Second-half surge propels Lady Pioneers

Thursday at Warren County Middle School, the Lady Pioneer varsity basketball team upped its record in the Central Tennessee Conference to 6-2 after downing Tullahoma West 40-24. The Lady Pioneers improved to 8-4 on the season with the win.

Warren County took a 9-6 lead after the first period of play as Caroline McKinley hit a 3-pointer and Taylor Johnson and Morgan Frye added a basket each.

Tullahoma pulled within one by the end of the first half after out-scoring Warren County 6-4. Bree Smith and Sarah Jacobs had a basket each, and the Lady Pioneers held a 13-12 lead at the break.

Warren County opened the third period with eight unanswered points coming from Johnson and Smith. Mylisha Edwards hit back-to-back baskets for Tullahoma and Christian Cox added a bucket. But McKinley closed out the period with a basket in the paint as the Lady Pioneers extended their lead 23-18 by the end of the quarter.

The final period of action saw the Lady Pioneers’ defense hold Tullahoma to six points. Warren County went to work on offense, as well, netting 17 points. Hannah Wood led the charge hitting for five points, while Megan Dishman closed out the game with a basket in the paint to secure the victory.

For Warren County, Smith led with 10 points. Johnson had eight, McKinley added seven, Wood hit for five, Frye had four, Jacobs, Kara Deason and Dishman added two points each.

Rachel Witherspoon and Edwards had eight points each. Ariella Kazmath and Cox had four points each to lead Tullahoma West.