By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — This year, the Watauga men’s basketball team didn’t mess around, scoring early and often in marching out to a decisive win over visiting Shelby, 73-56, in Lentz Eggers Gym.
BONUS PHOTOS at bottom of article. Click any image for slideshow mode
A year ago, the Pioneers rallied from a 21-point second half deficit to defeat the Golden Lions on Shelby’s home court. Not this time. The Pioneers gained separation by the end of the first quarter, 20-13, then kept the proverbial “pedal to the medal” throughout the early season, non-conference contest.
Senior Wyatt Kohout hit four 3-pointers on Dec. 20 vs. Shelby, on his way to scoring a game-high 28 points. Photographic image by David Rogers
Watauga’s up-tempo style kept Shelby off-balance and often reeling. With possession, the Pioneers whipped the ball around until they found an open teammate — and often it was senior Wyatt Kohout finding the open shot, both inside as well as from long distance. His game-high 28 points included four 3-pointers to go along with a dizzying array of inside layups, often through traffic.
Watching the Pioneers bring the ball downcourt in transition spurred memories of the Parkway middle school backcourt of four years ago, with guards Cade Keller and Maddox Greene the driving forces in that backcourt. Keller, a sophomore, and Greene, a junior, are still an explosive tandem in getting the ball into space and attacking the basket. On this night, Greene was one of only three Pioneers in double figures, with 13 points. Josiah Railey pushed the action down the lane for 12 points.
Maddox Greene finds the basket from underneath on Dec. 20 vs. Shelby. Photographic image by David Rogers
The Golden Lions’ Dominique Downs was Shelby’s leading scorer, with 11 points, but they had widespread contributions from Denorris Gist (9 points), Drew Hollifield (8), Santana London (8), and Grady Morgan (9) to keep the visitors within reach.
After the game, assistant coach Andrew Wilson, subbing at the helm for Bryson Payne (who welcomed a new baby into the family earlier in the day), listed three primary reasons for the outcome.
“We kept them off the offensive glass, preventing them from getting second chance points,” Wilson said. “They also had a difficult time in keeping up with our play in transition. And we executed, with few turnovers.”
Now 6-2 on the young season, the Pioneers host three home games on consecutive days beginning with Johnson County (Mountain City, Tenn.) on Dec. 28, North Davidson on Dec. 29, and Apex Friendship on Dec. 30, all three contests scheduled to tipoff at 7 p.m.
KEY PERFORMERS
WAT – Wyatt Kohout: 28 points
WAT – Maddox Greene: 13 points
WAT – Josiah Railey: 12 points
SHL – Dominique Downs: 11 points
SHL – Denorris Gist: 9 points
SHL – Grady Morgan: 9 points
SHL – Drew Hollifield: 8 points
SHL – Santana London: 8 points
WAT – Nate Gutschall: 6 points
WAT – Cade Keller: 5 points
WAT – Seth Greene: 4 points
WAT – Jackson Love: 3 points
WAT – Brady Lindenmuth: 2 points
BONUS PHOTOS
Watauga point guard Cade Keller drives the lane vs. Shelby on Dec. 20. Photographic image by David Rogers
Maddox Greene finds the basket from underneath on Dec. 20 vs. Shelby. Photographic image by David Rogers
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Undoubtedly, when former head coach Laura Barry scheduled a home-and-home vs. perennial regional and state power Shelby, she expected the Golden Lions to test the Pioneers much like the 36-39 non-conference loss Watauga experienced during the 2022-23 campaign.
BONUS PHOTOS at bottom. Click any image for slideshow mode.
What a difference a year can make with graduation and transfers. On Dec. 20 in Lentz Eggers Gym, Shelby proved a shadow of its former self in a 66-12 thumping at the hands of a deep — and skilled — Watauga roster.
Watauga’s Kate Sears (12) had a relatively quiet night scoring, but was ever present in distributing the ball vs. Shelby on Dec. 20. Photographic image by David Rogers
A 20-3 first quarter was just a warmup for Watauga’s pesky, disruptive defense and up-tempo offensive style. By halftime, the Pioneers led 40-7, then 54-7 at the end of the third stanza.
Beyond the defensive effort, the most impressive thing about the Watauga attack: how they shared the ball and moved it unselfishly around the court, finding the open teammate with a better shot.
Senior Diane McGlamery and sophomore Lainey Shook led the way, taking advantage of the Pioneers’ up-tempo, move-the-ball-in-transition style to score almost at will. McGlamery tallied an even dozen while Shook recorded a “Baker’s Dozen” (13) to lead all scorers.
Lainey Shook (23) poured in a game-high 13 points vs. Shelby on Dec. 20. Photographic image by David Rogers
Given the lopsided score, Watauga head coach Bill Torgerson was able to empty his bench, including a few junior varsity players brought up for the occasion. Torgerson explained that the new “five quarters” rule allows junior varsity players to also see varsity action so long as they don’t play in more than five quarters in any given day or night when combining varsity and junior varsity play. Especially since there was no junior varsity game on Dec. 20, he was able to get some of his younger athletes into the rotation.
“I watched quite a bit of film on Shelby and realized they were having a down year, so this was a good opportunity to get some younger players varsity experience,” he said after the game.
From both inside and outside, Watauga’s Charlotte Torgerson (33) has a nose for the basket. Photographic image by David Rogers
From a skill standpoint, the Pioneers rarely missed a beat vs. Shelby, whatever combination of players was on the floor.
Watauga figures to receive a much better test on Dec. 27 in the John Wall Holiday Invitational in Raleigh. The Pioneers open play at 10:30 a.m. in the first game of the tournament vs. undefeated Charlotte Catholic, which proved the young Pioneers’ nemesis last year. According to MaxPreps, the Cougars are the No. 1 4A team in North Carolina and the No. 2 program in the state behind NCISAA 3A contender Grace Christian (10-0, Sanford, N.C.).
KEY PERFORMERS (additional Watauga stats to be added)
WAT – Lainey Shook: 13 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals
WAT – Kaitlyn Darner: 2 points, 7 rebounds, 4 steals
WAT – Olivia Foskey: 2 points
WAT – Abby Healy: 2 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist
SHL – Dareon Kee: 2 points
SHL – Kennedy Spake: 2 points
SHL – Jemiah Hopper: 2 points
BONUS PHOTOS
From both inside and outside, Watauga’s Charlotte Torgerson (33) has a nose for the basket. Photographic image by David Rogers
Watauga’s Kate Sears (12) had a relatively quiet night scoring, but was ever present in distributing the ball vs. Shelby on Dec. 20. Photographic image by David Rogers
Watauga guard Diane McGlamery (13) drives to the basket vs. Shelby on Dec. 20. Photographic image by David RogersLainey Shook (23) poured in a game-high 13 points vs. Shelby on Dec. 20. Photographic image by David Rogers
By Bret Strelow. BOONE, N.C. — Once wrestling resumed, App State delivered a 12-point flurry — and the first of back-to-back pins happened in a crowd-rousing hurry.
Participating in only their second dual of the season with a young, inexperienced team, the Mountaineers beat a ranked North Carolina squad for the second straight season by winning 24-14 against the No. 21 Tar Heels in Varsity Gym.
Photo courtesy of App State Sports
App State handed UNC a narrow loss last year in Chapel Hill, and a large home crowd in the High Country was looking for a reason to explode on a sleepy, rainy Sunday afternoon. The Mountaineers claimed three of the first five matches to take a 9-6 lead into the halfway-point intermission, but coming out of the break, Will Miller produced a six-point pin just 43 seconds into his 165-pound match and Luke Uliano followed with another six-point pin late in the second period of his 174-pound match.
Just like that, App State (1-1) had a 21-6 lead with three matches remaining, including two in a row with top-20 wrestlers from North Carolina (6-3) taking the mat.
The Mountaineers held a seven-point advantage going into the final match, and heavyweight Jacob Sartorio used a pair of third-period takedowns to prevail 7-3. Ethan Oakley, Ike Byers and Tommy Askey were responsible for the pre-intermission victories, as Byers won a 2-1 decision at 141 pounds while making his first dual start in his fifth year with the program.
Photo courtesy of App State Sports
App State, which opened its 2023-24 dual schedule with a loss to No. 2 NC State, picked up its 11th victory against a Power Five opponent since JohnMark Bentley became the Mountaineers’ head coach.
North Carolina’s lineup often has five ranked wrestlers, although it was missing returning All-American Lachlan McNeil, who was in Alberta, Canada, over the weekend winning the Canadian Olympic Trials. Even if the Tar Heels could have gotten the maximum of six points from his normal spot in the lineup, it would have created only a nine-point swing in App State’s 10-point victory.
Byers followed Oakley’s 7-2 win against Jace Palmer with a 2-1 decision decided by a tiebreaking point for stalling against Derek Guanajuato with 1:07 remaining. Byers increased his season total to 12 victories and was promoted to a captain’s role as Bentley addressed the team in the locker room following the dual.
Jayden Scott won 4-3 against App State’s Cody Bond at 149 in the only ranked showdown, giving UNC its second win in addition to 22nd-ranked Spencer Moore’s 8-6 decision against redshirt freshman Noah Luna, and the Mountaineers totaled 15 points over the next three matches.
Askey claimed a 7-3 decision against Danny Nini before Miller and Uliano opened the second half of the dual with momentous outcomes. Miller’s victory followed his clutch win against a returning All-American in the 2022 victory at UNC, and Uliano held a 1-0 lead in the final minute of the second period before gaining control with a near fall and subsequent pin.
Photo courtesy of App State Sports
North Carolina’s Gavin Kane (ranked 18th) and Max Shaw (ranked 15th) posted consecutive major decisions against Tomas Brooker and Carson Floyd at 184 and 197, but those four-point wins while trying to overcome a 21-6 deficit weren’t enough to keep the team outcome in doubt going into the final match.
Sartorio, who trailed 2-1 in the third period against Cade Lautt, moved ahead on a takedown with 1:15 left and added another with 17 seconds remaining.
The 2023-24 season is presented by Hungry Howies and Penn Station.
App State 24, #21 North Carolina 14
125: #22 Spencer Moore (UNC) def. Noah Luna (APP), 8-6 dec.
133: #20 Ethan Oakley (APP) def. Jace Palmer (UNC), 7-2 dec.
141: Ike Byers (APP) def. Derek Guanajuato (UNC), 2-1 dec.
149: #21 Jayden Scott (UNC) def. #27 Cody Bond (APP), 4-3 dec.
157: #19 Tommy Askey (APP) def. Danny Nini (UNC), 7-3 dec.
165: #25 Will Miller (APP) def. Isaias Estrada (UNC), fall (0:43)
174: Luke Uliano (APP) def. Marcus Murabito (UNC), fall (4:28)
184: #18 Gavin Kane (UNC) def. Tomas Brooker (APP), 12-3 maj. dec.
197: #15 Max Shaw (UNC) def. Carson Floyd (APP), 14-4 maj. dec.
Hwt: Jacob Sartorio (APP) def. Cade Lautt (UNC), 7-3 dec.
By David Rogers. ORLANDO, Fla. — Just about the only App State Football personnel for whom the Cure Bowl weather was really “miserable” on Dec. 16 were the guys charged with laundering the uniforms after the Mountaineers’ 13-9 win over Miami (OH). Boys will be boys and celebrating a victory by diving and sliding through a paint and mud-filled lake at midfield — previously known as the event logo — is fun, fun, fun, even if names and numbers afterwards are unrecognizable.
According to weather reports distributed at halftime of the Avocados From Mexico Cure Bowl, more than 1.45 inches of rain fell on FBC Mortgage Stadium on the campus of the University of Central Florida — just during the first half. And the torrential downpour continued throughout the second half, with a brisk wind keeping the American flag above the stadium flying stiff-straight.
App State head coach Shawn Clark raises the Cure Bowl trophy the team won on Dec. 16. Photo courtesy of App State Sports
Without question, the inclement weather was a factor in the game. The two teams combined for 13 fumbles in the sloppy conditions, five of them lost as turnovers. The Mountaineers had seven fumbles (two lost) and the RedHawks mishandled the ball six times, losing three. Even where the fumbles were not lost, many were drive-killers.
Ultimately, this game hinged on the ability of App State quarterback Joey Aguilar to defy the odds and pass the football vs. two RedHawks QBs that couldn’t. “Joey California” completed 19 of 33 passes for an improbable 211 yards. There were no touchdown passes to add to his season total but the only real blemish to the performance was an interception on his first pass of the afternoon. Aguilar also rushed five times for 14 yards, including the game’s first TD that didn’t come until less than five minutes remained in the third quarter.
Mountaineer QB Joey Aguilar and offensive lineman celebrate in the end zone following Aguilar’s third quarter TD in the Dec. 16 Cure Bowl. Photo courtesy of App State Sports
By comparison, Miami’s two QBs, juniors Henry Hesson and Maddox Kopp, combined for 6-of-10 passing for just 44 yards. Known as a rushing team, Miami did get 180 yards on the ground from junior running back Rashad Amos, including the RedHawks’ lone TD in the third quarter, but overall the App State defense — with some help from the soggy conditions — limited Miami’s offensive production to just 227 total combined yards, 183 of it on the ground and almost all by Amos.
Meanwhile, the Mountaineers featured a more balanced attack, including a career high rushing by junior running back Anderson Castle. The former star quarterback at Watauga High School carried the ball 20 times for 119 yards, making several key plays to pick up first downs and extend Mountaineer drives. Castle emerged as the feature back on the night, with significant contributions from sophomore Kanye Roberts, who actually started the game at running back. Roberts carried the ball 10 times for 48 yards. Nate Noel, who was limited midway through the season with a lower body injury, reportedly entered the transfer portal on Dec. 7.
Miami (OH running back Rashad Amos ran for 180 yards, but was frequently stopped by App State defenders during the Cure Bowl on Dec. 16. Photo courtesy of App State Sports
After the game, both head coach Shawn Clark and quarterback Joey Aguilar credited the team’s intentional practices in adverse weather and conditions for being ready to play in the downpour.
“Come October,” said Clark, “we never know what kind of weather we are going to get in Boone.”
Aguilar added, “We practice in the rain and sometimes even dunk balls into buckets of water to make it even more of a (challenge).”
App State finishes the 2024 season as the Cure Bowl champion with a 9-5 overall record, 6-3 in Sun Belt Conference play.
POST-GAME NOTES FROM APP STATE SPORTS
With a 9-5 final record, App State has won nine or more games in eight of the last nine seasons and three of four seasons under head coach Shawn Clark.
App State improved its record in bowl games to 7-1 since moving up to the FBS ranks. The Mountaineers have earned bowl berths in eight of nine seasons since their first year of eligibility in 2015, including an NCAA-record seven berths in the first seven seasons.
This was App State’s fourth bowl win over a MAC team in as many tries, including the second against the MAC Champion (Toledo in 2017).
This was the fourth time in its FBS history that App State has defeated a team with 10 or more wins. Miami was 11-2 entering the game. The previous wins were against No. 18 JMU earlier this year (10-0 entering game), Louisiana (10-2 entering the 2019 Sun Belt Championship Game) and Toledo (11-2 entering the 2017 Dollar General Bowl).
This was App State’s seventh one-possession game of the year. The Mountaineers won three of them, while an additional 48-38 win over Southern Miss was decided in the closing seconds as well.
In driving rain all day long, there were 13 fumbles and five fumble recoveries on a sloppy FBC Mortgage Stadium field.
The 13 points marked App State’s lowest winning point total since a 13-10 win at Furman in 2003.
The teams were even with three turnovers apiece. Under head coach Shawn Clark, the Mountaineers are now 18-1 when winning the turnover battle, 6-12 when losing, and 11-4 when they have the same number of turnovers as the opponent.
Team captain and safety Nick Ross played in his 66th career game, tying the school record held by Thomas Hennigan, Caleb Spurlin and Xavier Subotsch (all 2017-21).
OFFENSE
Joey Aguilar was named Cure Bowl MVP after passing for 211 yards on 19-of-33 completions and rushing for 14 yards, including App State’s lone touchdown on a 9-yard run in the third quarter.
Aguilar capped his incredible first season as a Mountaineer with school records of 3,757 passing yards, 33 passing touchdowns, 294 completions and 461 attempts.
Even in terrible conditions, Kaedin Robinson still put on a show with nine catches for a career-high 118 yards, hauling in all but two passes thrown his way.
Anderson Castle rushed for a career-high 119 yards – his first career triple-digit game – including some big first downs to seal the victory on the Mountaineers’ final drive. His previous high was 67 rushing yards vs. Robert Morris in 2022.
DEFENSE
The nine points scored by Miami tied the fewest allowed by App State this year (31-9 win against Marshall on Nov. 4).
App State’s defense held the RedHawks to 227 total yards, including 44 passing, and only 11 first downs. Miami was 3-of-11 on third downs and 0-of-1 on fourth down.
The Mountaineers forced one Miami fumble (forced by Nate Johnson) and recovered three total (by Nick Ross, Santana Hopper and Ronald Clarke).
Caden Sullivan and Ross tied for the team lead with 10 tackles apiece. It was a career high for Sullivan, while it increased Ross’ season total to 105.
App State had sacks by Hopper and Montez Kelley that were instrumental in keeping Miami from moving the chains.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Michael Hughes made both of his field-goal attempts, despite the elements, from 29 and 22 yards out. He finished the season with 19 makes on 22 attempts. His 19 field goals are tied for second-most in a season in program history.
Mitchell Lake punted three times for a 43.7-yard average, including a long of 53, for his highest game average of the season.
By David Rogers. CHARLOTTE, N.C. — If Appalachian State men’s basketball head coach Dustin Kerns wanted an early season, up-tempo test in a hostile environment, he got it on Dec. 13 in Curry Arena at Queens University.
Even though Queens is only in its second season as an NCAA Division I contender, no one should take them lightly. The Mountaineers prevailed in the high-scoring affair, 93-81, but it was not without moments of angst for the visitors from the High Country.
To call Curry Arena a hostile environment is actually misleading, at least for this game. A near capacity crowd was on hand to watch the non-conference action (announced attendance: 1,534), with an estimated 70 percent of the folks supporting App State. As the all too familiar chant of APP—STATE…APP—STATE…APP—STATE rang through the rafters, it is probably more accurate to call it an “unfamiliar” setting for the Mountaineers, rather than hostile.
Kerns was certainly appreciative of the Mountaineer fan support following the game.
“I want to tell you… this is a tough place to play. I want to commend all of the App State people. It really helped us,” he said in opening his post game thoughts about the team’s opportunity to play in Curry Arena, where the Royals had not lost a Division I home game in the past two seasons. “This was a packed house and an opportunity for us to go on the road and get a win in a hostile environment.”
App State guard Xavion Brown is making a habit of dramatic, thunderous dunks like this one at Queens University of Charlotte on Dec. 13. Photographic image by David Rogers
Kerns noted that Queens plays a different style than the Mountaineers are used to seeing.
“(Queens) is a good program and well-coached. (Their style) is hard to play against. I am really proud of our guys,” said Kerns. “One of the strengths of this team is that it is somebody different each night. Tonight, it was C J Huntley, who had a career night. We got off to an incredible start. They punched back. We punched back. They punched back… Queens can get hot and they did. I’m just really proud of our guys for responding.”
The Mountaineers seemed to be the much better team in the early going, at both ends of the court, jumping out to a 17-2 lead. They got scoring contributions from all five starters and the points came in different ways during that initial run. There were fastbreak layups from Tre’Von Spillers and Justin Abson as well as 3-pointers from Terence Harcum, Abson, and Christopher Mantis. C J Huntley even added a couple of free throws.
With a big App State fan contingent behind him, Myles Tate lines up a 3-pointer at Queens University on Dec. 13. Photographic image by David Rogers
But then the Royals got the wheels firmly attached to their regal carriage, eventually tying the game at 25-25. That turned out to be the closest Queens got to a lead in this contest, but they had made their statement: they were not going to tuck tail and run softly away into the night. Queens’ 20-8 run over eight minutes of the first half to tie the game at 25 said as much.
It was, in fact, a highly entertaining game. If the outcome was decided only by 3-point shots, the Royals would have won, 33-27.
But on layups, shorter-range jumpers and dunks, App State was dominant, including almost half (46) of the visitors’ 93 total points from inside the paint. The Mountaineers clearly had a deeper bench, with 36 points coming from non-starters in the floor rotation compared to just seven points from the Queens bench players. App State’s pesky defense also showed up, stat-wise, with a 15-4 advantage in points scored off of forced turnovers. Offensive rebounding also tilted things App State’s way, with a 20-4 advantage in second chance points.
Now 8-2 on the season, the Mountaineers stay on the road Saturday, Dec. 16, facing another in-state opponent, Gardner-Webb, at a neutral site in Greensboro’s Novant Health Fieldhouse, 4 p.m.
By David Rogers. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A stacked field of 131 elite athletes from across the nation, including full contingents from 20 top U.S. clubs and a smattering of top-level unattached harriers didn’t faze Amanda Vestri on Dec. 9. The former Syracuse University athlete now training with Blowing Rock-based ZAP Endurance claimed the championship title of the 2023 USATF National Club Cross Country Championships staged in Apalachee Regional Park.
Vestri was the only member of the ZAP Endurance professional running team competing in the event. Head coach Pete Rea explained that several others who might have taken on the challenge are in a different training mode.
Amanda Vestri holds form with 2k to go in the 6K USATF National Club XC Championships in Tallahassee, Fla., Dec. 9. Photo by Michael Scott, courtesy of ZAP Endurance
“We have six of our members who qualified to run in the U.S. Olympic Trials for the Marathon in early February,” said Rea.
Vestri, however, embraced the challenge of the 6k USATF National Club Championships course, finishing the distance in 20:06.3, more than 14 seconds before No. 2 Claire Green of the Peninsula Distance Club (20:20.4). No. 3 Maya Weigel of Peninsula Distance Club was two seconds behind her teammate (20:22.8).
In the club team competition, Peninsula Distance Club had all five of its athletes finish in the top 10, easily beating the No. 2 club, Hansons-Brooks Distance Project, as well as the No. 3 club, Pacers Running//GRC NB ‘A’.
Kiawah Island Half Marathon
Three other ZAP members also got in a competitive training run on Dec. 9, in the Kiawah Island Half Marathon. Andrew Colley finished No. 1 in the men’s division while Kristin Van Ord and Annmarie Tuxbury finished 1-2 in the women’s division.
By Zach Smith. BOONE, N.C. — For App State basketball fans, it was hard not to enjoy the Mountaineers’ thrashing of Division II contender Central Penn, 111-35, not just because the score was so lopsided but because it was accomplished as much with reserves and scout team players as with the team’s typical frontliners.
A dozen Mountaineers saw action Tuesday night in the second half of an App State basketball doubleheader. The women’s team defeated Charleston, 77-73, earlier in the evening.
The start…
… and the finish.
App State guard Xavion Brown had a highlight reel performance against Central Penn on Dec. 5. Photographic images by David Rogers
It was a night filled with highlights for the home side.
Graduate guard Bryant Greene got his first career start. A Boone native and Watauga High School alum, Greene posted career highs in points (14) and assists (7). He also saw 31 minutes of action, the most he’s played in his App State career.
Six different Mountaineers scored in double figures. Three of those, Tre’Von Spillers, Josh Hayes and Xavion Brown recorded double-doubles. Hayes scored a game-high 18 points while Brown grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds.
The first half went as expected for App State. Greene drained two free-throws early and, following a quick layup by Central Penn junior Jordan Strickland, the Mountaineers never trailed. App State went on six separate runs of six or more consecutive points in the first 20 minutes of action, taking a 59-19 lead into the locker room at halftime. The Mountaineers were good on 51.1% of shots and held the Knights to just 18.9% entering the break.
The second half was much of the same for the Mountaineers and their punishing defense. Central Penn made just three shots from the field over the second half, only scoring on free-throws over the final 15:42 of play. App State continued their great shooting form, hitting on half of their shots from the field over the final period.
Justin Abson (21) had his own highlight reel moments on Dec. 5. Photographic image by David Rogers
App State head coach Dustin Kerns shared his thoughts on the matchup against Central Penn postgame, as well as a look into how App State schedules games around final exam periods.
“You know, we’re allowed to play two non-Division-I games a year,” Kerns said. “One of them we always try to strategically play right before exam period for a couple reasons. One, we want our guys to be here in class. We don’t want to be on the road and traveling so they can be in class. Two, it’s a long break, exams. Hopefully it goes the way it went tonight.”
Typical of Greene, although he scored 14 points he more frequently looked to pass, first. Photographic image by David Rogers
Kerns made sure to point out Greene’s performance, who made his first start in his fifth season with the Mountaineers.
“Really happy for Bryant Greene. Started him tonight,” Kerns said. “Fifth-year senior, he means a lot to our program, does a lot for our program. Just a great representative of App State University and our program. He’s kind of a legend in the High Country and in the Boone community, so I really was glad to start him.”
Greene explained what it meant for him to perform well in his first career start.
“First of all, I just want to thank Coach Kerns and the coaching staff for giving me that opportunity,” Greene said. “It’s really just a testament to my teammates, getting to practice with them every day. I just really enjoyed getting to do this tonight with them. I’ll always cherish this moment for as long as I live.”
Christopher Mantis hits from long distance for the Mountaineers vs. Central Penn on Dec. 5. Photographic image by David Rogers
Greene became the first Boone native to start in an App State men’s basketball game since J.R. Archer in the 2010-11 season. He shared what it meant to play for his hometown team after being a lifelong fan.
“It means a lot,” Greene said. “Obviously growing up here, being an App fan my entire life, I bleed Black and Gold. I’ve been at App State since I can remember. I mean, this is surreal, to be able to play for the team I grew up cheering for my whole life. I really can’t put into words how special it was tonight.”
Xavion Brown had a career night as he posted a 12-point, 16-rebound double-double. Despite his own accomplishments, Brown’s first thoughts were to congratulate the walk-ons and scout team role players that were able to record quality playing time against Central Penn.
“First off, shoutout to all the walk-ons on our team,” Brown said. “They work as hard as us every day, if not harder. Being able to play with them, I like it a lot. It’s a feel-good moment because, obviously, they don’t get as much time as (the starters), or they don’t get to play as much as us. But being able to get them the ball, and to be able to watch them succeed and score, I’m happy for all of them. Especially (Greene).”
Bryant Greene made two 3-pointers on Dec. 5 vs. Central Penn. At Watauga HS, he was known not only for his outside shooting, but for his fearless inside attacks on the rim, too. Photographic image by David Rogers
Central Penn’s loss drops the Knights to 1-9 on the season. Central Penn looks to snap their five-game losing skid Saturday (Dec. 9) at The Apprentice School in Newport News, Va., in the Great Ships Classic tournament. That matchup is set to tip off at 2 p.m.
With the win, App State extends their win streak to six straight. The Mountaineers improve to 7-2 on the campaign and look to continue that success next on Dec. 13 when they travel to Charlotte to face Queens. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. and can be streamed on ESPN+.
By Zach Smith. BOONE N.C. – Career nights from multiple Mountaineers propelled the App State women’s basketball team over College of Charleston, 77-73. The Dec. 5 matchup was the first part of an App State basketball doubleheader as the men’s team played Central Penn later in the night.
The Mountaineers were led by junior Emily Carver and senior Faith Alston, who combined for 48 points. Carver’s 28-point performance marked a new career-high, topping her 27-point night against Coastal Carolina last season. Sophomore Rylan Moffitt grabbed 17 rebounds, also a career high.
J’Mani Ingram goes up for two points against College of Charleston on Dec. 5. Photographic image by David Rogers
App State started hot, quickly going on a 7-0 run in the first three minutes of play. They would go on another run later in the opening quarter, scoring the final 10 points of the period. App State hit at a 50 percent clip from the field through the first 10 minutes.
The second quarter wasn’t as successful. Charleston outscored App State, 18-11, featuring a 15-3 run over the final 4:20 of the half. The Mountaineers did not score from the field over the final 8:31 before the break. Despite the limited second quarter scoring, App State took a 38-32 lead into the locker room at intermission.
I like to win.
App State head coach Angel Elderkin shared what she said to the team at halftime.
“I talk to our team all the time about ‘… there’s the ceiling, and then there’s the floor,’” Elderkin said. “Sometimes our ceiling, it can be really high. But then I also know that the floor is low. When we don’t take good shots and we don’t defend and we don’t run our offense, we have these 11-point quarters, these 10-point quarters, and they’re gonna kill us.”
The third quarter was where Carver came alive. The junior guard scored 21 of App State’s 29 points in the quarter, including each of the Mountaineers’ final eight. Carver hit on all but one of her shots from the field in the third frame. App State shot 56.3% as a team in the period, outscoring the Cougars, 29-19.
Rylan Moffitt scores two of her 8 points against College of Charleston on Dec. 5 at the Holmes Center, but it was her career high 17 rebounds that proved a real difference maker in App State’s 77-73 win. Photographic image by David Rogers
The fourth quarter was similar to the second. App State shot just 21.4% over the final 10 minutes, as the Cougars mounted a late-game comeback. The rally narrowed a 16-point Charleston to just three points, but a Carver free-throw with seven seconds made it a two possession game and secured the win for the Mountaineers.
Elderkin spoke on what it means to have veteran guards Alston and Carver on the team.
“It’s been awesome, they’ve been with me. Faith [Alston] is on her fourth year, Emily [Carver] is on her third year,” Elderkin said. “Those are kids that I recruited at a young age, I know their families, I know them. Faith is like a coach on the floor, she’s unbelievable. Emily has an incredible will to win.”
Carver’s contribution on the court resulted in a career-high in points, but she explained that it wouldn’t have meant as much if the Mountaineers had not pulled out the win.
“I like winning,” Carver said. “I mean, if I would have got the career-high and we would have lost, it would have still hurt. I like to win.”
App State’s victory snapped Charleston’s four-game win streak and dropped the Cougars to a 5-2 record. Charleston’s next matchup will be a home test against Jacksonville State. The Dec. 11 matchup will tip off at 7:00 p.m. and can be streamed on FloHoops.
The Mountaineers move to 5-2 with the win and look to continue their success on a three-game road trip. Their first test is a matchup at Richmond Dec. 10 with tipoff set for 2:00 p.m. and can be streamed on ESPN+.
The App State women close out the road trip with a Dec. 15 tilt at Gardner Webb (Boiling Springs, N.C.), then a quick trip to Milwaukee, Wis., to face Marquette.
By Zach Smith. BOONE, N.C. — “How about them Mountaineers?” App State head coach Dustin Kerns said after defeating Auburn in front of the largest home crowd since 2009. The Mountaineers defeated the Tigers, 69-64, in the first-ever nationally televised game at the Holmes Convocation Center.
App State once again proved they can rely on multiple scorers. Four Mountaineers posted double-digit points. Junior guard Myles Tate led the way for the home team with 18 points, while Donovan Gregory (12), Terence Harcum (12) and CJ Huntley (10) rounded out the leading scorers.
App State guard Myles Tate scored a team-high 19 points in the Mountaineers’ uspet win over Auburn. Photographic image by Flaco Rafael for High Country Sports
The first half was as close as the Mountaineer faithful could have hoped. Auburn rode a 9-0 run to a 19-10 lead but App State countered with 10 straight points to put the Tigers’ largest lead to bed. The rest of the half was back-and-forth with neither side taking a lead of more than three points. Freshman guard Jordan Marsh put the exclamation mark on the first period by hitting on a driving layup with under five seconds on the clock. App State took a 33-31 lead into the locker room with all 7,037 fans in attendance on their feet.
… I’ll remember that court-storming because I really wanted to get that moment for our players/
The Mountaineers never relinquished their lead in the second half, despite Auburn’s best efforts. App State went on a 7-0 run halfway through the period, and junior forward Christopher Mantis drained a three-pointer to give the home team their largest lead of the day. Shortly after, Auburn went on a 6-0 run of their own, closing the deficit to three, but a Gregory midrange jumper and a Tate 3-pointer put the game to bed for the Mountaineers.
Dustin Kerns showed pride in his team, afterwards.
“Just a great day for our program and the university,” Kerns said. “Just so proud of our players, you know. (Auburn has) a really good team. They’ll be in the top 25 here in a couple weeks.”
Mountaineer guard Donovan Gregory fights his way to the rim during App State’s 69-64 upset win over Auburn on Dec. 3 at the Holmes Center. Photographic image by Flaco Rafael for High Country Sports
Kerns was also sure to give credit to the fourth-largest crowd in App State men’s basketball history.
“Thanks to everybody that came,” Kerns said. “That can do one of two things: it can really raise the level of your team and it can hurt the other team and I thought it did both. So, really, really thankful for all the people that came out to be a part of this moment.”
Kerns spoke on what the historic victory meant for him and how people view App State basketball.
“When I met with [App State Director of Athletics] Doug Gillin and I was interviewing here, he asked me ‘what are you going to do to change the perception of App State basketball?’” Kerns said. “And he believed that I was the guy to do it. It’s been a lot of work with a lot of people, and I definitely think the perception of App State basketball is changing. I’ll remember that court-storming because I really wanted to get that moment for our players.”
Kerns compared the victory over Auburn to another iconic App State upset.
“You know, the Michigan game (2007) was a moment for App State football,” Kerns said. “Maybe this was our moment.”
Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl has made it a habit to get mid-majors on Auburn’s schedule. According to Pearl, his appreciation for smaller schools dates back to the beginning of his coaching career at D-II Southern Indiana. As an assistant coach at Iowa, a road trip to Northern Iowa solidified the idea that he would continue to play mid-majors as he moved on to head coach at the high-major level.
Pearl was complimentary of App State and their fan base post-game.
“Great environment in here, great fan base,” Pearl said. “We knew coming in this was going to be like playing a middle to lower-half SEC team, so credit them. Their guards, in particular, lined us up and drove us.”
Pearl also was sure to mention his team’s sub-par shooting.
“I think when you miss 10 free throws and make nine, and you miss 24 threes and make three, it’s not going to win many games,” Pearl said. “Some of that was defense, but a lot of it was open shots.”
For Auburn, junior Johni Broome posted his second consecutive double-double, scoring a game-high 21 points while grabbing 13 rebounds. Sophomore guard Tre Donaldson was the only other Tiger to score in double-digits, cashing in for 12 points.
The win improves App State’s win streak to five, improving the early season record to 6-2. Auburn’s loss snaps a five-game win streak, the record falling to 5-2. The Tigers’ only other loss on the season was to No. 20 Baylor at a neutral site.
Auburn’s next test isn’t until Saturday (Dec. 9), when they’ll travel to Atlanta to face Indiana. That game will be broadcast at 1:00p.m. on ESPN2.
App State returns to action on Tuesday, when they’ll team up with the women’s basketball team for a doubleheader at the Holmes Convocation Center. App State’s women’s team will tipoff against College of Charleston at 5:30p.m., and the men’s team will face D-II Central Penn approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game. Both games can be streamed on ESPN+.
By David Rogers. BOSTON, Mass. — In a field of almost 200 top-ranked collegiate and professional women’s middle distance runners, Parker Valby of the University of Florida ran a sub-15 minute 5,000 meters (14:56.11) in the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener indoor track meet at Boston University — and it came just one week after she captured the NCAA Division I Cross Country title in Charlottesville, Va.
For most of the race, Valby ran a step behind Andrea Rodenfels, representing the Boston Athletic Association, the duo gaining significant separation from the rest of the elite field in Heat 1. With five laps to go, Valby surged ahead and never lost form in not only setting a meet record but an American record as well.
Blowing Rock-based ZAP Endurance also had an elite runner in the race, Amanda Vestri who recently joined the team after finishing her collegiate career at Syracuse University. Near the middle of the race, Vestri jumped into the No. 3 position to lead a long, single file of elite runners. She remained at No. 3 before fading slightly in the closing laps to finish No. 8, clocking 15:21.11. Even so, Vestri was just five seconds behind the No. 3 finisher, Ella Donaghu of the Nike Union Athletics Club.
According to ZAP Endurance head coach Pete Rea, Vestri’s performance in Boston represents a milestone of sorts in her career.
“Amanda is a 10,000 meter specialist, so this 5,000 meter distance is more akin to speed work for her. After her training with us for a few months, we wanted to see what she could do. Her best time at this distance while competing for Syracuse was 15:42.48. So for her to improve on her time by roughly 27 seconds is pretty significant and we think she can go a lot lower.
“To put this performance in perspective,” added Rea, “the slowest qualifier for the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials was about 15:24 and Amanda ran faster than that in this race. While her beating that time in this indoor race looks promising, for the 2024 Olympic Trials I don’t think a 15:21 will make the field. The U.S. has a deep field of 5,000 meter female runners this year.”
In the Seeded Men’s 5,000 meters, Harvard University’s Graham Blanks followed up his recent win in the NCAA Men’s Cross Country Championships by breaking the NCAA indoor record for the 5,000 meters in 13:03.72, smashing the 11-year old mark of 13:08.28 set in 2012 by Arizona’s Lawi Latang. The mark also was under the Olympic qualifying standard of 13:05, should he earn a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team.
Of local interest, Blowing Rock-based ZAP Endurance athlete Dan Schaffer, who is more of a mile and 1500 meters specialist, stepped up his distance and qualified to run in Heat 1 with the elite runners. Ultimately, he finished at No. 39 out of the 235 top collegiate and professional runners competing in the field.
