This Week in Sports: Oct. 19-24

Basketball is slowly but surely taking center stage in Warren County as October rolls along. With fall sports winding down and elementary basketball heating up, the hardwood is becoming the place to be for local sports fans. Unbeaten teams will square off, championship rematches are on the schedule and Warren County Middle School's sixth-grade teams are settling into their seasons. There's also a growing spotlight on elementary basketball thanks to the Warren County Sports Authority, which is bringing some of the county's biggest matchups to fans across its platforms. This Week in Sports is presented by Security Federal Savings Bank, a proud supporter of local athletics.

Warren County High School football will also be back on the road Friday as the Pioneers travel to Chattanooga to face Howard at 7 p.m. Warren County is looking to snap a three-game losing streak after falling to Cannon County on homecoming. A full preview of the matchup will be available later this week on The Warren County Way.

The WCHS cross country team - coming off a great showing last week in the Sewanee 5K where Emma Woodlee won, Elizabeth Meadows finished fourth and Gracee O’Neal’s ninth-place finish rounded out a trio of top-10 performers for the girls, while Shiloh White (eighth) and Lucas Rhea (10th) were flying for the Pioneers - will keep working hard to get ready for sectionals this week in practice.

Warren County is scheduled to host the sectional meet at the high school on Monday, October 26. State qualifiers will see their season continue until Nov. 5, when titles will be decided in Memphis.

Let’s dive into this week’s action

Unbeatens collide in elementary boys basketball

Something will have to give Monday night when two undefeated boys basketball teams square off at West Elementary.

The 4-0 Wizards and Irving College Tigers, standing 3-0, both enter the matchup unbeaten in county play, making their 6 p.m. showdown one of the biggest games of the young elementary season.

West has been particularly impressive over the last week, knocking off previously unbeaten Centertown 32-14 Tuesday before following with another 32-14 victory over Morrison Thursday.

Cam Chadwell has been a major factor in West's early success. He scored 18 points against Centertown and added 10 against Morrison, while the Wizards have continued to get contributions throughout their lineup. Byron Keyes, Malik Ellis, DJ Ramirez and Princeton Scott have all helped provide balance for a West team that has yet to lose.

West coach Bracton Womack likes the direction his team is heading, particularly as the Wizards continue to develop their identity on both ends of the floor.

"Gotta finish around the rim better, but they are figuring out the recipe of what it takes for them to succeed," Womack said after last week’s win in an unbeaten battle with Centertown on the road. "We strive for relentless pursuit from opening tip to final horn, and they are definitely gaining confidence with each game."

Irving College has also been perfect this year, most recently edging Bobby Ray 20-16 Thursday. The Tigers will have an opportunity to make a major statement against West before returning home Tuesday to face Centertown in a make-up game from earlier this year.

The Warriors will be looking to rebound after suffering their first loss last week against West. If Centertown can sweep a pair of tough matchups, it can move right back into the hunt for an elementary championships.

Monday will be a packed slate in elementary boys basketball as all but Centertown (which still has two games this week) will be in action. Bobby Ray travels to Hickory Creek, Boyd will host Eastside and Dibrell heads to Morrison in other matchups to watch Monday night.

Lady Broncos, Lady Hawks on collision course

The girls elementary basketball race has its own unbeaten showdown looming, and it comes with a little championship history.

Boyd Christian and Hickory Creek will meet Thursday at 6 p.m. in a rematch of last year's county championship game. Both teams enter the week with perfect 4-0 county records, putting plenty at stake when the Lady Broncos travel to face the Lady Hawks.

Boyd has been one of the county's most dominant teams to start the season. The Lady Broncos won their first four county games before adding a pair of non-county victories during fall break, defeating Upper Cumberland 25-9 and Cannon South 45-2.

Sky Wright has helped lead Boyd's offensive attack, scoring 46 points in the Lady Broncos' first four county contests. Boyd will have an opportunity to remain unbeaten Monday when it hosts Eastside before turning its attention to Thursday's matchup.

Hickory Creek has been equally impressive. The Lady Hawks improved to 4-0 with a 23-4 victory over Dibrell Thursday and will host Bobby Ray Monday before welcoming Boyd.

Irving College is another team to watch in the girls race. The Lady Tigers improved to 3-0 with a 15-4 victory over Bobby Ray Thursday and will look to remain unbeaten when they travel to West Monday.

Centertown also remains in the mix at 3-1 after defeating West 30-10 Tuesday. Lynlee Taylor led the Lady Warriors with 14 points in that victory. Centertown will travel to Irving College Tuesday and Morrison Thursday.

With Boyd, Hickory Creek and Irving College all unbeaten, this week's games could go a long way toward determining which teams separate themselves in the county standings.

Sixth-grade basketball hits the road

Warren County Middle School's sixth-grade basketball teams will spend much of the week on the road as their schedules begin to pick up following fall break.

The Pioneers and Lady Pioneers will travel to Coffee County Tuesday for a 6 p.m. matchup before heading to White County Thursday for another 6 p.m. contest.

The boys opened their season with a convincing 46-12 victory over Cannon County before suffering a 52-35 setback against Coffee County last week in their home debut. Warren County bounced back to take down Cannon County 37-18 Saturday in a home game (the Upperman matchup was cancelled).

The Lady Pioneers also opened their season with a victory over Cannon County and walloped Coffee County 35-4 last week. The WCMS girls followed by splitting matchups yesterday at home, beating Cannon County but falling to a big Upperman squad that made its way to town over the weekend.

Saturday doubleheaders for the Pioneers and Lady Pioneers will continue this week, this time with the boys playing two games. The sixth-grade boys will face Dibrell at 10 a.m., followed by sixth-grade basketball against Irving College at 11:30 a.m.

WCSA puts elementary basketball in the spotlight

The Warren County Sports Authority is finding another way to showcase local athletes, and the early response to its elementary basketball Game of the Week has been encouraging.

Last Tuesday's boys matchup between West and Centertown, called by Chris Sullens, drew nearly 4,000 combined views across the WCSA's platforms. The Wizards handed the Warriors their first loss of the season with a 32-14 victory, giving viewers a chance to watch two of the county's early contenders battle.

The response has the WCSA looking toward more marquee matchups as elementary basketball moves deeper into its season and two games stand out this week.

Thursday's girls game between Boyd Christian and Hickory Creek is also being targeted for Game of the Week coverage. The matchup brings together two undefeated teams and serves as a rematch of last year's county championship, providing a natural spotlight for one of the biggest girls games of the early season.

Monday's meeting between Irving College and West features a pair of unbeaten boys teams, both 4-0 entering the showdown. The WCSA could also make an appearance for that matchup, which could provide another early look at two teams with championship aspirations.