Warriorettes secure 1st place in the district

The Warriorette basketball team wrapped up their regular season last week, going 3-0 on the week which included two big wins to secure first place in the district along with a big win on Senior Night to cap off a great season. The Warriorettes ended the regular season with an impressive overall record of 27-2 and 9-1 in district play.

The Warriorettes traveled to Baxter on 2/5 to take on Upperman in a game that would likely decide who would clinch first place in the district and secure the coveted top seed going into the district tournament. The game was a tight, low-scoring, defensive affair that lived up to the hype. The Warriorettes led by one point after the first quarter, the game was tied at halftime, and after three quarters of play, the Warriorettes found themselves down by one. The fourth quarter saw the Warriorettes pull away going on a 13-7 run to end the game victorious by a final score of 35-30.

Senior and TSSAA Miss Basketball Finalist Celeste Reed led theWarriorettes with 11 points and 6 rebounds. Junior Ava Jones scored 4 points, pulled down five boards, and blocked 5 shots. Sophomore Gracie Clark had 8 points, three rebounds, an assist, a steal, and a blocked shot.

Having secured first place in the district, the Warriorettes welcomed Livingston Academy to Roy Sewell Gymnasium, on Feb. 8. LA is usually a tough game, and this one was no exception. The Warriorettes got off to a quick start taking, a 14-6 lead after the first quarter. That lead was all but erased after the second quarter. The Warriorettes went into halftime with a two-point lead. Both teams came out firing offensively in the third quarter, and LA took a two-point lead going into the final quarter of the game. The Warriorettes rallied and went on a 15-8 run to win the game by a final score of 54-49.

Celeste Reed led the Warriorettes with 22 points and 10 rebounds recording yet another double-double to go along with two assists at critical times that proved to be huge points in the game. Sophomore

Bella Winningham had 14 points, two boards, and two steals. Gracie Clark ended the game with 7 points, six rebounds, three assists, a steal, and a blocked shot. Ava Jones had 4 points, two boards, and three blocked shots on the night. Senior Piper Price scored 2, secured four rebounds, and made three assists.

On Feb. 9, the Warriorettes hosted Signal Mountain on Senior Night in what was their final game of the regular season. The Warriorettes established themselves early, ending the first quarter with an 8-point lead and extending it to 10 at halftime. They never let up and cruised to a win by a final score of 63-50.

Celeste Reed had a monster of a final regular season game of her career showing once again why she is a Miss Basketball Finalist, leading the Warriorettes with 20 points, 14 rebounds, and four assists. Fellow senior Piper Price had 4 points, a rebound, two steals, an assist, and a blocked shot. Gracie Clark had 13 points, four rebounds, and led the Warriorettes with three steals. Bella Winningham had 11 points and six rebounds while Ava Jones had 8 points and three rebounds.

Several Warriorettes and their coach were recognized for their outstanding season. Coach Michael Dodgen was named District 7 AAA Coach of the Year.

Celeste Reed was awarded this year’s District MVP award. Ava Jones earned 1st Team All-District and All-Defensive Team honors. Gracie Clark earned 2nd Team All-District, All-Defensive Team, and Most Improved Player awards. Bella Winningham and Lakely Grasty earned honorable mention honors, and Ashlyn Selby was named to the All-Freshman Team.

Congratulations on an outstanding season and the many well-deserved awards and honors!

The Warriorettes now set their sights on the post-season and look to continue their winning ways and go deep in tournament play. They begin the district tournament as a #1 seed and have a first-round bye. Their first game will be Feb. 17, at 7 p.m., against the winner of the Stone Memorial vs. Cumberland County game. The next game will be for the district championship to be played Feb. 19, at 9 p.m. All district games will be played at Tennessee Tech, in Cookeville.