By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support local journalism.
Eagles top Broncos
DSC_2946.jpg
Jeffery Simmons photos Boyd's Weston Wright tangles with Eagle Johnny Delong in the post during last week's battle at JK Stanley Gymnasium.
Jeffery Simmons
Published: Jan 22, 2025, 2:03 AM

It was quite a battle at JK Stanley Gymnasium when Van Buren County came to town to face off with the Boyd Broncos. The Eagles were able to leave with a hard-fought 55-46 victory, completing a sweep of the series this season.

Boyd lost big when it traveled up the mountain in December, but last week's matchup with the Eagles was a four-quarter slugfest. Jace Matheney set the tone early, bullying his way to buckets in the paint as he scored a season-high 19 points. 

Van Buren County countered with a big game from senior Eli Scoggins, who dropped a game-high 23 points. Callyn Sullivan added 19 as the Eagles did just enough in the clutch moments to survive and upset bid from the Broncos.

"I was glad we pulled out the win," said Van Buren County Dustin Sullivan over the weekend after his team beat Boyd and followed with a win Friday over Marion County. "I hadn't been happy with our execution the last three games before (beating Marion County). I felt like we had really hit a will, but we did pull out wins on the road."

The path to victory on the road wasn't easy, especially when Boyd came out throwing haymakers. The Broncos built a 9-2 lead in the first quarter and kept it close to even until the final seconds of the first half.

"The difference (in the matchups with Van Buren County) was our mentality coming out. Lately, our kryptonite has been getting off to slow starts. We decided to simplify things going into Van Buren County and we had a good practice the night before.

"I believe that set the tone and we executed better. We had some guys step up into their potential - the potential we've known they have had the last eight months."

Matheney and sophomore Jordin Mitchell did their best to dominate the paint against the Eagles. Mitchell finished with 10 points and seven rebounds while Matheney grabbed eight boards to go along with his big scoring surge.

The return of freshman guard Jack Oliver, who had missed major time with a back injury, also buoyed the Broncos. Oliver had eight points in limited minutes.

Van Buren County changed the whole game in the final minute of the first half, exploding for six quick points to make it 27-17 at the break. Ty Measles started the run with a putback layup, then Sullivan sprinted the court for two transition layups following Boyd turnovers as the Eagles found some breathing room.

Van Buren County extended its lead up to 18 points in portions of the second half, but Oliver cut the deficit to just six in the final minute on a 3-pointer. Boyd wasn't able to get any closer though as time ran out on the Broncos as they started stampeding back into the game.

Rounding out the scoring for the Broncos was Jack Rhoton with five points, Jax Grissom with three and Connor Andrews with one.

The Eagles got four points from Measles and three points each from Rickey Howard and Cason Shadrick. Bryson Mooneyham added two points and Jack Pauken finished with one.
WCHS baseball, softball compete in weekend tournaments
sports.png
Matt Tyson
Published: Apr 2, 2025, 10:16 PM

One day after a close home win over Cumberland County Thursday night, the Warren County baseball team was back on the road for a weekend tournament slate. Taking part in the Viking Classic, the Pioneers went 2-2 across Friday and Saturday’s contests.

Kicking things off against Huntland at Tullahoma High School Friday evening, Warren County notched its third straight victory with a 4-3 decision over the Hornets.

Sam Robinson had three of the team’s eight hits. Ryder Gilispie followed with two. Tyler Adams, Jerren Harris and Keaton Rowe each added one hit.

Gilispie and Harris were both credited with one RBI each.

Adams, Robinson, Gilispie and Adrian Harris each scored one run.

On the mound, Miguel Garcia pitched four innings, finishing with four strikeouts, two hits, three runs and four walks. Keagan Thompson followed for two innings, striking out two.

In the nightcap, the Pioneers were held scoreless in an 8-0 shutout against the host Wildcats. Robinson had Warren County’s lone hit of the game.

Hayven Jones pitched 1.1 innings, recording one strikeout, four hits, seven runs and two walks. Jerren Harris came on for 2.2 innings, finishing with two hits, one run and four walks.

Back in action for day two of the tournament at Cascade High School, the Pioneers bounced back with a 9-8 win over the host Champions Saturday morning.

The team finished with nine hits, led by Adams and Robinson with two each. Gilispie, Jerren Harris, Adrian Harris, Woogs Bryan and Corban Felton all added one.

Bryan led the team in RBI with four of its eight. Gilispie, Felton, Jerren Harris and Brady Norris each brought in one.

Jaytton Baker went 3.1 innings on the bump, striking out five and coming off with eight hits and five runs. Lealon Arnold followed for 1.2 innings, striking out one and adding two hits and three runs. Gilispie pitched for one inning and recorded two strikeouts and one hit.

Closing out the weekend against Alabama’s Heritage Christian, Warren County came out on the losing end of a 14-6 contest. At the plate, Jerren Harris led the way with two of the team’s eight hits. Adams, Gilispie, Bryan, Felton, Adrian Harris and Evan Snapp all followed with one each.

The Pioneers posted four RBI, with two each for Adams and Snapp.

Snapp had two of the team’s six runs, with one each for Adams, Gilispie, Felton and Jones.

Braden Whinnery pitched 2.2 innings, striking out four and surrendering seven hits, five runs and one walk. Rowe followed for 0.2 innings, adding four hits and five runs. Up next was Keagan Thompson, who went one inning and came off with five hits and four runs. Daylen Holguin wrapped up the day, striking out one and allowing one hit over 0.2 innings.

WCHS softball goes 1-3 through weekend

The Lady Pioneers got their Southern Warrior Classic schedule started with a game against Summertown Friday evening, a matchup in which they fell 10-1.

Warren County finished with six hits, with two each for Ky Damon, Lola Wells and Kaydence Wiser.

Wiser had a home run in the top of the fourth inning for the team’s lone run.

In the circle, Ceilee Gudat pitched 3.1 innings and finished with one strikeout, nine hits, 10 runs and two walks. Kyaira Sharpe followed for the game’s remainder, closing out the last 0.2 innings.

The Lady Pioneers were again bested in their second Friday night game, falling 10-2 to Moline (Ill.).

Wells led the Warren County hitting effort with two of the team’s six. Damon, Callie Roberts, Cortlyn Porter and Ali Young each added one.

Wells and Lily Rains had one run each.

Ruby Denning had one strikeout and gave up eight hits, 10 runs and three walks across all four innings.

The Lady Pioneers had better luck in their Saturday morning opener, flying ahead with an 11-run fifth inning to take down Illinois’s Oswego East 15-9.

Warren County racked up 12 hits over the course of the game, with two each for Rains, Wells, Sharpe, Porter and Addison Smith. This included home runs for both Wells and Smith. Damon and Young both added one hit each.

Smith led the Lady Pioneers in RBI with four of their 15, followed by Sharpe with three. Rains and Wells both had two RBI. Damon, Wiser, Porter and Young all tacked on one.

Sharpe pitched the first four innings and came out with 13 hits, nine runs and two walks. Denning added one hit across one inning.

Warren County was unable to duplicate this in their final game of the weekend later that afternoon, falling 3-2 to Stewarts Creek.

The team notched six hits, with two each for Rains and Porter. Damon and Wiser both added one hit.

Rains had the Lady Pioneers’ lone RBI.

On the rubber, Gudat pitched all five innings, striking out three and finishing the day with five hits, three runs and one walk.