Blackman slips by WCHS again-Blaze clip Pioneers by two
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But unfortunately for the Pioneers and their fans, the result was the same, as they came home from Murfreesboro stinging from a narrow loss.
Missing four of six free throws over the final seconds of Friday’s contest, the Pioneers fell short in their quest to end their district losing streak, as the Blaze survived to take a 44-42 win. With the loss, Warren County dropped to 3-15 overall and 0-8 in the District 7-AAA standings.
After trailing by as many as seven points in the first half, the Pioneers battled back and led 32-30 entering the game’s final period of play. Momentum stayed on their side in the early moments of the fourth, as Kyrie Harris and Chris Weitzel helped them take a five-point lead at 38-33.
But Blackman took advantage of some costly late turnovers, tying the score at 38-38 with just three minutes to play and going ahead when post Paul Stephens hit both ends of a one-and-one.
Forced to foul to prevent the Blaze from running out the clock, the Pioneers sent Shawn Smith to the line five times over the final two minutes of the contest. The junior hit just three of his first eight attempts, allowing the Pioneers to stay within a possession of the lead throughout the closing minutes of play.
Weitzel hit the front end of a one-and-one with 25 ticks remaining, pulling WCHS within a point of the lead at 43-42, but his second shot was off the mark. The rebound went to Chase Officer, and he fed P.L. Prater, who was fouled with eight seconds to go.
Both of Prater’s attempts from the charity stripe missed, however, and Smith came away with the ball after the second shot, drawing another foul and hitting one-of-two for what would prove to be the game’s final points as a desperation 3-point attempt from Camron Bond came up short.
Weitzel led the Pioneers’ scoring effort with 13 points, while Donta Weir had a dozen and Prater finished with eight, including five in the third quarter. WCHS hit 17 of its 58 shots from the field, including two of nine 3-pointers.
The Blaze got 18 points from Stephens and 11 from guard Alex Carter, who was held to just one point after halftime.
The Pioneers will be at home this week, taking on White County Tuesday night and Lebanon on Friday.
Blackman
44
Pioneers
42