All-out speed, fast-break layups and high-flying dunks have highlighted Warren County's 20 wins during the regular season, but many Pioneer fans will always remember the team slowing it down Friday to make sure seniors could have a special senior night.
The return of Aaron Templeton and beloved manager Maverick Smith suiting up and starting highlighted a senior night celebration Friday, one punctuated by a 62-57 victory over Cannon County.
Connor Williams and Nathan Turner joined Smith and Templeton in the starting lineup as coach Danny Fish sent out all his seniors at the start to a huge round of applause. Fans were brought to their feet when Cannon County conceded the tip, allowing Smith to grab the ball and walk it up to the court to Templeton, who was planted under the basket.
Templeton, still wearing a bulky knee brace required after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ACL suffered in the matchup between the two teams in Woodbury in December, calmly banked in the opening shot and threw his hands in the air as teammates and opponents all rushed to give him a hug as he left the court.
"It was a great day for the Pioneers," said coach Fish, who was named the District 9-4A coach of the year Friday. "Senior night at the Dalt, lots of district awards, got the win to get to 20 regular-season victories - just really proud of the guys. We had a blessed regular season.
"A big 'thank you' is owed to Cannon County and coach Jared Nave for allowing us to get AT his last bucket as a Pioneer."
Coach Fish may have wanted to call back on Smith and Templeton when his team got in foul trouble in the first half, particularly when leading scorer and newly minted District 9-4A MVP Devin Fish picked up two quick fouls in the first quarter. The Pioneers wouldn't falter though.
Keyton Reno finished with a season-high 20 points, including a massive jam on an alley-oop late in the second quarter to send Warren County to halftime up 30-24, and Deashawn Adams had 15 points to help the Pioneers avenge one of just five losses it suffered in the regular season.
Turner, again hot from deep Friday to continue his sniper shooting in February, and Fish finished with 11 points each.
Before the game, Warren County already got some great news as the group nearly swept all of the District 9-4A honors.
Devin Fish was named MVP, Danny Fish was named coach of the year, Corban Felton - thrust into the starting lineup for district play following Templeton's injury - was named the District 9-4A newcomer of the year, Adams received the Most Improved Player honor and Reno was named all-district.
The Pioneers, based on the bye they earned as the regular-season champs, have already punched their ticket to the region tournament, but coach Fish said after Friday's game that, "Now the money rounds start."
Warren County will make its District 9-4A tournament debut Saturday, Feb. 22 at 7:30 p.m. and will face the winner of Tuesday's matchup between Lincoln County and Columbia. The Pioneers will also play Tuesday, Feb. 25, with hopes of making it to the championship game slated for 7:30 p.m.
The district semifinals and finals will be held at Shelbyville.
