With much of the Midstate worried about getting buried under a snowstorm Monday night, WCHS senior Chance Hobbs buried Rhea County with his 3-point shot.

Hobbs unleashed a blizzard of 3-pointers to help Warren County ice an 80-67 win at Charlie Dalton Gym.
The victory improves the Pioneers to 16-3 overall and 2-0 in district. WCHS is scheduled to travel to Cookeville this Friday where first place in the district will be on the line against the Cavs.

Hobbs finished with a game-high 28 points behind eight 3-pointers. Five of those came in the second quarter when he was red hot. Isaiah Grayson added 17 points and Irving Espinoza scored 14.

“We knew we could get some open looks against their zone and Chance was feeling it tonight,” said WCHS coach Chris Sullens. “It’s been a long time since we’ve been 2-0 in the district.”

Rhea County held a perceptible size advantage and did much of its damage inside. Warren County didn’t match up well in the paint, but the Pioneers more than compensated from the perimeter, draining 15 3-pointers for the game.

Warren County was up 39-29 at the half when Rhea County rattled off the first five points of the third quarter to cut the lead to 39-34. But that was as close as it would get.

Grayson scored a bucket at the rim then followed with a 3-pointer, part of a 10-point quarter for him. The Pioneers were up 58-49 entering the fourth.

Rhea County was forced to extend its defense and apply more pressure down 62-51 with 4 minutes left. That resulted in an uncontested layup from Caleb Newby and a wide open 3-pointer from Hobbs that all but put the game away.

Warren County hit 11-of-13 foul shots in the final 2:47 to ensure no Rhea County comeback was in store.

Other Pioneer scorers were Tyree Ladet with 7, Sloan Seymour and Newby with 6 each, and Bunker Brock with 2.

Jordan Wilkerson and Ricky Guthrie were the top scorers for Rhea County with 12 each. The Golden Eagles fall to 13-8 overall and 0-2 in district.