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Hobbs roasts Rhea County
Chance with ball --
James Clark photo Chance Hobbs put on a shooting clinic to down the Rhea County Golden Eagles 80-67 Monday night at Charlie Dalton Gym. Hobbs scored a season-best 28 points, including swishing eight 3-pointers, to help the Pioneers improve to 16-3.

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.

WCHS baseball, softball compete in weekend tournaments
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One day after a close home win over Cumberland County Thursday night, the Warren County baseball team was back on the road for a weekend tournament slate. Taking part in the Viking Classic, the Pioneers went 2-2 across Friday and Saturday’s contests.

Kicking things off against Huntland at Tullahoma High School Friday evening, Warren County notched its third straight victory with a 4-3 decision over the Hornets.

Sam Robinson had three of the team’s eight hits. Ryder Gilispie followed with two. Tyler Adams, Jerren Harris and Keaton Rowe each added one hit.

Gilispie and Harris were both credited with one RBI each.

Adams, Robinson, Gilispie and Adrian Harris each scored one run.

On the mound, Miguel Garcia pitched four innings, finishing with four strikeouts, two hits, three runs and four walks. Keagan Thompson followed for two innings, striking out two.

In the nightcap, the Pioneers were held scoreless in an 8-0 shutout against the host Wildcats. Robinson had Warren County’s lone hit of the game.

Hayven Jones pitched 1.1 innings, recording one strikeout, four hits, seven runs and two walks. Jerren Harris came on for 2.2 innings, finishing with two hits, one run and four walks.

Back in action for day two of the tournament at Cascade High School, the Pioneers bounced back with a 9-8 win over the host Champions Saturday morning.

The team finished with nine hits, led by Adams and Robinson with two each. Gilispie, Jerren Harris, Adrian Harris, Woogs Bryan and Corban Felton all added one.

Bryan led the team in RBI with four of its eight. Gilispie, Felton, Jerren Harris and Brady Norris each brought in one.

Jaytton Baker went 3.1 innings on the bump, striking out five and coming off with eight hits and five runs. Lealon Arnold followed for 1.2 innings, striking out one and adding two hits and three runs. Gilispie pitched for one inning and recorded two strikeouts and one hit.

Closing out the weekend against Alabama’s Heritage Christian, Warren County came out on the losing end of a 14-6 contest. At the plate, Jerren Harris led the way with two of the team’s eight hits. Adams, Gilispie, Bryan, Felton, Adrian Harris and Evan Snapp all followed with one each.

The Pioneers posted four RBI, with two each for Adams and Snapp.

Snapp had two of the team’s six runs, with one each for Adams, Gilispie, Felton and Jones.

Braden Whinnery pitched 2.2 innings, striking out four and surrendering seven hits, five runs and one walk. Rowe followed for 0.2 innings, adding four hits and five runs. Up next was Keagan Thompson, who went one inning and came off with five hits and four runs. Daylen Holguin wrapped up the day, striking out one and allowing one hit over 0.2 innings.

WCHS softball goes 1-3 through weekend

The Lady Pioneers got their Southern Warrior Classic schedule started with a game against Summertown Friday evening, a matchup in which they fell 10-1.

Warren County finished with six hits, with two each for Ky Damon, Lola Wells and Kaydence Wiser.

Wiser had a home run in the top of the fourth inning for the team’s lone run.

In the circle, Ceilee Gudat pitched 3.1 innings and finished with one strikeout, nine hits, 10 runs and two walks. Kyaira Sharpe followed for the game’s remainder, closing out the last 0.2 innings.

The Lady Pioneers were again bested in their second Friday night game, falling 10-2 to Moline (Ill.).

Wells led the Warren County hitting effort with two of the team’s six. Damon, Callie Roberts, Cortlyn Porter and Ali Young each added one.

Wells and Lily Rains had one run each.

Ruby Denning had one strikeout and gave up eight hits, 10 runs and three walks across all four innings.

The Lady Pioneers had better luck in their Saturday morning opener, flying ahead with an 11-run fifth inning to take down Illinois’s Oswego East 15-9.

Warren County racked up 12 hits over the course of the game, with two each for Rains, Wells, Sharpe, Porter and Addison Smith. This included home runs for both Wells and Smith. Damon and Young both added one hit each.

Smith led the Lady Pioneers in RBI with four of their 15, followed by Sharpe with three. Rains and Wells both had two RBI. Damon, Wiser, Porter and Young all tacked on one.

Sharpe pitched the first four innings and came out with 13 hits, nine runs and two walks. Denning added one hit across one inning.

Warren County was unable to duplicate this in their final game of the weekend later that afternoon, falling 3-2 to Stewarts Creek.

The team notched six hits, with two each for Rains and Porter. Damon and Wiser both added one hit.

Rains had the Lady Pioneers’ lone RBI.

On the rubber, Gudat pitched all five innings, striking out three and finishing the day with five hits, three runs and one walk.