary reasons. Glass sat out with a medical condition while Hood was out with an ankle sprain.

The Glass situation is the most serious.

“He won’t play until it’s cleared up,” said his mother and WC girls coach Jackie Martin. “He felt light-headed at the Terry game. The doctors did some tests (today) and will do some more on Monday.”

WC coach Jesse Johnson said he was proud of the way his team responded to the adversity.

“I was real proud of the young guys,” Johnson said. “Without three starters, we were outmatched. Kourey’s deal was disciplinary and he’ll be back. We’re going to have to wait and see on Gerald. Hood has sprained ankle and because this wasn’t a division game, we held him out.”

The Vikings (9-13) got a lift from Johnson’s son, Jesse Jr. The sophomore guard scored 11 of his 15 points in the first half to rally the Vikings from a 17-6 deficit. WC led 23-22 at the half and 36-34 after three quarters.

“It was pretty much (Jeremy) Harper and our JV guys out there,” Johnson said. “Jesse had a good ballgame and stepped up to lead us in scoring.”

Two free throws by Harper gave WC its 36-34 lead going into the fourth. It was 41-all when Harper, who had 11 points, missed both ends of a two-shot foul.

Two Viking turnovers were converted into baskets by Fred Lee and Rakiem Williams to put Pearl up 45-41. A three-point play by Twymond Howard with 52.4 seconds sealed it for the Pirates (12-10).

The RCC win capped a trying week for the Pirates said coach Russell Ellis.

“We’re glad to get a win and a trophy,” Ellis said. “We lost to Prep on Monday, Vicksburg Tuesday and Callaway last night, so yeah, we needed one. We just try to play hard every night and see what happens.”

Howard, a 6-foot-6 junior forward, led the way for Pearl with 24 points. Jeremy Reddy had 11. Harper added nine rebounds and five assists for WC.

(G) Pearl 52, Warren Central 38

Pearl erupted in the second quarter to take care of the Lady Vikes and win a RCC trophy.

The Lady Pirates (13-9) led by just one at 9-8 but scored 20 points in the second quarter to go up 29-14. The Lady Vikes (6-14), who were coming off a road win at Terry Friday night, could not recover. Alexius Giles paced Pearl with 18 points. Alexia Jenkins and Kaelin Kersh had 10 points apiece.

Warren Central was led by Michelle Jones with 10 points.