This Week in Sports: Oct. 26-Nov. 1

The calendar is getting ready to flip to November, but Warren County athletes aren't waiting for the new month to make some noise. State championship opportunities, the beginning of winter sports and two unbeaten elementary basketball teams headline another busy week of local athletics.

The biggest stakes may come Monday at Warren County High School, where the Pioneers will host the Section 4-AAA Cross Country Championships beginning at 10 a.m. Emma Woodlee will be chasing her third consecutive trip to the TSSAA state championships, while several of her teammates will be looking to extend their seasons on their home course.

Monday also marks the official beginning of high school basketball practice. Last week, coaches Kyle Turnham and Danny Fish gave some insights on where they feel their programs are at leading into the season at district media day.

"We have seven players that had varsity experience last year. We have four starters coming back," Turnham said during last week's District 6-4A Media Day.

Fish remarked, “We have a lot to replace, we have a lot to do. We're gonna have fun doing it, we're gonna win or learn.”

Warren County High School basketball will kick off its season Thursday, Nov. 17 at home against Ravenwood.

Basketball is also taking center stage at Warren County Middle School, where the 7-8 grade teams begin their seasons Tuesday, while the wrestling program opens its pursuit of a third consecutive region championship. The elementary basketball league will feature several important matchups as West's boys and Boyd Christian's girls try to protect their unbeaten records.

Football isn't finished, either. Warren County will celebrate Senior Night Friday when Glencliff visits Nunley Stadium for a 7 p.m. kickoff. The Pioneers are coming off a 41-18 victory over Howard and will be looking to build momentum heading into their Nov. 5 Nurseryman's Bowl matchup with LaVergne.

The Warren County Way will have its complete football preview later in the week, while the Studio 605 Coaches Show returns Thursday with Pioneer coach Eric Belew and former Pioneer quarterback Michael Thrower joining host Jeffery Simmons to discuss the Pioneers and their upcoming matchup.

This Week in Sports is presented by Security Federal Savings Bank. The Warren County Way thanks Security Federal for its continued support of local athletics and its commitment to helping showcase Warren County's athletes throughout the year.

Running toward state on home turf

Emma Woodlee has already made two trips to the TSSAA state cross country championships. Monday, she'll have an opportunity to earn a third without ever leaving Warren County.

Warren County High School will host the Section 4-AAA Championships beginning at 10 a.m., giving Woodlee and her Pioneer teammates the rare opportunity to compete for state qualification on their home course.

For Woodlee, the meet represents more than another postseason race - It's an opportunity to complete a comeback after a season that has tested her physically and mentally. The junior entered the fall hoping to build on consecutive state appearances, but injuries have made the road back to championship form more difficult than expected.

Woodlee opened the season by winning the Coffee County Invitational Aug. 31 in 22:19, an encouraging start for an athlete accustomed to competing near the front of the field. The weeks that followed weren't nearly as smooth.

She was unable to finish the Woodland Park race in Chattanooga Sept. 15, a setback that raised questions about how quickly she could regain her form. Four days later, she finished 17th at the Burnett Invitational in 23:28.

Those weren't the performances Woodlee had envisioned, but the season was far from over.

Coach Kelsea Turner continued to emphasize patience, consistency and the importance of being at her best when the postseason arrived.

"It's been really impressive to watch Emma battle through this year, especially after making it to the state meet two years in a row," Turner said earlier this season. "She knows what it takes to get there, and even though this season hasn't always gone exactly how she wanted, she's continued to work and compete."

The progress began to show as September gave way to October.

Woodlee finished sixth at the Meet in the Middle Invitational with a time of 21:21, then continued improving at the Tree City XC Invitational, where she posted a 21:00.20.

Her biggest breakthrough came Oct. 15 at Sewanee, where she returned to the top of the standings with a first-place finish in 21:31.

The victory was another indication that Woodlee was finding her footing at the right time.

"Hopefully, we're seeing her round into form at the right time," Turner said.

Woodlee won't be the only Warren County runner hoping to make the most of the home-course advantage.

Jolene Meadows has emerged as another important contributor for the Lady Pioneers, finishing fourth at Sewanee in 23:55. Gracee O'Neal also delivered a top-10 performance in that meet, placing ninth in 24:32.

Caroline Douglas, Aubrey Alford and Shiloh White have also been part of Warren County's efforts throughout the season, giving the Lady Pioneers additional runners hoping to deliver strong postseason performances.

On the boys side, Lucas Rhea, Christain Hewitt and Zaydon Lovvorn will be among the Pioneers looking to close the season on a positive note and compete for advancement.

Turner has been encouraged by the team's progress as the postseason approaches, particularly the determination her athletes have shown through difficult stretches.

"I thought the team competed really well. We saw a lot of positive things, especially the way our athletes competed and continued to fight throughout the race," Turner said following a late-season meet. "We're starting to see the work we've put in all season come together at the right time."

That timing is especially important now.

The Pioneers have spent the fall traveling to courses across the region, battling unfamiliar terrain and testing themselves against quality competition. Monday, they'll have the opportunity to compete in familiar surroundings with the stakes higher than ever.

For Woodlee, the challenge is straightforward. After overcoming injuries and rediscovering her confidence over the final month of the regular season, one more strong performance could send her back to the biggest stage in Tennessee high school cross country.

And this time, the road to state runs directly through Warren County.

WCMS basketball tipping off

The wait is almost over for Warren County Middle School basketball as the 7-8 grade Pioneers and Lady Pioneers prepare to begin their seasons Tuesday.

Both teams will open at home against Tullahoma West at 6 p.m. before traveling to Tullahoma East Thursday for another 6 p.m. matchup.

Lady Pioneer coach Tyra Rubio is eager to see her team return to competition after several weeks of preparation.

"We are super excited. These girls are very eager to start playing. They have been putting in a lot of work the last couple of weeks," Rubio said. "We really just want to build on what we started last year. Staying disciplined and controlling what we can control. And really just having fun.”

On the boys side, coach Isaiah Grayson has been preparing a team that should look different physically from last year's group.

During June competition, the Pioneers faced Highland Rim Academy, Allons, Algood and Cannon County. Grayson was encouraged by the early results, particularly against Allons and Cannon County, which provided the toughest competition.

"I think we are progressing well this summer. We have a bigger and longer team this year. We are working on playing to our size and handling pressure and making good decisions," Grayson said in June.

The Murphy twins - Weston and Cooper - have joined the program and provided additional scoring options, while Gus Bouldin and Brody Chisam have continued developing after playing on last year's junior varsity team. Colton Todd also earned praise from Grayson for his play during the summer.

The Pioneers will now have an opportunity to put those months of preparation to work against a pair of Tullahoma opponents as both WCMS programs begin their new seasons.

**Last year’s region championship WCMS squad.**

WCMS wrestling chasing a three-peat

The expectations aren't getting any lower for Warren County Middle School wrestling.

Coach Ben Matheney's Pioneers will begin their season Thursday at Cookeville High School with over three dozen wrestlers in the program and hopes of capturing a third consecutive region championship.

Warren County has established itself as one of the area's top middle school wrestling programs, but Matheney knows this year's team will have to replace several important contributors who have moved on to the high school.

"Really excited about this season. We've got to replace a lot of strong wrestlers that are now at the high school, but we've got over 40 busting it on the mat right now," Matheney said.

The Pioneers will compete against Prescott, Algood and Avery Trace Thursday beginning at 5 p.m. before traveling to Spring Station Middle School Saturday for the Mustang Dual Tournament.

"The expectations are high and Thursday and the dual tournament Saturday will be a good gauge on where we are at," Matheney said. "The team is working incredibly hard. There isn't any reason that this team shouldn't be expected to win its third straight region championship.”

Wizards setting the pace

Can anybody conjure up the magic to take down the Wizards?

That's the question hovering over the Warren County elementary 3-5 grade boys basketball league as West continues to roll through its schedule with an unblemished 5-0 record.

The Wizards have been impressive on both ends of the floor, combining a high-powered offense with a defense that has made life miserable for opposing teams. West has already knocked off two of the league's top contenders, beating Hickory Creek 27-13 in September and Centertown 32-14 earlier this month.

The Wizards have also handled Eastside, Morrison and Irving College, establishing themselves as the only unbeaten team remaining in the boys league.

Cam Chadwell has provided a consistent scoring punch, including an 18-point performance against Centertown. West has also received contributions from Byron Keyes and Malik Ellis, giving opponents several offensive threats to contain.

West will have two opportunities to keep its perfect record intact this week, hosting Bobby Ray (0-5) Monday before traveling to Boyd (2-4) Thursday.

While West continues to protect its unbeaten record, Dibrell has quietly put together one of the strongest seasons in the league.

The Wildcats sit at 6-1, with their lone loss coming against Centertown in the season opener. Since that setback, Dibrell has rattled off six consecutive victories, including a 21-10 win over Hickory Creek and a 31-23 victory over Irving College last Thursday.

River Rice scored 12 points against Irving College, while Jeb Culwell added 10. Dibrell has also received contributions from Jean Garcia, Owen Willis and Mason Kieffer, giving the Wildcats several options when opponents focus on stopping their leading scorers.

Dibrell is off this week's schedule, leaving the Wildcats watching to see whether West will stumble before the two teams eventually meet in their Nov. 5 makeup game. That showdown could carry enormous championship implications if both teams continue their current pace.

The most intriguing boys matchup Monday takes place at Hickory Creek, where the Hawks (4-2) welcome Centertown (4-2) in a meeting of teams trying to stay within reach of the league leaders.

Centertown suffered a heartbreaking 28-27 loss to Morrison Thursday. Greyson Eubanks scored nine points and Colt Bratcher added eight, but the Warriors couldn't hold off the Eagles' second-half comeback.

Morrison received eight points from Trey Hawkins and six apiece from James Starkey and Sawyer McCormick, with Starkey delivering two important free throws in the comeback victory.

Hickory Creek, meanwhile, bounced back from its loss to Dibrell by beating Boyd 27-14. Asher Mathis led the Hawks with 12 points, all in the first half, while Beckett Butler added seven.

The Hawks will have another important home game Thursday when Irving College (3-3) comes to town. The Tigers are looking to regain their footing after dropping three consecutive games against West, Centertown and Dibrell.

Morrison (2-4) will also try to build on its thrilling victory over Centertown when it hosts Eastside (0-5) Monday before traveling to Bobby Ray (0-5) Thursday.

Lady Broncos look to stay perfect

The Lady Broncos have clearly established themselves as the team to beat in the 3-5 grade girls elementary league, but who stands tall in second place could be determined with a slew of showdowns this week.

Boyd Christian enters Monday's action with a perfect 6-0 record, fresh off its most impressive performance of the season. The Lady Broncos dismantled previously unbeaten Hickory Creek 37-6 Thursday, snapping the Lady Hawks' 17-game winning streak and sending a message to the rest of the league.

First-year coach Haley Nowlin has found a formidable trio in Skylyn Wright, Oly Cathcart and Juliette Ferguson. Wright has been a force on both ends of the floor, using her athleticism to create turnovers and turn defense into easy offense. Cathcart has provided another dynamic scoring threat in transition, while Ferguson has emerged as a dangerous offensive weapon capable of taking over stretches of games.

All three were instrumental in Thursday's statement victory. Wright poured in 15 points, Ferguson added 10 and Cathcart scored eight as the Lady Broncos built a 20-3 halftime advantage and never looked back.

Boyd will put its unbeaten record on the line twice this week, traveling to Irving College Monday before returning home to face West Thursday.

While Boyd controls the top spot, the battle immediately behind the Lady Broncos is shaping up to be one of the most compelling storylines of the elementary season.

Centertown, Hickory Creek and Irving College all enter the week at 5-1, and the schedule has created a series of head-to-head matchups that could separate the contenders in a hurry.

Monday's showdown between Centertown and Hickory Creek is a battle of teams trying to stay within striking distance of Boyd. The Lady Warriors have won five of their first six games, including a hard-fought 14-6 victory over Irving College in a makeup game last Tuesday. Lynlee Taylor scored 10 points in that contest, helping Centertown hand the Lady Tigers their first defeat.

Centertown followed with a 16-4 victory over Morrison Thursday, getting seven points from Taylor and six from Arie Shehane.

Hickory Creek, meanwhile, will be looking for a response after Thursday's lopsided loss to Boyd. The Lady Hawks had been nearly untouchable throughout their 5-0 start, allowing just 29 points in those five victories before the Lady Broncos erupted for 37.

Coach Shea Panter's team now faces two critical home games in four days, beginning with Centertown Monday and continuing Thursday against Irving College.

That Thursday matchup carries an additional storyline beyond the standings.

Irving College coach Jasmine Evans and Hickory Creek coach Shea Panter are sisters, and the two have squared off multiple times with the District 1 championship on the line in previous seasons. Their family rivalry will be renewed Thursday, this time with both teams entering the week tied for second place in the overall league standings.

Irving College has its own opportunity to shake up the standings Monday when it welcomes Boyd, and the Lady Tigers will be trying to build on Thursday's 22-12 victory over Dibrell. Hadlee Green led Irving College with eight points in that win, while Amaya Morrison and Sophia Stubblefield scored six apiece.

The rest of the league has plenty at stake as well. Eastside (2-3) travels to Morrison (2-4) Monday in a matchup between teams trying to gain momentum. Bobby Ray (1-4) visits West (0-5), with the Lady Wizards looking to break into the win column.

Thursday's schedule sends Morrison to Bobby Ray and Centertown to Eastside, while West travels to Boyd.

Lady Broncos make early statement

Boyd Christian's middle school girls basketball team wasted little time making an impression to begin its season, and the Lady Broncos will try to keep that momentum rolling Tuesday when Van Buren County visits JK Stanley Gymnasium.

Coach Dara Johnson's squad opened with two convincing performances last week, beating Coffee County's sixth-grade team 35-14 Thursday in an exhibition before rolling past Winchester Christian 49-13 Friday in its home opener.

Newcomer Bella Hastings made an immediate impact against Winchester Christian, scoring all 14 of her points in the first half. Moni Harris and Rain Curtis added 10 points apiece as the Lady Broncos built a commanding 32-5 halftime advantage.

"Last night was a great way to kick off our preseason," Johnson said after Friday's victory. "The first game of the season can sometimes bring a lot of nerves, but our girls went out there with confidence and showed what they are capable of. I was especially proud of our post players and how well they worked together, running the floor, playing hard and creating opportunities for one another."

Harris had already delivered an impressive performance Thursday, scoring 18 points against Coffee County. The seventh grader and Hastings give Boyd a formidable presence inside, while Curtis provides experience and offensive versatility in the backcourt.

The Lady Broncos also received contributions from several younger players, including elementary standouts Skylyn Wright, Juliette Ferguson and Oly Cathcart, who all scored in Friday's victory.

Boyd's boys will be looking to bounce back after falling 43-22 to Winchester Christian in their home opener. Sixth-grade guard Ryder Reed led the Broncos with 10 points, while Aiden Kesey added six and John Jordan finished with five.

Both Boyd teams return to action Tuesday against Van Buren County. Junior varsity games begin at 4 p.m., followed by the varsity matchup at 6 p.m.