A full-proof plan for winning basketball games is keeping the other team from scoring. Warren County employed that tactic Tuesday to rally in Winchester and earn its first victory of the Mendy Stotts era.
The Lady Pioneers shut out Franklin County for the final 10 minutes of the matchup, helping turn a nine-point halftime deficit into a commanding 62-43 triumph. The win for the Lady Pioneers snapped a three-game losing skid to start the year and extended the program’s winning streak over the Rebelettes to seven games since the program’s started to meet yearly in 2020.
Bri Taylor had 17 points and senior Lex Verge added 13 as the Lady Pioneers exploited their power in the paint to take out Franklin County. Junior guard Brinlee Griffith was also huge off the bench, scoring 12 points as Warren County used its depth and defense to wear down the Rebelettes on their home floor.
Taylor started out on fire, scoring seven points in the first three minutes as she powered the Lady Pioneers to a 10-3 lead. The crafty junior showed off a complete offensive arsenal, driving for a pair of righty layups before stepping out and draining a 3-pointer.
Warren County may have ran away with the victory if not for Taylor’s career night getting derailed by foul trouble. She picked up two fouls early and had to sit most of the second half, watching as Franklin County slowly took control.
The Rebelettes nailed a 3-pointer late in the first to take a 15-12 lead into the first break. Taylor came back to knock down her second triple to tie the game early in the second, but another foul sent her to the bench for good in the first half.
Without their top offensive option, Warren County fell behind 35-26 by halftime. Franklin County added a free throw right after the start of the third to briefly take a double-digit advantage, but the Lady Pioneers would start their comeback right after the freebie.
Trinity Reynolds started and finished an 11-0 run in the span of two minutes with 3-pointers, two huge shots for the sharp-shooting sophomore. Freshman Maci McBride also had a big 3-point play during the stretch, powering through the left side for a difficult finish sandwiched between defenders before rolling in a shot from the charity stripe.
Franklin County (2-2) rallied back after the Lady Pioneers took their first lead of the second half on Reynolds’ second triple to go back in front 43-41 at the 2:20 mark of the third quarter, but the home team would never score again.
Miranda Medley gave the Lady Pioneers the lead for good with a pull-up triple from the left wing with 1:50 to go in the third. Griffith followed with five quick points and Verge got a putback on a possession that featured three Lady Pioneer offensive rebounds right before the buzzer as the Lady Pioneers ripped off 10 straight points in less than two minutes to lead 51-43 going into the fourth.
Franklin County laid a goose egg on the scoreboard in the fourth and the Lady Pioneers connected on a slew of free throws late to put the game away.
Warren County will try to get its second win Friday when it travels to Woodbury. Tip-off against the Cannon County Lionettes is set for 6 p.m.
WC scoring – Taylor 17, Verge 13, Griffith 12, Reynolds 6, Medley 6, Aubrey Oleksik 4, McBride 3
