Big second half lifts WCHS over Raiders

By ROB NUNLEY / Sports Editor for the Southern Standard

Warren County’s Ricky Curtis (14) works his way past the defensive efforts of Coffee County’s William Le-Hawkins during Tuesday night’s first half. (Rob Nunley photo)

A second-half scoring surge helped the Pioneers pick up their fifth victory of the season Tuesday night.

Leading by just four points at halftime, Warren County (5-1) forced three straight turnovers to open the third period, and embarked on an 11-1 scoring run, building a double-digit lead that wouldn’t be challenged on the way to a 72-60 victory.

Brooks Majors led the way with 26 points, a season high for the senior point guard, and sealed the victory late in the fourth quarter. The Red Raiders were attempting to conserve clock and claw their way back into the game by fouling, but WCHS kept the ball in Majors’ hands, and he responded by connecting on 15 of his 17 free-throw attempts, including nine straight in the game’s closing moments.

Terrin Martin, making his second straight start, came through with 13 points, while Adam Wood and Ricky Curtis had nine each.

The Raiders kept themselves in Tuesday’s game for a half, taking a 16-12 lead at one point in the first period thanks to a 3-pointer from Caleb McCall. But WCHS closed out the quarter with a 4-0 run, and the period ended with the squads tied at 16-all.

A three-point play from Coffee County’s Samuel Marcrom gave the Raiders another brief lead early in the second, but WCHS answered with seven straight points, taking the lead for good. Although the Raiders tried to keep things close, the half ended with the Pioneers on top 33-29.

The second half saw the Pioneers lead by as many as 15 points, thanks to a seven-point run by Martin in the closing minutes of the third. Coffee County never got within seven points of the Pioneer lead down the stretch, despite getting 13 points in the fourth quarter from Micah Williams, who finished with 23.

Marcrom had 14 more of the Raiders’ tally, despite fouling out early in the fourth, and Evan Magourik and William Le-Hawkins each had eight points.

Adding to the Pioneers’ winning effort were Shay Glenn, who had six, while Warren Swann scored five. Ben Dunn added a basket, while Chase Officer and Chris Weitzel chipped in a free throw each.

The Pioneers begin District 7-AAA play tonight, whey they play host to Murfreesboro Siegel.