It wasn’t the start to the season the WCHS Lady Pioneers wanted Thursday afternoon in Franklin County.
Facing the Community Queens from Shelbyville in the Hall of Champions tournament, the Lady Pioneers trailed nearly all game in suffering a 52-36 loss.
Saydee Winfree and Allison Hitchcock led Warren County in scoring with nine points each. Kristen Rowland followed with eight.
Sarah Pierce led Community with a game-high 19.
The Lady Pioneers were close at the half, down 24-18. However, instead of inching closer in the second half, Community was able to gradually pull away. The Queens iced the game in the fourth quarter when Haley Reed drained two 3-pointers and Pierce was a perfect 4-of-4 from the free-throw line.
Warren County needed to rally early in the fourth with Community holding a 12-point lead. But the Lady Pioneers could never mount a comeback because of poor passing and turnovers. Warren County also let several scoring opportunities slip away when the Lady Pioneers were unable to finish at the rim.
Other Warren County scorers were Elsa Eckenrod and Marlee Smith with four points each, and Rylan Moore with two.
The Lady Pioneers will have more action in the Hall of Champions tournament this weekend before their first home game Tuesday against Cannon County.
The WCHS boys were also in action Thursday in the Hall of Champions tournament, but their game just finished at press time. The Pioneers lost to Oakland 63-54.