WCMS boys win, reach CTC finals

By DALE STUBBLEFIELD

Tylan Martin eyes the basket as he drives the baseline in Thursday?s semifinal win.

The Warren County Middle School varsity boys team advanced to the finals of the Central Tennessee Conference tournament after rolling past Franklin County North 46-29 in Thursday night semifinal action in the WCMS gym. The Pioneers were to take on White County in the finals, which were scheduled to be played Saturday night.

The Gators took an early lead after several turnovers by the Pioneers in the opening period Thursday. Baskets by E.J. Brown, Shanonne Perkins and a 3-pointer by Brandon Speck gave Franklin County a 8-2 lead. The Pioneers cut into the lead with baskets from Jaylen Mount and Tyler Glenn, but the Gators closed out the period with back-to-back baskets from Speck for a 14-8 lead by the end of the period.

The Pioneer defense turned up the pressure in the second period, allowing the Gators just seven points. Brown hit the front end of two from the charity stripe for Franklin County. Michael Thrower heated up for Warren County with a 3-pointer, and Martin added a basket. The Gators connected for a bucket at the 4:36 mark, but Warren County then ran off nine straight points. Martin hit a 3-pointer and baskets by Mount, Glenn and another basket by Martin put Warren County out in front by five. Speck kept the Gators in the game with two baskets just before the half, but Thrower connected on his second 3-pointer of the game as the half ended with the Pioneers leading 25-21.

Pressure defense by the Pioneers in the third period caused Franklin County to turn the ball over four times and resulted in just four points for the Gators. Warren County extended its lead with baskets from Glenn, Mount, Martin and five points from Thrower ? who added another 3-pointer to his total. By the end of the third quarter Warren County had built a 38-25 advantage.

The Gators? offense struggled with the Pioneer defense once again in the final period, putting just four points on the board. Warren County secured the game with baskets from Martin, Mount and Mitchell McCorkle for a total of eight points in the period en route to the 17-point victory.

For the Pioneers, Martin hit for 13 points. Mount and Thrower had 12 points each, Glenn added six and McCorkle had three points.

Speck hit for 13 points, Perkins, Brown and Simmons had four points each for the Gators. Cody Hill and Brandon Lester had two points each.