Pioneers top Coffee Co. for third time

By ROB NUNLEY / Sports Editor for the Southern Standard

Pioneer guard Brooks Majors (20) puts up a jumper while Jerry Green of the Coffee County Red Raiders defends during Tuesday night’s first quarter. The Red Raiders’ Marcus Norris (40) follows the play. (Rob Nunley photo)

An old coaching clich? states, “It’s tough to beat a team three times in one season.”

Apparently, if you’re speaking of Warren County and Coffee County’s boys basketball teams, it’s not that tough at all.

The Pioneers topped the Red Raiders for the third time this season Tuesday night, winning 89-56 at the Charlie Dalton Gym.

Earlier this season in the Blackman Christmas Classic, WCHS took an 86-79 victory over Coffee County. On Jan. 7, the Pioneers traveled to Manchester and won a 78-57 lopsided contest.

Tuesday night was no different, as Warren County opened up a 10-point lead by the end of the first quarter and never looked back. All 15 Warren County players who dressed out for the contest saw action, with 14 different players entering the scoring column.

“I’m really proud of our guys’ effort,” said coach Doug Keil, whose squad improved to 17-11. “They fought, they kept going, and they extended the lead throughout the game.

“They kept competing, everybody got in, and that’s always fun.”

Up 26-16 by the end of the first, the Pioneers swapped baskets with the Red Raiders in the second period, with both teams finishing with 16 points in the frame.

Warren County boosted its lead with a huge third quarter, however.

Reese Bishop scored seven of his 17 points in the third, while Randal Harrell added six and Kyle Thompson had four to help WCHS to a 26-point period and a 68-44 lead that Coffee County would never threaten.

Keil was able to clear his bench in the second half, and four fourth-quarter points from freshman post Brandon Adcock helped keep Manchester at bay through the game’s final period.

Randal Harrell finished with a game-high 24 points, while Cody Hillis had 11 and Thompson scored seven. Josh Nunley had five points, while Adcock, Ross Marlowe and Andy Harrell netted four each.

Brooks Majors finished with three, while Tommy Jones, Bobby Simpson, Breu Bonner, Todd Gilley and Ethan Rutledge each had two points.

Coffee County was led by Jerry Green and Micah Williams, who each finished with nine points, while Daniel West had eight.

The Pioneers played host to White County to wrap up their regular season Thursday night, and will take on third-seeded Lebanon in the opening round of the District 7-AAA tournament Monday at 6:30 p.m. at Blackman.