Buzzer beaters helped the Warren County Middle School basketball team make a push toward a CTC championship last year. It seems like thrilling finishes are going to be a part of the 7-8 grade Pioneer season this year too.
Warren County opened its season with a 32-31 win at Franklin North, surviving a big comeback attempt by the Gators to start the year with a victory.
Luke Simpson led the way for the Pioneers with 12 points, including sinking three 3-pointers in the first half as Warren County went up by double figures. Canaan Parris added nine and had the team’s lone bucket in the fourth quarter that proved to be the difference in the outing.
The young Pioneer squad, featuring three seventh graders in the starting lineup, got off to a quick start by bombing away from deep and swarming defensively. Warren County did its best to counter Franklin North’s 6-foot-4 center Kyran Peace by playing to its strengths – guard play and pressure defense.
It worked wonders in the first quarter, where Simpson drained a pair of triples and the lockdown defense spotted the Pioneers a 7-0 lead. The outside shooting continued with Trey Martin and Simpson each hitting from deep in the second quarter, including one right before halftime that kept Warren County ahead 19-14.
Peace, who scored a game-high 16 points, was tough to handle on the block for the Pioneers and helped Franklin North claw back in the game in the second half. Parris made sure the Gators never got fully over the hump though.
The sharpshooter splashed in a pair of triples in the third and came up with a big bucket in the fourth to end a prolonged Pioneer drought. Warren County aided Franklin County’s comeback attempt by missing a pair of 1-and-1 free throws late, but the defense got just enough stops in the final minute to preserve the victory.
Dominick Robertson finished with six points for the Pioneers in the win, while Martin added five.
Maddux Baker, Christian Munoz and Joshua Powell didn’t get in the scoring column, but they did provide the Pioneers with some valuable minutes throughout the game.
Warren County is set to make its home debut Thursday against Franklin South. Action is set to start at 6 p.m.
Lady Pioneers fall
on the road
Cortlyn Porter’s big game for the WCMS 7-8 grade team Monday wasn’t enough to get the Lady Pioneers a win on opening night. Franklin North took home a 42-34 victory on its home court, getting an early advantage in the Central Tennessee Conference standings.
Porter did her best to power the Lady Pioneers, scoring 15 points in the loss. Franklin North countered with a big night from guard Gracen Baggett, who poured in a game-high 19 points to lead the Lady Gators to victory.
Brynlee Chisam added six points for Warren County, followed by Alexia Ross with five, Aubrey Oleksik and Gaby Castillo with three points each and Maci McBride with two.
