Freshmen boys gun down Jets

By ROB NUNLEY / Sports Editor for the Southern Standard

Ethan Womack puts up a shot over a pair of Jet defenders. (Rob Nunley photo)

Warren County’s freshman boys returned from their Christmas Holiday in winning fashion Monday night, but their triumphant return to the hardwood wasn’t without its anxious moments.

The Pioneers, who led by as many as 14 points in the first half, saw their scoreboard advantage dwindle to a single possession late in Monday’s game before righting their ship and eventually downing the visiting Cumberland County Jets 71-56.

Trailing 51-44 heading into the fourth quarter, the Jets mounted a furious comeback, trimming Warren County’s lead to three (56-53) on a Boomer Beard basket with 5:32 to play.

Warren County turned momentum back in its own favor, however, out-scoring the Jets 15-3 over the game’s final five minutes to seal the victory.

Jonathan Morris was the man of the hour for the Pioneers, posting a game-high 23 points, including six in the fourth quarter. Derrin Rogers went 6-for-6 at the free-throw line during the Pioneers’ final run, on his way to a 14-point night.

A late run helped the Pioneers pull ahead in the first quarter, as they turned a 16-13 deficit into a 22-16 lead by the end of the period. Holding the Jets to just two field goals in the second, the Pioneers had trouble with fouls in the quarter, and sent the Jets to the line numerous times. Justin Fults and Todd Dunn had four points each in the period, however, and Rogers added five to help his team to a 37-27 halftime lead.

Morris hit a pair of 3-pointers in the third quarter, and the Pioneers posted 14 points, but the Jets benefited yet again from WCHS fouls, connecting on 11-of-11 free-throw attempts in the period to whittle the WCHS lead to 51-44, then out-scoring their hosts 9-5 in the opening moments of the fourth quarter to keep things close before the Pioneers’ final, game-deciding run.

In addition to Morris’ 23 and Rogers’ 14, the Pioneers also had big nights from their post players. Cody Nabors finished with eight points, Ethan Womack had seven, Kenny Roberts scored six and Todd Dunn had four. Fults also added four points, while Tyler Blair had three and Chase Basham scored two.

Andrew Houston’s 14 points led CCHS, while Phillip Hinch and Caleb Goss had nine each. Kyle Cokkinias scored seven, Justin Cox had six, Stuart Bowen had five and Beard scored four, while Drake Young rounded out the Jets’ efforts with two.

The freshmen return to action Thursday night, with a home game against Lebanon.