The Southern Standard wants to take the opportunity to highlight the standout Warren County athletes. Partnering with R3 Logistics and Mud Bums Family Sports Grill, we will be honoring a Pioneer of the Week throughout the 2022-23 school year. Our honoree from Jan. 22-28 is Pioneer senior shooting guard Sawyer Seymour.

Sawyer Seymour continues to build the reputation as one of the best shooters in the Midstate. He can add one more line to his long list of credits as well: being clutch when it counts the most.

The Pioneers couldn’t have asked for a better situation in overtime at Manchester last week when Seymour went to the line with a chance to clinch an important District 6-4A victory. Seymour, a 76 percent free throw shooter this season, wasn’t going to miss a chance to put the final nails in the coffin at Coffee County.

Fans went nuts when Seymour sank back-to-back shots, clinching a 63-58 comeback win over the Red Raiders to snap a three-game losing streak in the border battle. Seymour saved his best for last against Coffee County, scoring the game’s final seven points, including a deep 3-pointer with 1:01 to go in OT that gave the Pioneers the lead for good.

Seymour finished the game with 23 points, the fourth time he’s scored 20 or more points during a sensational senior year. And while is came in a losing effort at home Friday against Franklin County, Seymour added 11 more points against the Rebels – most coming in the fourth quarter when he nearly helped the Pioneers rally from a seven-point hole with two minutes to play to win again.

For the season, Seymour is now averaging a team-best 11.5 points per game and looks destined to add another all-district honor to his credit. Seymour also leads the team in 3-pointers made this year (49) while being second on the team in assists (52) and fourth in steals (34).

Warren County will need Seymour’s shooting this week as its preps for big battles, both in the district and against perennial rivals. The Pioneers start at home Monday against Sparta before taking on Shelbyville on the road Tuesday. The week wraps up against Coffee County Friday at home, a potential battle that could determine the regular-season district champion.

All game times are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. this week. See more coverage of Seymour and the Pioneers in the Standard all week.