The Pioneers may be without the services of senior Sloan Seymour for an extended stretch.
Seymour, an honorable mention all-district selection a year ago, has a leg injury that could keep him out for a significant amount of time. Seymour missed Thursday’s 61-55 win over Grundy County as the severity of his injury is still being determined.
Seymour may miss at least the next 2-3 weeks, when Warren County plays six district games.
“Anytime you lose a young man to injury is tough. Sloan is no different,” said Pioneer coach Chris Sullens. “He’s a senior who has been in many tight ball games and who knows what we expect. Hopefully it heals quickly and he is able to get back on the floor by the end of the season or the district tournament.”
The senior is the team’s second-leading scorer, averaging 10.9 points in 17 games. Including Tuesday’s 11-point effort in a 54-50 loss to Stone Memorial, Seymour has scored in double figures in nine straight games.
It was a tough blow, one Seymour is still trying to cope with after finding out he would have to sit and see how his injured leg responds to rest.
“It’s a frustrating thing to go through, especially in my senior year,” said Seymour. “I hope I am back by the district tournament. I’m going to go by what the doctors say."
Seymour added, "I believe our coaching staff will prepare our guys to play with or without me and they will get the job done.”
Seymour is also among the team leaders in assists and rebounds. It is undetermined when Seymour may have suffered the injury.
“When it’s a senior, and you know how much time and effort they have put in over their years in the program, you hate to get that type of news,” said Sullens. “We will need guys to step up. It may take two or three of the them to take the minutes Sloan plays for us nightly.
“Nobody is going to feel sorry for us. We will have to bring it each night and come closer as a team to deal with this adversity.”
Warren County will finish the season with seven straight district games, starting with Tuesday’s trip to Rhea County. The Pioneers enter the matchup with a 13-7 overall record and 0-1 in district.