Last-second shot won?t fall as Pioneers drop heart-breaker

A potential game-winning shot and game-tying putback attempt both rimmed out, allowing DeKalb County to escape with a 45-43 win in Warren County?s regular season finale.

With the loss, Warren County wrapped up its season with a 4-20 record. DeKalb County improved to 16-9, including its second win of the year over the Pioneers.

Down 44-40 with seconds to play, Warren County?s Josh Moore knocked down a 3-pointer to pull his team within one. The Pioneers fouled John Malone, who hit the front end of a pair of free throws, but missed the second.

Calling time-out with 4.5 seconds left, the Pioneers? Donta Weir took the ball for the final play of the game, but his 3-point effort was off-line. The rebound went straight to Chris Weitzel, whose potential game-tying effort bounced off the back of the rim as the final horn sounded.

Weitzel finished with 12 points, including eight in the second half and six in the third quarter alone. Chase Officer had six, while Ryan Daniel had five points. The Tigers were led by Travis Woodward?s 10, with J.J. Herriott chipping in nine.

DeKalb took an early lead in Saturday?s contest, going up 10-4 by the first quarter?s end only to see the Pioneers rally and tie the game at 17-all before a Zack Rowland basket sent DCHS into halftime with a two-point lead.

DeKalb went ahead by as many as six points in the third, only to see the Pioneers close to within four (36-32) at the end of the period and take a brief 40-39 lead on a Daniel free throw with 2:36 to go.

The Pioneers travel to top-seeded Oakland Friday for their first-round game in the District 7-AAA tournament. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.