Security Federal Athlete of the Week: Nov. 14-20

Partnering with Security Federal, the Warren County Sports Authority will honor a standout local athlete each week. The WCSA and the Friendliest Bank in Town love seeing great athletic achievement and there are plenty to pick from every week in Warren County. From winter to summer, spring to fall, and on courts, fields, diamonds, dance floors and anywhere else an athlete can succeed, Security Federal and the Sports Authority are going to be on the lookout for the best of the best!

Lady Pioneer Shelby Smartt

If not for the clutch play of junior Shelby Smartt, the Lady Pioneers would not have started the season 3-0 in Hall of Fame games. Smartt averaged 11.7 points per game as Warren County topped Central Magnet, Notre Dame and Whitwell in the season's first week.

Smartt saved her best performance for early Saturday morning against Notre Dame. The Lady Pioneers trailed by as many as 10 in the fourth quarter, but Warren County was able to rally back in the final seconds of regulation to force overtime. In extra time, Smartt took over down the stretch.

Smartt drilled a key 3-pointer in the final minute that gave Warren County its first lead since the first half and followed by hitting two key free throws with 10.7 seconds left after Notre Dame had tied the game. In the final four minutes, Smartt scored seven of her game-high 16 points as the Lady Pioneers escaped with a big 64-62 victory.

She followed it up with a 14-point performance in a 55-36 thumping of Whitwell to finish Saturday with two victories. For the season, Smartt is also averaging 4.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists for the unbeaten Lady Pioneers.

Warren County will get a big test Tuesday when it travels to face Tullahoma. The Lady Pioneers return to their home floor this Friday, Nov. 26 against DeKalb County. Tip-off for both matchups is set for 6 p.m.