WCHS squads head to Overton: Pioneers open up with Antioch, Lady Pioneers face Pearl-Cohn

By ROB NUNLEY / Sports Editor for the Southern Standard

WCHS guard Brooks Majors works his way around Coffee County’s Cody Hodge during Friday’s game at Blackman. The Pioneers and Lady Pioneers are in action Thursday-Saturday at the Overton Christmas Tournament. (Rob Nunley photo)

While players and coaches from Warren County High School’s basketball teams are enjoying their holiday today, it’s right back to business-as-usual tomorrow.

The Pioneers and Lady Pioneers are scheduled to travel to Nashville’s Overton High School Thursday, to begin play in the 2002 Overton Christmas Tournament.

Eight boys and girls squads are slated to lock horns in the three-day event, which begins Thursday at 10 a.m. as Overton and Whites Creek’s girls open an eight-game opening round of action.

The Pioneers (8-4) hit the floor at 2:30 p.m., for a matchup with the Antioch Bears.

Antioch comes into Thursday’s first-round meeting with a 3-3 record, but with a decided size advantage over the Pioneers. Of the 15 players listed on the Bears’ roster, six are listed at 6-foot-3 or above — including 6-7 Colby Primm, the team’s senior center.

Warren County’s corps of big men is likely to come in a man down, as senior Cody Hillis suffered a mild strain of a knee ligament last Friday. Hillis’ status for Thursday’s game is questionable.

On the girls’ side, the Lady Pioneers have won their last two games, but will have been out of action for 10 days when they hit the court Thursday at 4 p.m. against Pearl-Cohn.

Coach Ann Eades, whose team improved to 5-4 with a win over Tullahoma Dec. 16, said the break came at a good time for her team.

“It gave us a little time to rest, and to get our legs back,” she said. “Schedule wise it’s a great time to have a break, but we’re looking forward to getting back out there. Pearl-Cohn is going to be a challenge, but we’ve won two in a row and hopefully we’ll keep that streak going.”

The Lady Firebirds come into Thursday’s matchup with a 3-3 record, most recently downing Maplewood 59-37.

“They’re real quick,” Eades said of Thursday’s opponents. “IF they get on a roll, they can put lots of points on the board against you. So we’ll have to be smart with the basketball, and keep them from doing that.”

A win by the Lady Pioneers on Thursday will match them up with either Antioch or Cornersville on Friday at 7 p.m. A loss will pit them against the loser of that game, with tip-off set for 1 p.m.

In the boys’ bracket, a Pioneer win Thursday afternoon will schedule a 5:30 p.m. Friday tilt against either Overton or East Literature, while a Warren County loss to Antioch will mean WCHS would play the Overton-E. Literature loser Friday morning at 11:30.