Bulldogs Get It Done - Go 3 for 3 Against Harriman
It's January 6, 2026 - and the Wartburg Bulldogs were set to take on the Harriman Blue Devils for their first game action of the new year. Harriman typically is a tough opponent that the Bulldogs have to face twice per year. For context, last year the Lady Bulldogs went 1-1 against Harriman - while the Boys team went 0-2, with their second defeat being a VERY lopsided 76-33 loss. Wartburg has looked a bit more competitive so far this season with Travis Nelson in his second year leading the program - and Jen Hendricks bringing some new energy to the girls team. How would these two teams fare in the battle of the Blues?
First up was the Boys JV. Coming into the season, I really felt like the Wartburg JV would be tough to beat behind sophomores Reid Quinney and Noah Ward. So far, they haven't found a great rhythm. Coming into this one at 1-3 on the season, the JV needed to get it together... and that can be tough against a team like Harriman. Maybe they just needed some time to simmer - because this first game of the new year - they were COOKING! Jack Seay played like a true Jack-in-the-Box - putting on his best Paxton Quinney impression with slippery moves... the Blue Devils never knew where he was gonna pop out when he had the ball. He scored 21! Noah Ward had a game playing the Bruiser on the inside and chipping in for 17 points - to include a three pointer and 4/5 from the free throw line. Reid Quinney played his typical stingy defense - but he found his stroke - knocking down 2 threes and contributing 13 points. If these JV boys are the future for Wartburg - the future is looking bright! JV wins big 63-37.
Next up was the Lady Bulldogs. Coach Jen thankfully added another player to the roster over the break with Bradlee Sexton getting healed up from an early season surgery. One extra player may not be a huge deal if you have 15 on your roster... but it is a GAME.... CHANGER... when you only have 6! A year ago - the Lady Bulldogs defeated the Lady Blue Devils in their first meeting 57-40... this year, in our first meeting, our Lady Bulldogs played a very disciplined game with great defense and left the Blue Devils without an answer. They get their third win of the season 53-37 with personal best games from several Lady Bulldogs!
Last up was the Boys Varsity. When you win the first 2 games in a night - you always wonder if your are destined to lose the third. Harriman comes into this one at 4-8 on the season - and they are down one of their most talented guards with a broken ankle. The season isn't a wash - but it's clearly a down year for Harriman. Coming off a big emotional win against Oliver Springs prior to the Christmas break - the Bulldogs went into the Harriman Christmas Tournament with some momentum. While they went 0-2 in the tournament - they faced stiff competition and held their own. Coach Travis Nelson said after their loss to Hardin Valley, "If we can play like we played here, we'll beat any opponent in our Region." The one thing Nelson did mention as a shortfall - we need some guys that can put points on the board. Behind top scorers Paxton "Pacman" Quinney and Ian "Fast & Furious" Robinson - the Bulldogs didn't get many points from anyone else. Tonight, against Harriman, Nelson got his wish. They had 10 scorers against the Blue Devils - tied for their season high. It's called "Death by a Thousand Paper Cuts" - and you never knew who was gonna get you tonight. It was a great game for many - and it showed on the scoreboard with a lopsided 84-66 win. I don't know how long it's been since Wartburg scored 80+... but it was a good thing to see tonight!
Below are a few thoughts as the Bulldogs cast the Blue Devils out of Morgan County:
First up was the Boys JV. Coming into the season, I really felt like the Wartburg JV would be tough to beat behind sophomores Reid Quinney and Noah Ward. So far, they haven't found a great rhythm. Coming into this one at 1-3 on the season, the JV needed to get it together... and that can be tough against a team like Harriman. Maybe they just needed some time to simmer - because this first game of the new year - they were COOKING! Jack Seay played like a true Jack-in-the-Box - putting on his best Paxton Quinney impression with slippery moves... the Blue Devils never knew where he was gonna pop out when he had the ball. He scored 21! Noah Ward had a game playing the Bruiser on the inside and chipping in for 17 points - to include a three pointer and 4/5 from the free throw line. Reid Quinney played his typical stingy defense - but he found his stroke - knocking down 2 threes and contributing 13 points. If these JV boys are the future for Wartburg - the future is looking bright! JV wins big 63-37.
Next up was the Lady Bulldogs. Coach Jen thankfully added another player to the roster over the break with Bradlee Sexton getting healed up from an early season surgery. One extra player may not be a huge deal if you have 15 on your roster... but it is a GAME.... CHANGER... when you only have 6! A year ago - the Lady Bulldogs defeated the Lady Blue Devils in their first meeting 57-40... this year, in our first meeting, our Lady Bulldogs played a very disciplined game with great defense and left the Blue Devils without an answer. They get their third win of the season 53-37 with personal best games from several Lady Bulldogs!
Last up was the Boys Varsity. When you win the first 2 games in a night - you always wonder if your are destined to lose the third. Harriman comes into this one at 4-8 on the season - and they are down one of their most talented guards with a broken ankle. The season isn't a wash - but it's clearly a down year for Harriman. Coming off a big emotional win against Oliver Springs prior to the Christmas break - the Bulldogs went into the Harriman Christmas Tournament with some momentum. While they went 0-2 in the tournament - they faced stiff competition and held their own. Coach Travis Nelson said after their loss to Hardin Valley, "If we can play like we played here, we'll beat any opponent in our Region." The one thing Nelson did mention as a shortfall - we need some guys that can put points on the board. Behind top scorers Paxton "Pacman" Quinney and Ian "Fast & Furious" Robinson - the Bulldogs didn't get many points from anyone else. Tonight, against Harriman, Nelson got his wish. They had 10 scorers against the Blue Devils - tied for their season high. It's called "Death by a Thousand Paper Cuts" - and you never knew who was gonna get you tonight. It was a great game for many - and it showed on the scoreboard with a lopsided 84-66 win. I don't know how long it's been since Wartburg scored 80+... but it was a good thing to see tonight!
Below are a few thoughts as the Bulldogs cast the Blue Devils out of Morgan County:
Personal Bests All Around
Basketball is not all about individual stats... it's a team sport. However, it is nice to recognize milestones and indicators when players have great individual performances. On the girls side - Kaylee Ledford took her first trip above 20 this season with a team-leading 21. She has been consistent in compiling points all year - now totaling 126. Another Lady Bulldog that had a personal best day was London 'The Bridge' Wright. Wright had her best game of the season against Oliver Springs with 7... but then beat her own personal best again tonight by putting up 9. London Bridge isn't falling down ... she's on the rise!
On the Boys side of things - Parker Rogers is starting to come into his own. He's taking that sophomore leap that takes place around mid-season of the sophomore year. Very clearly the #3 scoring threat on the team behind Pacman and Robinson - Rogers had his season high against Oliver Springs with 11 - and then matched that tonight with another 11. That gives Rogers 30 points over the last 4 games. Great work young man! Senior Jayden Pemberton has been out for a few games nursing a nagging injury - but was back in the lineup tonight. His shot looked smooth and he seemed comfortable shooting his way to an 8 point performance - his best on the year. Slushie P... IS BAAAAACK! And another one... Noah Ward came off a 17 point performance for the JV only to put up a season best of 7 varsity points in this one.
On the Boys side of things - Parker Rogers is starting to come into his own. He's taking that sophomore leap that takes place around mid-season of the sophomore year. Very clearly the #3 scoring threat on the team behind Pacman and Robinson - Rogers had his season high against Oliver Springs with 11 - and then matched that tonight with another 11. That gives Rogers 30 points over the last 4 games. Great work young man! Senior Jayden Pemberton has been out for a few games nursing a nagging injury - but was back in the lineup tonight. His shot looked smooth and he seemed comfortable shooting his way to an 8 point performance - his best on the year. Slushie P... IS BAAAAACK! And another one... Noah Ward came off a 17 point performance for the JV only to put up a season best of 7 varsity points in this one.
Welcome Back!
It's always good to get the team back together! It never feels right when an important part is out for some reason. Bradlee Sexton had her first game action of the season against Harriman. The bruiser down low went 2/3 shooting for 4 points and chipped in by being 3rd on the team in rebounds. Sexton's presence will take the pressure off of the other post players and provide some much needed rest breaks. And the aforementioned Jayden "Slushie P" Pemberton looked like himself again tonight - firing up bombs from range. He knocked down 2 three pointers as part of his 8 points performance. His defensive prowess is also missed when he's out with his twitchy quickness up and down the court. Nice to have everyone back!
Next Stop: 300?
Oftentimes - we are excited to break the 100 point barrier for a player in any given season... The Bulldog Leading-Scorer this year was Paxton Quinney coming into this game. He came into the Harriman game with a whopping 194 points on the season. And then he proceeded to drop 26 additional points against the Blue Devils - blowing past the 200 barrier. Now - with many games left in the season - we have to wonder - how high can he go? As Quinney hustles and grinds - his temporary placeholder nickname will be King Leon... In honor of King Leonidas I who led his 300 Spartans to battle against a much larger army. In Quinney's quest for 300 - let's all get behind King Leon Quinney as he leads the Bulldogs into Battle. In a modified quote from the movie 300, "THIS.... IS.... WARTBURG!!!"
The Dunk Attempt that Woke us Up
If you've been around for basketball games, you know they can be long nights when JV kicks things off. What that typically means: the majority of the fanbase doesn't show up until varsity... the refs don't typically call much... and the games sometimes feel a little monotonous with younger players making young player mistakes. Well, if you weren't paying attention toward the end of the JV game - you snapped to attention when you heard the rim snap under an attempted dunk by Noah Ward. You see very few dunk attempts even in varsity games... but a dunk attempt in a JV game is almost unheard of. Ward already had 17 points - had hit a buzzer beater three - and his team was nursing a large lead. Things couldn't have been going better... Or could they? He noticed the Blue Devils coming down the court without much intensity and decided he'd jump a pass route. When he stole the ball at half court - with no one between him and the rim - he decided it was time for the ultimate rite of passage... time to get his dunk. He leapt like he was Michael Jordan from the WC logo - got the ball above the rim - but it rattled out. The small crowd half went wild - and half went silent in shock. But it was good to see a player cut loose - have some fun - and grin ear to ear. Coach Travis Nelson said, "It left me in a weird spot. Levi Wilks was already sitting at the scorer's table to go in for Noah... but after his dunk, I kinda didn't want to take him out... I didn't want it to seem like I was taking a kid out for a hustle play like that!"
On Thursday - we travel to Sweetwater for round 2 against the Wildcats.
Go Dogs!
