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Lady Lions win big
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Jaelin Stovall attacks the basket in Thursday's TNCAA tournament game at Covenant. The Lady Lions won 44-22. - photo by Jeffery Simmons

Covenant Academy took the first step toward a TNCAA title at home Thursday.

The Lady Lions crushed West Academy 44-22, advancing the local squad to the semifinals of the TNCAA tournament. Emma Madewell led the charge at home, pouring in 17 points in the victory.

“Emma was on. Offensively, it always seems like we have 1-2 players that are clicking each night,” said coach Lacey Slatton. “It was a good win. We were able to get some younger players in to gain some experience going forward.”

Sarah Sharpe added eight points and Naina Patel chipped in seven – all coming in the first quarter – as Covenant cruised to victory. The Lady Lions scored the game’s first 11 points and held a double-digit lead for most of the second quarter and the entire second half.

Madewell exploded in the second quarter. She showed her all-around game with an array of offensive moves. The Lady Lion senior snuck around two screens for back-to-back jumpers, then sliced through two defenders for a layup midway through the quarter.

Madewell also turned defense into offense right before halftime. She was able to get her hand on a pass atop the Lady Lions’ zone, then immediately sprinted the other way when her teammate secured the ball. Spotted up at the three-point line, Madewell launched in transition and hit nothing but net.

The senior’s offensive explosion, finishing with 11 points in the period, helped Covenant build a 26-7 lead at halftime.

Madisen Madewell led the charge in the second half, scoring two early buckets in the third quarter. Savannah Duggin also finished with four points, while Jaelin Stovall and Danielle Petty had two points in the win.

Covenant Academy will now turn its attention to Madison Academy. The semifinal opponent beat Covenant twice in the regular season by a combined five points.

Coach Slatton hopes her team’s growth from those losses are evident in Monday’s matchup.

“We played them early in the season. I think we’ve ironed out some issues and really locked in, especially defensively,” said Slatton. “I have a lot of faith in these girls. This group has a chance to really do some big things.”

Monday’s matchup, slated to be played on the Madison campus, is set for 7:30 p.m. With a win, Covenant would advance to play in Tuesday’s final game. 

WCHS baseball, softball compete in weekend tournaments
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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.