Owen swept on Senior Night

Warhorses and Warlassies celebrated in final regularly scheduled home game

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
February 16, 2026

Although a pair of home losses bookended the night, Feb. 12, spirits were high between games, when the Warhorses and Warlassies celebrated Senior Night at center-court.

A total of 14 representatives of the Owen men’s basketball, women’s basketball and cheerleading teams were escorted by family and friends, receiving a warm send-off from the home crowd between their final regularly scheduled home game of the regular season.

The Warlassies fell to 1-21 on the season in a 54-21 loss to Hendersonville, while the Warhorses slipped to 11-11, with a 70-46 Bearcats victory.

Two players from the women’s program—Natalie Orellana-Galdamez and Riley Higbee—were the first to receive gifts and balloons from teammates during the ceremony, followed by Warhorse players Owen Zeh, Jackson Warnock, Asante Martin and Calvin Barker. The winter basketball program was represented by senior cheerleaders: Nik Brendell, Elora Hale, Ky’Asia Jones, Jessica McDermott, Lily Monosso, Cameron Owenby, Madilynn Rozier, Cora Shelton and Taliah Techeira.

The Warlassies finished the regular season with 1 victory, following a loss, Feb. 14, in a make-up game against Madison. The program, under first-year head coach and Owen graduate Ann Marie Hammond, entered the campaign with a focus on fundamentals and effort, following a combined record of 27-71 in its previous four seasons. Hammond, who expressed a long-term commitment to her alma mater upon accepting the position, inherited a young roster with little varsity experience.

The Warhorses opened the season with eight victories in their first 10 games, before opening the Western Highlands Conference schedule with three consecutive wins. The team, which fell to 11-12, Feb. 14, in a make-up game loss to Madison, dropped five straight to open 2026.

The Warlassies will travel to Mountain Heritage, Wednesday, Feb. 18, to open the WHC tournament, while Warhorses will compete in Madison County. The conference competition will continue, Thursday, Feb. 19 and Friday, Feb. 20, when it hosted by the Patriots.

Photos from Owen basketball and cheer Senior Night can be viewed in the gallery at the top of the page.