After losing to Rhea County in heartbreaking fashion in McMinnville, the Warren County Pioneers couldn’t keep it close on the road Tuesday night.
It was all Rhea County from start to finish as the Pioneers suffered a 66-31 loss.
“We will use this as positive motivation going forward. We didn’t play well or compete to the level of expectations we have,” said WCHS coach Chris Sullens.
Isaiah Grayson was the top scorer for Warren County with nine points.
Getting off to such a slow start in the first quarter didn’t seem to draw concern from the Warren County coaches. Isaac Golden dropped in a 3-pointer for the Pioneers and received a little help from Joelah Solomon and Grayson.
The Golden Eagles really turned up the heat in the second quarter and the Pioneers never saw it coming. Logan Hunter exploded for 14 of his 20-point total in the first half.
Warren County had its best offensive quarter of basketball in the second quarter, but someone forgot the defense and Rhea County opened up on the Pioneers for 22 points. Carlos Villegas and Zech Clark would be two of four Pioneers to find the bottom of the basket for Warren County.
Heading into the half down 33-18, the Pioneers would have work to do coming out of the break.
The Golden Eagles did a good job keeping the ball away from Pioneer sharp-shooter Holden Baker. And they made it extremely hard on Baker to get good looks at the basket. Jack Davidson and Brendan Breedlove provided some help to the struggling Pioneer offense to start the second half.
Hunter for Rhea County had been silenced in the third, but it left Gavin Downey and Noel Patterson open for the Golden Eagles who combined for 12 of the Rhea County 18 third-quarter points.
The Pioneers had no answers for Rhea County and watched time tick away on their revenge plot and the fourth quarter continued more of the same for the Pioneers. Hunter Hawkins and Baker would connect on the only four points by Warren County in the fourth and they were made from the charity stripe.
The Pioneers will play their final home game tonight versus Stone Memorial at Charlie Dalton Gym. The girls game is scheduled to tip-off at 6 p.m. with the boys game to follow.
PIONEER SCORING – Isaiah Grayson 9, Carlos Villegas 4, Isaac Golden 3, Christian Wilkinson 3, Holden Baker 3, Brendan Breedlove 2, Jack Davidson 2, Zech Clark 2, Hunter Hawkins 2, Joelah Solomon 1
GOLDEN EAGLE TOP SCORERS – Logan Hunter 20, Noel Patterson 13 Gavin Downey 10.