Jacob Reagan has been slow coming back from an ankle injury, but the senior looked like his old self when overtime began on Tuesday night at Charlie Dalton Gym.
Reagan ignited a 10-0 run to begin extra time against the DeKalb County Tigers and ended up scoring 17 points to lead the Pioneers to a 66-53 victory.
Nobody was sure how Warren County would react after the Tigers forced overtime with a 3-pointer in the waning seconds of regulation.
Reagan made sure there wasn’t a letdown. The shooting guard hit a 3-pointer eight seconds after the ball was tipped, added a layup 19 seconds later, and then capped a 10-0 run with a pair of free throws.
Tucker Smith also had a standout performance in overtime. Forced into action due to center Nick Simmons fouling out, Smith had five points in extra time, including a back-breaking three-point play a minute into the period.
DeKalb County (3-1) tried desperately to get back into the game by launching long shots, but the Tigers couldn’t find the mark and Reagan and Hunter Daniel kept cleaning the glass.
Daniel was the man who had looked to hit the game-winning free throws for Warren County in regulation. Daniel, who had scored 51 points in his last two games, pulled down a rebound with 44 seconds to in a tie game and tried to go coast-to-coast for the winning shot.
In the process of trying to take a shot in the paint, Daniel was fouled and sent to the line with 38.8 seconds to go. The senior sank both shots, putting the Pioneers ahead 45-43.
The Tigers next offensive possession was a disaster. Warren County closed the driving lanes and made DeKalb County try an errant pass.
Senior Justin Ware stole the ball and threw an outlet pass to a wide-open Mitchell McCorkle. Before the senior point guard could scoot in for the game-clinching layup, the Tigers recovered on defense and blocked the attempt.
Smith alertly trailed the play and snatched the rebound and tried to lay the ball back up. Smith was fouled during his attempt, sending the junior to the line with an opportunity to shut the door on DeKalb County.
Smith missed the first free throw though, leaving the slightest hope for the Tigers to get back in the game. Smith sank the second shot with 15.6 to play and DeKalb County took a time-out.
The play drawn up in the huddle couldn’t have worked any better. Eli Lomas got an open look right in front of his bench and buried a deep 3-pointer to send the Tigers into a frenzy.
The Pioneers tried to rush one last shot at the buzzer, but Reagan’s heave near halfcourt hit the front of the rim and sent the game into overtime.
It was the last time Reagan was off the mark. His 3-pointer right in front of the student section seemed to fire up the Pioneers and put a dagger in DeKalb County. Reagan would finish with nine of the Pioneers 20 overtime points.
Warren County trailed most of the game, but the turning point came in the fourth quarter when DeKalb County lost its top player for the game.
With 5:41 to go in the final period, Ware went up for a layup with the Pioneers trailing 42-40. Ware made the shot and was fouled by Sonni Young on the play. It was Young’s fifth foul, sending the top Tiger to the bench after scoring six points, pulling down eight rebounds and blocking five shots.
Ware connected on the free throw, giving the Pioneers their first lead since Simmons scored on a layup a minute into the game to make it 2-1.
Warren County struggled early and fell down by double digits in the first quarter. The Tigers had a 11-2 run during a four-minute stretch in the first period to lead 17-6 after the first quarter.
Kendall Rutledge shot the Pioneers back in the game in the second quarter. The junior sniper knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers to open the quarter, but DeKalb County scored the final five points of the period to lead 27-20 going into halftime.
Daniel began to make his presence felt after halftime. After DeKalb County pushed the lead to 10 with a 3-pointer to begin the quarter, Daniel answered back with a finger roll down the lane.
Simmons and Hunter Adams would each hit the glass for putbacks to make it 31-26 with 5:58 to play in the third, then Daniel and Reagan combined for one the rarest three-point plays in basketball.
Daniel stole a pass near midcourt and raced up the floor for a layup. Daniel was able to fight off a foul and roll in a shot to cut the lead to three. During the play though, Daniel was hit in the nose and began to bleed.
The senior had to be removed from the game and Reagan came in to shoot the freebie. Reagan hit the free throw to bring Warren County within two.
Ware temporarily tied the game on a layup set up by a no-look pass from Mac Britton, but DeKalb County closed the quarter with a 6-2 run to take a 37-33 lead into the fourth quarter.
Daniel hit a big 3-pointer two minutes into the fourth to tie the game at 40-40, but it was Ware’s three-point play which put the Pioneers over the hump. Although the game went into overtime, the Pioneers were able to prevail thanks to a great night from the senior class.
Daniel and Reagan each scored 17 points to lead the Pioneers to their second straight win. Ware was next with nine while Smith finished with eight.
Warren County will be back in action today when the team takes part in the Cannon County Thanksgiving Classic. The Pioneers will play at 5 p.m. at Woodbury Grammar School.
Warren County is also scheduled to play Notre Dame on Saturday. The time has yet to be determined.