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Not quite enough
Pioneers fall in Franklin County
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The win was within reach, but the Pioneers could never seize control in Franklin County.
The Warren County High School boys basketball team played from behind most of the second half and couldn’t make a late run in a 56-54 loss to the Rebels on the road.
Warren County (1-3) was always within one basket on tying or taking the lead in the second half, but the shot never seemed to fall for the Pioneers.
Even with freshman Trey Cantrell carrying the offense late, Franklin County was able to escape with a two-point win by sinking four clutch free throws in the final minute.
Cantrell caught fire in the fourth, scoring eight points in the frame and momentarily giving the Pioneers a lead. Cantrell sank a 3-pointer to put the Pioneers ahead early in the fourth quarter.
The lanky lefty also drove for a floater and hit three free throws in the quarter to try to push the Pioneers to their second win.
The great effort from the freshman wasn’t enough though as Warren County lost for the third time in four tries this season when Franklin County got two free throws each from Clayton Jackson and Matt Schmitz in the waning seconds.
It was the unlikely scoring of senior point guard D’Andre League that kept the Pioneers in the game early. League – who rarely looks for his own shot – scored 10 points in the first half while Warren County kept pace with the Rebels.
Lance Kelley - League’s senior running mate at shooting guard - had four points in the second quarter, helping the Pioneers stay within five, 30-25, going into halftime.
Warren County kept slicing into the lead after the break. Sophomore Holden Baker had six points in the third quarter – three coming at the line after being fouled on a 3-pointer and the other three coming on a long-range shot. Cantrell also hit a 3-pointer during a Pioneer run that would cut the Franklin County lead to 46-44 entering the final eight minutes.
Cantrell’s late rally gave Warren County a chance to win, but the Pioneers never got a look to tie or take the lead in the final minute. The game ended with Tyler Beaty making a layup at the buzzer for the Pioneers.
League and Cantrell led the Pioneers with 13 points apiece while Baker and Beaty added eight points each.
The Pioneers will return home Friday for a game against DeKalb County. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.

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.