The Lady Pioneers from Warren County Middle School played their final home game of the season Tuesday night against a potent Warriorette team from White County. It was a rollercoaster ride for the Warriorette offense.
White County started off flat in the first quarter and climbed high in the second. Unfortunately for the Lady Pioneers, their ride did not start its ascent until the fourth quarter.
Points came much too late and White County defeated WCMS, 45-20.
Kenaerah Reeves for White County led all scorers with a game-high 16 points and Alora Stuart led her Lady Pioneers with six points, all of which came in the final period.
The Warriorettes stormed the court with constant pressure. It was not about the offense in the first quarter for White County. The defense covered the floor and White County was unwilling to open even the smallest window of opportunity for the Lady Pioneers.
Nautica Brown for WCMS shot the only two free throws of the first quarter and she was not able to connect on either attempt. Other shots were taken and missed as the Lady Pioneers were out of sync.
On the other side of the ball, Reeves picked up her first six points. A basket inside and a basket from behind the arch got her night off on the right foot. After a dominant first quarter, the Warriorettes led 8-0.
The Lady Pioneer offense was able to pull together in the second quarter. Kamryn Nowlin and Savannah Cox hit from the open court and combined for four points. Hallie Pennington and Beth Vaughn each knocked down a free-throw attempt as WCMS shot 2-of-7 from the free-throw line.
White County turned its attention toward offense and Reeves connected twice more from behind the arch. Lauren Turner added a basket inside the WCMS defense. At the end of the first half, WCMS trailed 22-6.
When the Lady Pioneers hit the floor in the third quarter, the offense went backward. Kinsley Lorance slipped past the White County defense and hit the only basket from the floor in the third quarter. Pennington shot 1-of-2 from the charity stripe and at the end of the third quarter WCMS trailed 30-9.
In the final quarter, WCMS moved the ball better around the perimeter and inside the White County defense. Stuart got inside the defense for six points.
She helped spark the offense and Nowlin and Pennington followed her pursuit of the basket. An 11-point fourth quarter is just what the Lady Pioneers needed, although much too late.
White County finished the game with a 13-point fourth quarter led by Gracie Dodger with seven and Ashlee Sherrell with four.
It was too much White County offense and the Warriorettes defeated the Lady Pioneers, 45-20.
WARRIORETTE SCORING – Kenaerah Reeves 16, Gracie Dodgen 7, Lauren Turner 6, Kandea Reeves 6, Ashlee Sherrell 4, Natalie Goodwin 3, Jensia Lane 2, Sydney Wilson 1
LADY PIONEER SCORING – Alora Stuart 6, Hallie Pennington 5, Kamryn Nowlin 4, Savannah Cox 2, Kinsley Lorance 2, Beth Vaughn 1