Warren Central was ready to spring the first big upset of the Class 6A boys state basketball tournament, but Calvin Temple had other ideas.

The sophomore guard hit two 3-pointers to spark a game-ending 12-2 run that finally put the upset-minded Vikings away, and Olive Branch held on to beat WC 46-36 Saturday night in a second-round matchup.

Shaun Walton scored a game-high 20 points for Warren Central, which led 31-28 late in the third quarter and was tied at 34 early in the fourth. Temple hit two 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions to put the Conquistadors in front, and they stayed there until the final horn.

Temple finished with nine points and D.J. Jefferies scored 16 for Olive Branch (25-6), which advanced to the Class 6A quarterfinals. It will play Brandon on March 4 in Jackson.

Brandon crushed Jim Hill, 77-42, in another second-round game Saturday.

Walton hit three 3-pointers and scored 13 of Warren Central’s 15 points in the third quarter. The next-highest scorer, however, was Jalen Glass with just five points.

Despite the loss, the season ended on a high note for the Vikings. Their first-round win over Hernando was the program’s first in the state tournament since 1975, and they went down swinging against a strong Olive Branch team playing on its home floor.

Warren Central finished the season with a 12-16 record, its highest win total since the 2013-14 squad won 16 games. It’s also just the third time in the last 10 seasons that the Vikings have won at least 12 games.
In other Class 6A tournament games Saturday, Harrison Central eliminated Oak Grove, 81-69; Tupelo beat 2016 runner-up Starkville 38-33; and Meridian beat Gulfport 58-32.

Division 4-6A champion Murrah pulled away in the second half to beat Northwest Rankin 75-53, while another Division 4-6A team, Clinton, lost 72-57 to Callaway.