By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support local journalism.
Refs mar NBA finals
Placeholder Image
Kyle Robinson
Updated: Jun 12, 2015, 12:09 AM
Published: Jun 12, 2015, 12:11 AM

I would love to start today’s column by saying, wow, what a fantastic first two games of the NBA finals, but I can’t. They were great games and it was the first time in history a finals series saw both game one and two go into an overtime period with each team being the beneficiary of a win.
But the overtime period of the second game is when I really started to notice the officiating and since I am in no way affiliated with the NBA, I can honestly say the officiating went south in the overtime period of game two.
I have no dog in this hunt, I have no horse in this race, and it absolutely does not matter either way to me who wins this series. But for the NBA to have the most elite basketball players in the world, I want to know why we do not use the most elite officials in the world. If every call was made I guess the games could last an entire day but this is what the game has become by not blowing the whistle.
It all started at Golden State in the game two overtime and Lebron James shot a mid-range jumper and the ball did not even make it to the rim. He was hit as he shot and just maybe the referee was out of position and did not see it. I am almost 100 percent positive he is strong enough to get the ball to the rim.
The following possession ended in a jump ball. The player jumping against James was holding him down with his arm up and around his back. Now I am starting to lose faith in the officials, but keep in mind, I do not care who wins. I am watching merely as a fan of basketball.
Fast forward to game three in Cleveland and it looks like I am watching an adult AAU game. Game three had so much grabbing, holding, and bodies hitting the floor I was in shock by the lack of no-calls. When someone did go to the floor after a loose ball the opposing defender did not even attempt to make a play for the ball, it looked more like an opportunity to take a cheap shot at their opponent.
Seth Curry had beaten the Cavs defender off the dribble and the defender responded and pushed Curry down. He fell after being pushed in the open court on his way to the basket, no call. So I guess as bad as it looks at least it’s going bad for both teams.
I will still probably watch some of the series even though I do not think the officiating will get any better in the remaining games. Perhaps the rules need to be revised and we could just eliminate those that are not being used, like traveling. Right on.
WCHS baseball, softball compete in weekend tournaments
sports.png
Matt Tyson
Published: Apr 2, 2025, 10:16 PM

One day after a close home win over Cumberland County Thursday night, the Warren County baseball team was back on the road for a weekend tournament slate. Taking part in the Viking Classic, the Pioneers went 2-2 across Friday and Saturday’s contests.

Kicking things off against Huntland at Tullahoma High School Friday evening, Warren County notched its third straight victory with a 4-3 decision over the Hornets.

Sam Robinson had three of the team’s eight hits. Ryder Gilispie followed with two. Tyler Adams, Jerren Harris and Keaton Rowe each added one hit.

Gilispie and Harris were both credited with one RBI each.

Adams, Robinson, Gilispie and Adrian Harris each scored one run.

On the mound, Miguel Garcia pitched four innings, finishing with four strikeouts, two hits, three runs and four walks. Keagan Thompson followed for two innings, striking out two.

In the nightcap, the Pioneers were held scoreless in an 8-0 shutout against the host Wildcats. Robinson had Warren County’s lone hit of the game.

Hayven Jones pitched 1.1 innings, recording one strikeout, four hits, seven runs and two walks. Jerren Harris came on for 2.2 innings, finishing with two hits, one run and four walks.

Back in action for day two of the tournament at Cascade High School, the Pioneers bounced back with a 9-8 win over the host Champions Saturday morning.

The team finished with nine hits, led by Adams and Robinson with two each. Gilispie, Jerren Harris, Adrian Harris, Woogs Bryan and Corban Felton all added one.

Bryan led the team in RBI with four of its eight. Gilispie, Felton, Jerren Harris and Brady Norris each brought in one.

Jaytton Baker went 3.1 innings on the bump, striking out five and coming off with eight hits and five runs. Lealon Arnold followed for 1.2 innings, striking out one and adding two hits and three runs. Gilispie pitched for one inning and recorded two strikeouts and one hit.

Closing out the weekend against Alabama’s Heritage Christian, Warren County came out on the losing end of a 14-6 contest. At the plate, Jerren Harris led the way with two of the team’s eight hits. Adams, Gilispie, Bryan, Felton, Adrian Harris and Evan Snapp all followed with one each.

The Pioneers posted four RBI, with two each for Adams and Snapp.

Snapp had two of the team’s six runs, with one each for Adams, Gilispie, Felton and Jones.

Braden Whinnery pitched 2.2 innings, striking out four and surrendering seven hits, five runs and one walk. Rowe followed for 0.2 innings, adding four hits and five runs. Up next was Keagan Thompson, who went one inning and came off with five hits and four runs. Daylen Holguin wrapped up the day, striking out one and allowing one hit over 0.2 innings.

WCHS softball goes 1-3 through weekend

The Lady Pioneers got their Southern Warrior Classic schedule started with a game against Summertown Friday evening, a matchup in which they fell 10-1.

Warren County finished with six hits, with two each for Ky Damon, Lola Wells and Kaydence Wiser.

Wiser had a home run in the top of the fourth inning for the team’s lone run.

In the circle, Ceilee Gudat pitched 3.1 innings and finished with one strikeout, nine hits, 10 runs and two walks. Kyaira Sharpe followed for the game’s remainder, closing out the last 0.2 innings.

The Lady Pioneers were again bested in their second Friday night game, falling 10-2 to Moline (Ill.).

Wells led the Warren County hitting effort with two of the team’s six. Damon, Callie Roberts, Cortlyn Porter and Ali Young each added one.

Wells and Lily Rains had one run each.

Ruby Denning had one strikeout and gave up eight hits, 10 runs and three walks across all four innings.

The Lady Pioneers had better luck in their Saturday morning opener, flying ahead with an 11-run fifth inning to take down Illinois’s Oswego East 15-9.

Warren County racked up 12 hits over the course of the game, with two each for Rains, Wells, Sharpe, Porter and Addison Smith. This included home runs for both Wells and Smith. Damon and Young both added one hit each.

Smith led the Lady Pioneers in RBI with four of their 15, followed by Sharpe with three. Rains and Wells both had two RBI. Damon, Wiser, Porter and Young all tacked on one.

Sharpe pitched the first four innings and came out with 13 hits, nine runs and two walks. Denning added one hit across one inning.

Warren County was unable to duplicate this in their final game of the weekend later that afternoon, falling 3-2 to Stewarts Creek.

The team notched six hits, with two each for Rains and Porter. Damon and Wiser both added one hit.

Rains had the Lady Pioneers’ lone RBI.

On the rubber, Gudat pitched all five innings, striking out three and finishing the day with five hits, three runs and one walk.