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Pioneers rally to victory
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Pioneer junior Nate Elrod, shown in action at home, hit the game-winning layup with :04 left in the Sonic Shootout in Sparta on Tuesday.
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Pioneer senior Eli Kuykendall goes up for a shot in Warren County’s first game in the Sonic Shootout tournament on Monday.

Nate Elrod capped a fourth-quarter rally with a layup with :04 left to lift the Pioneers to a 78-76 win over York Institute on Tuesday in the Sonic Shootout in Sparta.

Warren County entered the final quarter down by four points, 60-56, but received clutch play from its guards to snatch a victory.

Pioneer guard Kaden Rutledge scored 8 of his team-high 18 points in the fourth quarter. Point guard Treyton Terry was right behind, scoring 6 points in the fourth on his way to 17 for the game.

Elrod scored 6 points in the fourth and finished with 10.

The win snaps a two-game losing streak for Warren County, which improves to 7-5 with one game remaining in 2021.

York Institute (7-3) entered the Sonic Shootout on a seven-game winning streak, but lost to Friendship Christian by two points in the opening round Monday before losing to the Pioneers by two points in the consolation bracket Tuesday.

The Pioneers benefitted from a balanced attack with nine players scoring. York relied on primarily two players for its offense as Myles Leffew scored 25 and Nic Smith added 23.

The game was close from start to finish with York holding a 39-36 lead at the half.

Pioneer Isaiah Cummings started the game like he was aboard a rocket ship, draining a 3-pointer and scoring all 9 of his points in the first quarter.

Sawyer Seymour provided a consistent threat from downtown as he connected on three 3-pointers for the game.


WARREN COUNTY – Kaden Rutledge 17, Treyton Terry 17, Nate Elrod 10, Sawyer Seymour 9, Isaiah Cummings 9, Eli Kuykendall 4, Kaden Desmaris 4, Braylon Grayson 4, Chance Hunter 3.

YORK – Myles Leffew 25, Nic Smith 23, Jackson Conaster 16, Trenton Gadoles 5, Aidan Sweathomas 5, Andrew Hall 2