Warren County Pioneers: Season Preview
Warren County finished last in AAA District 6 last winter. Expect them to climb that ladder in 2018.
WCHS could leapfrog Rhea County and Stone Memorial.
2016-2017 DISTRICT STANDINGS
Cookeville | 9-1 | 21-9 |
White County | 7-3 | 25-7 |
Cumberland County | 5-5 | 10-16 |
Rhea County | 3-7 | 11-15 |
Stone Memorial | 3-7 | 14-16 |
Warren County | 3-7 | 15-16 |
Judging by Saturday’s Siegel PlayDay and a brief interview with Warren County Head Coach Chris Sullens the team has improved and gained natural experience from aging together.
Backcourt
Sloan Seymour can create his shot. He probably starts at the 2. He might be a D3 player. Facing a overwhelmed Hickman County, Seymour looked really sharp and dynamic.
Bouncy lead guard Tyree Ladet makes the team go. He infuses the Pioneers with fire. There will be times he gets a little too animated for official’s liking, but this investment is deeply embedded in his on-court demeanor. Don’t expect it to change.
Thin, innovative guard Chance Hobbs plays the customary veteran role. He settles the team and doesn’t turn the ball over. Hobbs doesn’t have to score to have an impact.
Irving Espinoza (pictured left) played quite a bit Saturday. The sophomore guard can avoid contact in traffic. He is not tall. He does have some mid-air acrobatics though.
Frontcourt
Coach Sullens expects a big year from returning leading scorer Isaiah Grayson. The wing has natural strength and probably can overwhelm some bigs in his region. Grayson has a junkyard dog feel to his game.
Caleb Newby will play, but might be a substitute behind Grayson and possibly Raven Lewandowski. Bunker Brock gives the team heft and rebounding. His strength is strength.
If you are looking for a young player to come along this season, Austin Hodges (2020 guard) can play. Clearly he defers to the older teammates, but agility and handles suggest he has more to offer.
2017-2018 Warren County Roster
14 | SR | Chance Hobbs |
3 | SR | Isaiah Grayson Goggles |
20 | SR | Caleb Newby |
10 | SR | Tyree Ladet |
33 | SR | Bunker Brock |
15 | SR | Freddy Trevino |
5 | JR | Sloan Seymour |
22 | JR | Raven Lewandowski |
23 | SO | Irving Espinoza |
1 | SO | Lacedrick Cox |
12 | SO | Jerry Mrema |
11 | SO | Brady Gross |
24 | SO | Austin Hodges |
21 | SO | Eli Jones |
Team Identity
Ladet has an edge for sure, but sometimes that helps a team care more through the rough patches. Lack of emotional investment can be more cancerous than too much enthusiasm. Also, Ladet rebounds well. This helps the fastbreaks start quickly. Overall, the team doesn’t appear constructed for up and down action, but Ladet and Seymour can push tempo.
When Warren County plays a 1-2-2 fullcourt. Sloan Seymour spearheads. He is nimble and fast enough to be moderately disruptive. The team will win if they can be more disruptive all over the floor.
Remembering 2016-2017
Date | Opponent | Result | |
---|---|---|---|
Nov. 17 | Franklin County N Hall of Fame at Tullahoma, TN |
L 49-64 | |
Nov. 17 | Grundy County N Russell Barbett HOC Classic at Tullahoma, Tullahoma, TN |
W 68-33 | |
Nov. 19 | Moore County N Russel Barnett Tip Off at Tullahoma, Tullahoma, TN |
W 79-57 | |
Nov. 21 | Tullahoma | W 47-30 | |
Nov. 22 | at Cannon County | W 81-76 | |
Nov. 25 | #16 Upperman N Mitch Wilson State Farm Classic at Cannon County, Woodbury, TN |
L 64-82 | |
Nov. 26 | Nashville Central Christian N Mitch Wilson State Farm Classic at Cannon County, Woodbury, TN |
L 72-84 | |
Nov. 28 | Coffee County | W 57-54 | |
Dec. 5 | Siegel | L 64-81 | |
Dec. 6 | at Coffee County | L 61-70 | |
Dec. 13 | at Tullahoma | W 50-45 | |
Dec. 15 | at DeKalb County | W 60-50 | |
Dec. 20 | Smith County N Sonic Shootout at White County, Sparta, TN |
W 71-68 | |
Dec. 21 | #25 Cookeville N Sonic Shootout at White County, Sparta, TN |
L 53-82 | |
Dec. 22 | Cannon County N Sonic Shootout at White County, Sparta, TN |
W 66-39 | |
Jan. 3 | Cannon County | W 54-42 | |
Jan. 10 | #20 White County D | L 43-61 | |
Jan. 13 | #25 Cookeville D | L 60-61 | |
Jan. 17 | Rhea County D | W 50-47 | |
Jan. 20 | at Stone Memorial D | L 48-67 | |
Jan. 24 | Cumberland County D |
|
L 55-60 |
Jan. 27 | at #20 White County D | L 49-72 | |
Jan. 31 | at #25 Cookeville D | L 40-63 | |
Feb. 3 | at Rhea County D | W 65-53 | |
Feb. 7 | Stone Memorial D | W 59-51 | |
Feb. 10 | DeKalb County | W 62-44 | |
Feb. 13 | at Cumberland County D | L 55-65 | |
Feb. 17 | Rhea County D6AAA |
W 55-53 | |
Feb. 18 | #25 Cookeville N D6AAA Semi at Warren County, McMinnville, TN |
L 47-49 | |
Feb. 21 | Stone Memorial N D6AAA Third Place at Warren County, McMinnville, TN |
L 46-49 | |
Feb. 25 | at #3 Cleveland R3AAA |
L 62-81 |