The Warren County High School boys basketball team claimed the championship of the Watertown Christmas Classic by beating the host school 46-43 on Thursday night.In a game where neither team led by more than four points in the second half and featured 14 lead changes, a 3-pointer by Jacob Reagan and two clutch free throws by Hunter Daniel powered the Pioneers to victory.With 1:08 to play and the score tied at 41, Reagan dialed up from long distance in the left corner and drained a go-ahead 3-pointer for the Pioneers.Watertown was able to cut the lead to one on the next possession, but Daniel made two free throws with 31.5 seconds to play to give Warren County a three-point advantage.Watertown had two opportunities in the final seven seconds to tie, but a 3-pointer from the top of the key was errant and the rushed try at the buzzer went well over the rim and sent Warren County into celebration mode at halfcourt.It was a game of spurts in the first quarter. Watertown began the game on a 7-0 run as Warren County went scoreless for the first three minutes.Junior Tucker Smith finally broke the scoreless streak by hitting a free throw with 4:24 left in the first quarter, but the Pioneers didn’t score from field until Nick Simmons connected on a putback 90 seconds later.Smith’s free throw and Simmons’ score were a part of a 9-1 run as the Pioneer took control of the game. Smith capped off the run with two more free throws as Warren County took its first lead at 9-8 with 1:29 remaining in the first quarter.Watertown was able to regain the lead with a 5-0 run to finish the first quarter and lead 13-9 entering the first break.Daniel began to take over at the beginning of the second quarter.
Pioneers win Watertown Classic