Once Stewarts Creek entered the pressure cooker that is the Dalt, there was only one thing on the menu for the Redhawks: Fish. And lots of it.

Devin Fish went off for a career-high 34 points Friday - 24 coming in the first half - as the Pioneers smashed Stewarts Creek 68-53. Chance Whitlock and Deashawn Adams added 10 points apiece as the Pioneers improved to 8-3 overall and completed a sweep of the tough group from Smyrna.

Fish was electric from the start against the Redhawks, hitting triples off the right wing and finding room in the midrange as he was touching nothing but net all night. The junior also was a perfect 9-for-9 at the line as he scored at all three levels against Stewarts Creek.

In the first outing of 2025 - along with the first time Warren County had played in 10 days after winning the DTC Classic before Christmas - fans were buzzing to see some Pioneer basketball at home. Fish gave them a show, outscoring Stewarts Creek on his own in the first half as the Pioneers led 40-23 at the break.

Fish got up to 24 points right before halftime on one of his most impressive plays of the night. He caught a pass flying toward the rim and rose up for what looked like it may be a thunderous jam. Instead, he was hit right at the rim, only to adjust in midair and flip in a floater as he was being fouled.

The Stewarts Creek player was left laying on the ground, while Fish gave a flex to teammates as his strong finish served as a message that the Pioneers weren't going to be pushed around on their home court.

When Fish wasn't slicing up the Redhawks, he had plenty of help inside and outside. Whitlock set the tone on the low block, scoring over defenders as he used his 6-foot-7 frame to bully opponents after the visitors starting on an 8-2 run, while the first of two 3-pointers from Corban Felton gave the Pioneers their first double-digit lead - 31-20 - late in the second quarter. 

It would never dip below double figures the rest of the way.

Fish continued outscoring Stewarts Creek on his own until late into the third quarter, but he got a chance to watch a lot of the second half after his final two free throws put the Pioneers up 21 with four minutes left in the fourth.

The Pioneers will get one final tuneup Monday before they dip into District 9-4A play next weekend. Warren County will travel to Sparta Monday for a rivalry game with the Warriors. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.

Warren County will play its first district game next Friday, Jan. 10 at home against Columbia.