Lady Pioneers start 3-1 in summer ball
Coach Kyle Turnham talks to, from left, Katie Bechtel, Brynlee Chisam, Kinsley Simpson and Aubrey Oleksik during Thursday’s game against Lebanon.
Every basketball coach will say summer camps are about building cohesion and chemistry, but winning never hurts either. The Lady Pioneers got off to a great start to summer at MTSU this week, blowing out York Institute and Signal Mountain Wednesday and topping Watertown 36-31 in a tight contest Thursday.
The only loss for the group came early Thursday, falling in a close 43-35 contest to Lebanon - a 25-win squad and regional qualifier last year.
Coach Kyle Turnham jumped his team from a seven-win unit in his inaugural year to posting just the fourth winning season in 26 years last winter. Now the sights seem to be set even higher and the Lady Pioneers aren’t afraid of raising the bar.
Having plenty of returning experience helps.
Last year’s all-district selection Brynlee Chisam, as well as all-defense pick Addison Steakley, have been flanked by longtime starter Aubrey Oleksik over the first three days. Around them has been a mixture of returning role players and new faces who look poised to play roles for the Lady Pioneers starting in November.
Rising junior Cortlyn Porter has been back working at guard, while freshman Kinsley Simpson earned starts at point guard throughout the week. Harmoni Kennerly, a rising senior, was again back as a super sub, while transfer Katie Bechtel made an impact off the bench with her shooting.
Depth was affected some by Thursday when Reese Reinitz, hopeful to make an impact this year after missing all of last season with an injury, hurt her knee once again and was on crutches for Day 2, while junior Presley Winfree - a defensive difference maker last year - also had to sit out Thursday due to an injury suffered on Day 1.
It opened up the path to more playing time for sophomore guard Harper Patrick, as well as sophomore post Baylee Vincion. Freshman wing Willa Denning also was in the rotation Thursday, making an impact defensively with her length.
The team was fueled all week by its defense, while the offense stayed in attack mode. With four returning starters in the flow, Warren County’s offense had moments of seamless movement, creating open triples or easy layups.
But there were also growing pains - a familiar marker of summer ball when whistles are hard to come by and turnovers can pile up. Lebanon took advantage early against the Lady Pioneers, going on a 7-0 run and prompting coach Turnham to remind his team shortly after the tip “We’ve had three possessions and three turnovers.”
His words inspired action.
The Lady Pioneers cleaned up their act quick, hitting the Blue Devils back with a run of their own, with Steakley and Chisam leading the way with hard attacks to the rim.
Lebanon was ultimately able to pull away in the second half, but not without Warren County putting up a fight.
And that energy rolled right into a matchup with the Purple Tigers, another 20-win team from 2025-26 and regional semifinal qualifier. Warren County beat Watertown 47-44 in the regular season last year in a Christmas tournament on the Purple Tigers’ home floor and didn’t seem to lose any ground in Thursday’s summer clash.
It was a strong wire-to-wire win for the Lady Pioneers to cap a solid first week on the hardwood.
Warren County will be back in action next Wednesday and Thursday.
