High Country Sports

Author: rallypoint

  • Millner named SoCon ‘Wrestler of the Week’ after earning Keystone Classic title

    By Bret Strelow for App State Sports. BOONE, N.C. — Running his record to 10-0 this season and 102-21 for his career, App State’s Jon Jon Millner has been named the SoCon Wrestler of the Week following his 149-pound title at the Keystone Classic.

    A consensus top-five wrestler in his weight class, with a ranking as high as No. 2, Millner went 5-0 in a bracket that included four top-15 wrestlers in Philadelphia. He used takedowns in the first and third periods to secure a 5-2 decision in the final against 15th-ranked Doug Zapf, a two-time NCAA qualifier from Penn.

    Millner opened the event with two first-period pins and two major decisions by a combined score of 24-2, including a 9-1 major decision against 13th-ranked Quinn Kinner from Rider in the semifinal round.

    Millner became the seventh App State wrestler to record 100-plus career wins and is now at No. 6 on the program’s career wins list. He is the second SoCon Wrestler of the Week from App State this season, joining Sean Carter, who was recognized following a season-opening dual win against NC State.

  • Pioneer men come back from 21-point deficit to win, 67-59; Women’s rally falls just short, 39-36

    By David Rogers. SHELBY, N.C. — Down 21 points midway through the second quarter and finishing the first half with a 17-point deficit was hardly a deterrent for Watauga men’s basketball on Nov. 23 against Shelby. The Pioneers rallied to tie the game at 58-58 with under two minutes to go in the fourth quarter, on their way to what earlier seemed an unlikely win against the Golden Lions, 67-59.

    Wyatt Keller and Jackson Pryor cleared the board on both ends of the court in the second half, quickly distributing the ball to point guard Maddox Greene to bring upcourt on a fast-paced attack. And that is where Pryor, Keller and Grant Morrison led the charge, offensively.

    Jackson Pryor was a monster rebounder on both ends of the court in the second half against Shelby AND recorded a game-high 19 points. Photographic image by David Rogers.

    Pryor scored a game-high 19 points for the Pioneers, with Morrison and Keller adding 15 points and 12 points, respectively.

    It was the first official game of the 2022-23 season for the Pioneers, who start the campaign 1-0 with the opening win. In the locker room afterwards, the celebrating Pioneers didn’t have any Gatorade handy but showered head coach Bryson Payne with plenty of water.

    Grant Morrison poured in 15 points for the Pioneers in the men’s season-opening win against Shelby on Nov. 23. Photographic image by David Rogers

    The fast pace and the defensive effectiveness start with coaching.

    “We don’t care who scores,” said Payne. “I am more impressed by the rebounding, how we play defense, and how we share the ball in getting it to the best opportunity to score.”

    In coming back from the 21-point deficit, Payne said the halftime adjustments were relatively subtle.

    “I asked the guys what kind of team they wanted to be,” Payne said of challenging the Pioneers’ resilience. “I asked them to do a better job of boxing out under the basket and they did a great job of that in the second half.”

    Wyatt Kohout (4) was fouled several times in the waning minutes of Watauga’s comeback win over Shelby on Nov. 23. Photographic image by David Rogers

    The men’s team will have plenty of time to bask in their first game accomplishments. Their next opponent is on Friday, Dec. 2. a non-conference, regional rivalry game against Avery County at home in Lentz Eggers Gym.

    Women’s rally falls short

    In the curtain raiser, the Watauga women’s basketball team saw sophomore guard Kate Sears record a game high 16 points against the Shelby women but a fourth quarter rally didn’t quite make up what was a nine point deficit for much of the game in a 39-36 loss to the Golden Lions.

    Other scorers for the Pioneers included Brooke Scheffler (8), Caroline Farthing (5), Charlotte Torgerson (3), Julie Matheson (2) and Diane McGlamery (2)

    The Golden Lions were led by Ally Hollifield (14), Brooke Hartgrove (8), L. Poston (6), Sydnie Enste (4), B. McEntire (4) and K. Borders (3).

  • Mountaineers rally to beat ETSU on the road for the first time since 2005, 74-70

    By Bobby Neal for App State Sports. JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – App State men’s basketball came out of the trenches with a win after a back-and-forth physical game at Freedom Hall, defeating East Tennessee State, 74-70, on Nov. 23.

    This was the third time this season that the Mountaineers won after trailing at halftime, and the 21st time under head coach Dustin Kerns (2018-present). It was also App State’s first win on the road against the Buccaneers since Feb. 9, 2005, when the teams were SoCon foes.

    The Mountaineers were up by one with 24 seconds left when Justin Abson grabbed a crucial offensive rebound, reset the play, and threw a bounce pass to Tyree Boykin who finished inside with a finger-roll that sealed the advantage for App State.

    Terence Harcum opened the game with two quick three-pointers, helping the Mountaineers jump out to an early 8-3 lead. In between those shots, Donovan Gregory drove the lane and scored his 800th career point in the Black & Gold.

    The Buccaneers responded and went into the halftime break with a 33-32 lead. App State forced 10 turnovers in the first half while only allowing four points in the paint from ETSU.

    Four minutes into the second half, Xavion Brown stole the ball and ran it the length of the court for a fast-break one-handed dunk that changed the course of the rest of the game.

    Two minutes later, Boykin spotted up from deep to give App State the lead for the first time since the 16-minute mark of the first half, following a turnaround jump shot from Gregory who led the Mountaineers in scoring with 14.

    Dibaji Walker scored all 12 of his points in the last 14 minutes of the game, starting with back-to-back finishes at the rim to make the score 49-45.

    After another fast break dunk from Brown, Walker had a fast break play of his own with a euro-step after a steal to give the Mountaineers a 55-50 advantage with 10 minutes left. Christopher Mantis followed with his 10th point of the game on an impressive night from the field (4-6).

    At the 7:33 mark, Walker shocked the crowd with a dunk through contact against ETSU’s Jalen Haynes. After a scary fall, Walker got up and made the foul shot. He followed with a second-chance bucket on the very next play to give App State its largest lead of the game (62-52).

    The teams continued to fight as Gregory went 4-4 in the closing minutes from the free-throw line to keep the Mountaineers ahead for the rest of the game. He went 8-8 from the foul line on the night for the second game in a row.

    The Mountaineers secured 15 steals throughout the game, leading to 23 points off of 19 ETSU turnovers. App State also had 34 points in the paint compared to ETSU’s 22.

    App State will return home for a contest against Furman on Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m.

  • Watauga District Girls defeat Walter Johnson Middle School, 53-11

    By David Rogers. MORGANTON, N.C. — Scoring 12 of her game-high 20 points in the first quarter, Blair Haines led the way for the Watauga Middle School District girls team in defeating Walter Johnson Middle School, 53-11, on Nov. 21. Izzy Mohr added 12 points for the visiting Watauga team and Paige Shuman contributed 8 more.

    Charlotte Moretz also got in the scoring column with 5 points on the night, along with Charlie Maddox (4), Presli Wood (2) and Mia Mitchell (2) to round out Watauga’s scoring.

    Shuman also pulled down 7 rebounds, while Stephanie Mendes-Morales (5), Emma McGuire (4) and Presli Wood (3) were also active in clearing the boards for Watauga.

    Defensively, the team as a whole poached 17 steals, led by Shuman (5), Haines (4), and two each by Maddox, Mohr, Moretz, and Lilly Wilson.

    Now 4-1 on the young season, the Watauga District Girls next go back to Morganton on Nov. 28, to face Table Rock Middle School, with a 4 p.m. tipoff.

  • Blowing Rock vs. Mabel girls BB game lives up to ‘Game of the Week’ billing

    By David Rogers. BLOWING ROCK, N.C. — Living up to our expectations for Monday’s middle school basketball action as the “Game of the Week,” Blowing Rock survived a second half rally by visiting Mabel on Nov. 21 to win, 25-21. Both teams came into the game with 2-1 records on the young season and tied for third place in the middle school girls division standings.

    Mabel’s Gwen May dribbles down court on Nov. 21, with Blowing Rock’s Caroline Durham playing about as close, defensively, as you can get. Photographic image by David Rogers

    After a see-saw battle through midway into the second quarter, the Blowing Rock girls team burst ahead on an 11-2 run to take a 17-10 lead into intermission. They got the offensive out they needed from Anna Byrne, who got five of her team-high 11 points with just a couple of minutes remaining in the first half.

    After jumping out to a commanding lead, the Rockets only got two more points in the third quarter because surely the Mabel quintet had consumed some defensive Kook Aid during the break, as well as gotten a dose of offense. Led by 6 points from Gwen May in the 3rd quarter alone, the visitors from Watauga County’s west side went on a 9-2 run to tie the game at 19-19 as the final quarter began. But Blowing Rock’s Byrne (4 points in the 4th period) and Nora Westwood (2) put enough on the scoreboard to keep the game out of reach. Meanwhile, a pestering defense led by guards Suanna Goff, Kate Rex and Caroline Durham limited Mabel to just two points scored in the final stanza, allowing the Rockets to pull away.

    Blowing Rock’s Anna Byrne drives the lane for 2 of her team-high 11 points against Mabel at the Blowing Rock gym on Nov. 21. Photographic image by David Rogers

    Although she had capable help from a supporting cast, Mabel’s offensive production was almost a one-girl show with May scoring 14 of the team’s 21 points, Kailey Greer 5 of them, and two by Lyla Maylum.

    The two squads are in action again on Nov. 29, Mabel hosting Valle Crucis and Cove Creek visiting Blowing Rock.

    SELECTED INDIVIDUAL SCORING

    • BR Anna Byrne (11)
    • BR Susanna Goff (6)
    • MAB Kailey Greer (5)
    • BR Frances Davis (2)
    • Nora Westwood (2)
    • Ellie Hege (2)

    ALL GIRLS SCORES ON NOV. 21

    • @Blowing Rock 25, Mabel 21
    • Parkway 32, @Hardin Park 7
    • @Green Valley 18, Cove Creek 7
    • Bethel 35, @ Valle Crucis 12

    STANDINGS THROUGH NOV. 21

    • T1 Bethel (4-0)
    • T1 Parkway (4-0)
    • 3 Blowing Rock (3-1)
    • 4 Mabel (2-2)
    • T5 Cove Creek (1-3)
    • T5 Valle Crucis (1-3)
    • T5 Green Valley (1-3)
    • 8 Hardin Park (0-4)

     

  • Blowing Rock boys dominate, Parkway handles Hardin Park

    By David Rogers. BLOWING ROCK, N.C. — For Blowing Rock’s middle school boys basketball game against visiting Mabel, the outcome was only in doubt at the beginning. The Rockets jumped out to a 19-0 lead before the Mabel contingent scored their first point midway through the second period, on their way to a convincing, 49-6 win.

    The Rockets’ Caison Norris shoots for ‘2’ on Nov. 21 against Mabel. Photographic image by David Rogers

    The Rockets led 15-0 at the end of the first period, with 10 of those points accounted for by Fletcher Ferris (6) and Louie Winger (4). In the second period, Joaquin Miranda dominated the scoring column with 8 points, but the Rockets also got contributions from up and down the roster, including 2-pointers from Cullen Sukow, Caison Morris, Wilson Henley, and Orian Bowling, along with a foul shot from Winger. At intermission, Blowing Rock led 32-2.

    Mabel scored 4 points in the third quarter but the Rockets, playing mostly second and third teamers in the second half, shut out the visitors in the final stanza while adding 17 points of their own. The Rockets’ second half scoring effort was let by Bowling (4), John Wilson Mills (4), Lucas Cash (2), Henley (2), Winger (2), and a 4th quarter 3-pointer from Noah Blevins.

    Fletcher Ferris (31) of Blowing Rock dominated scoring in the early going against Mabel on Nov. 21 at the Rockets’ gymnasium. Photographic image by David Rogers

    The next action for both teams is on Nov. 29, when Cove Creek visits the Blowing Rock gymnasium and Valle Crucis ventures out to Mabel.

    ALL BOYS SCORES ON NOV. 21

    • @Blowing Rock 49, Mabel 6
    • Parkway 36, @Hardin Park 27
    • Cove Creek 40, @Green Valley 25
    • Bethel 42, @Valle Crucis 14

    BOYS STANDINGS THROUGH NOV. 21

    • 1 Parkway (4-0)
    • T2 Hardin Park (3-1)
    • T2 Blowing Rock (3-1)
    • T2 Cove Creek (3-1)
    • 5 Bethel (2-2)
    • 6 Green Valley (1-3)
    • T7 Mabel (0-4)
    • T7 Valle Crucis (0-4)

     

  • Millner, Miller earn titles at Keystone Classic in Philadelphia

    By Bret Strelow for App State Sports. PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — Led by individual titles from Jon Jon Millner (149 pounds) and Will Miller (174 pounds), App State Wrestling enjoyed a strong showing Sunday at the PRTC Keystone Classic in The Palestra.

    With 13 of the Mountaineers’ wrestlers placing, App State totaled 115 points to finish fourth in an 11-team field, as No. 11 Virginia Tech and No. 20 Penn posted the highest point totals. Tommy Askey (157) and Will Formato (165) went 5-1 to place third in their brackets.

    Ranked second nationally in his weight class, Millner improved to 10-0 this season and 102-21 in his career with a 5-0 showing in Philly. He became the seventh App State wrestler to record 100-plus career wins and is now at No. 6 on the program’s career wins list.

    In a bracket that included three top-15 wrestlers, Millner used takedowns in the first and third periods to secure a 5-2 decision in the 149-pound final against 15th-ranked Doug Zapf, a two-time NCAA qualifier from Penn. Millner opened the event with two first-period pins and two major decisions by a combined score of 24-2.

    Miller, a sophomore, earned the first tournament win of his college career by claiming a 6-0 decision against Rider’s Shane Reitsma in the 174-pound final. Miller delivered a takedown with 1:20 left in the first period, finished that period on top, rode out the entire second period, got an escape early in the third period and ended the match with another takedown.

    To reach the final, Miller had an 8-1 decision, a third-period pin, a 6-2 decision and a 4-0 semifinal decision.

    App State’s other placers, outside the top three, were: Cody Bond (fourth, 157), Chad Bellis (fifth, 125), Chopper Mordecai (fifth, 174), Mason Fiscella (fifth, heavyweight), Jacob Sartorio (sixth, heavyweight), Ethan Oakley (seventh, 133), Triston Norris (seventh, heavyweight), Kaden Keiser (eighth, 149) and OJ Bost (eighth, 165).

    Askey’s only loss was a 5-4 decision — decided by a riding time point — against 12th-ranked Anthony Artalona of Penn. Askey improved to 3-0 on the day and reached a semifinal against Artalona by recording a takedown with 43 seconds left in a 3-2 decision against Clayton Ulrey of Virginia Tech.

    Formato followed a first-round win by fall with a 5-2 loss to No. 22 Connor Brady of Virginia Tech, then rattled off four straight wins.

    Bond, Fiscella and Keiser all went 4-2, while Bellis’ 3-2 record included a third-period pin of Drexel’s Antonio Mininno, a 2020 NCAA qualifier. Mordecai also went 4-2, and the Mountaineers had three heavyweights place in the top seven.

    125
    Chad Bellis (5th place)
    Antonio Mininno, Drexel W, Fall 6:37
    Tristan Mascarenas, Arizona State W, Dec 7-2
    Eddie Ventresca, Virginia Tech L, Fall 0:38
    Antonio Mininno, Drexel L, Dec 7-6
    Mason Leiphart, Franklin & Marshall W, Dec 6-5
    133
    Ethan Oakley (7th place)
    #12 Sam Latona, Virginia Tech L, MD 10-1
    Drake Doolittle, Duke W, MD 13-5
    Pat Phillips, Franklin & Marshall W, Dec 8-4
    Dante Frinzi, Harvard L, Dec 4-0
    Richie Koehler, Rider W, MF
    141
    Heath Gonyer
    Joseph Cangro, Harvard L, Dec 5-4
    Dominic Hargrove, George Mason W, Dec 7-1
    Jackson Polo, Penn L, Dec 5-4
    Riley Edwards
    Kenny Herrmann, Harvard L, MD 14-5
    Bryan Miraglia, Rider W, Dec 9-8
    Kyle Hauserman, Penn L, Fall 6:46
    149
    Jon Jon Millner (1st place)
    Kylan Montgomery, Virginia Tech W, Fall 2:03
    Patrick Rowland, Duke W, Fall 1:14
    Nate Higley, George Mason W, MD 15-1
    Quinn Kinner, Rider W, MD 9-1
    #15 Doug Zapf, Penn W, Dec 5-2
    Kaden Keiser (8th place)
    Matthew Hoelke, Rider W, Dec 11-6
    #15 Doug Zapf, Penn L, MD 19-8
    Kylan Montgomery, Virginia Tech W, Dec 4-2
    Rocco Demartino, Sacred Heart W, TF 16-0
    Vincent Mannella, Penn W, Dec 5-4
    Jack Crook, Harvard L, Dec 8-5
    157
    Cody Bond (4th place)
    Cole Spencer, Penn W, Dec 6-0
    Tate Nichter, Drexel W, Dec 11-5
    Michael Kilic, Arizona State W, Dec 5-2
    Peter Pappas, George Mason L, Dec 3-2
    Clayton Ulrey, Virginia Tech W, Dec 6-1
    Tommy Askey, App State L, Dec 3-1
    Tommy Askey (3rd place)
    Nicholas Foster, George Mason W, MD 13-2
    Nick Alvarez, Franklin & Marshall W, MD 13-4
    Clayton Ulrey, Virginia Tech W, Dec 3-2
    #12 Anthony Artalona, Penn L, Dec 5-4
    Michael Kilic, Arizona State W, Dec 6-1
    Cody Bond, App State W, Dec 3-1
    165
    Will Formato (3rd place)
    Jeremy Espinal, Sacred Heart W, Fall 1:01
    #22 Connor Brady, Virginia Tech L, Dec 5-2
    Ty Finn, Virginia Tech W, Dec 5-2
    Cody Walsh, Drexel W, Dec 7-5
    Josh Kim, Harvard W, Dec 6-3
    Hunter Mays, Rider W, Dec 6-1
    OJ Bost (8th place)
    Ty Finn, Virginia Tech W, Dec 7-5 (SV-1)
    Evan Barczak, Drexel L, MD 8-0
    Alex Frowert, George Mason W, Dec 4-0
    Hunter Mays, Rider L, Dec 14-7
    Cody Walsh, Drexel L, TF 18-0
    174
    Will Miller (1st place)
    Noah Fox, Franklin & Marshall W, Dec 8-1
    Michael Kistler, Penn W, Fall 6:33
    Josh Nummer, Arizona State W, Dec 6-2
    Corey Connolly, Rider W, Dec 4-0
    Shane Reitsma, Rider W, Dec 6-0
    Chopper Mordecai
    Michael Wilson, Rider W, Dec 4-1
    Alex Whitworth, Harvard W, Dec 6-2
    Shane Reitsma, Rider L, Dec 8-3
    Logan Messer, George Mason L, MD 11-3
    Nick Incontrera, Penn W, NC
    184
    Luke Uliano
    Michael Molina, Sacred Heart W, TF 16-0
    #9 Hunter Bolen, Virginia Tech L, Fall 2:51
    Maximus Hale, Penn L, Fall 2:21
    Joe Zovistoski
    Brian Bonino, Drexel L, Dec 5-3
    Maximus Hale, Penn L, Dec 3-2
    197
    Carson Floyd
    John Crawford, Franklin & Marshall L, MD 13-4
    TJ Stewart, Virginia Tech L, Dec 11-4
    Hwt
    Mason Fiscella (5th place)
    Zakaria Loudini, Penn W, Fall 5:45
    David Szuba, Rider L, Fall 0:48
    Matthew Cruise, Penn W, Dec 7-3
    Nathan Hoaglund, Penn W, Dec 7-3
    #22 Benjamin Goldin, Penn L, Dec 3-2
    Jacob Sartorio, App State W, Dec 3-2
    Jacob Sartorio (6th place)
    #15 Hunter Catka, Virginia Tech L, Dec 4-1
    Jeff Crooks, Harvard W, Dec 10-3
    Triston Norris, App State W, Dec 3-2
    David Szuba, Rider L, Dec 6-4
    Mason Fiscella, App State L, Dec 3-2
    Triston Norris (7th place)
    Matthew Cruise, Penn W, Fall 4:18
    Jonah Niesenbaum, Duke L, Dec 5-3
    Zakaria Loudini, Penn W, MD 12-2
    Jacob Sartorio, App State L, Dec 3-2
    Nathan Hoaglund, Penn W, Dec 11-8

  • 4th quarter surge by Baltimore dooms Panthers, 13-3

    By David Rogers. BALTIMORE, Md. — A defensive battle finally that was knotted at 3-3 after three quarters of play saw host Baltimore erupt for 10 points in the final period to defeat the Carolina Panthers at M & T Stadium, 13-3, in front of reported paid attendance of 70,667 predominantly Ravens fans.

    After exchanging 32-yard field goals — Baltimore’s Justin Tucker in the second quarter and Carolina’s Eddie Piniero in the third — the Ravens added a 37-yard field goal by Tucker early in the final stanza. Following Baltimore’s kickoff, on Carolina’s first play from scrimmage a Baker Mayfield pass to Shi Smith along the right sideline was completed, but the ball was ripped away by Ravens cornerback Marcus Peters. The call on the field by the game officials was that Smith was down before the ball came out, but a video review (after Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh challenged) reversed the call and that the Ravens recovered what was ruled a fumble.

    Carolina Panthers defensive lineman Brawion Roy (93) celebrates a pass interception against Baltimore on Nov. 20. Photo by Nick Wass of the Associated Press, courtesy of the Carolina Panthers

    It took just two plays and 58 seconds for quarterback Lamar Jackson to get his offense across the short field, from the Carolina 31 yard line. On the first play, running back Kenyon Drake was pushed out of bounds after a 29-yard run around the left side. A defensive offsides penalty against the Panthers moved the ball half the distance to the goal line, to the one-yard line, and it was from there that Jackson punched it in on a keeper for the game’s final points.

    Carolina wide receiver Terrance Marshall, Jr. catches a Baker Mayfield pass for 34 yards against Baltimore on Nov. 20. Photographic image courtesy of the Carolina Panthers

    Harbaugh’s assessment when talking with reports was candid.

    “It was a workman like win, it was a team win. It wasn’t pretty, but our defense stepped up in a big way, controlling the run and getting the turnovers. (The} offense was able to maintain time of possession. We could have done better at the end in the fourth quarter to put (the game) away certainly, but I thought they got the key score in the fourth quarter that separated us,” said the veteran Baltimore coach.

    Carolina QB Baker Mayfield was at times fearless in keeping the ball on Nov. 20 at Baltimore. Photographic image by Patrick Semansky of the Associated Press, courtesy of the Carolina Panthers

    In the other media room, Carolina head coach Steve Wilks said,  “All the credit to the Ravens. They made plays down the stretch, and we did not. I thought we played a great half of football. But just not enough. We have to learn how to finish, that’s the key thing with us. We have to protect the football down the stretch. (We had) too many turnovers in the fourth quarter.”

    Carolina will try to get back on track Nov. 27 when the Denver Broncos visit Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, with a 1 p.m. kickoff.

    SELECTED TEAM STATS

    • Total Net Yards – CAR 205, BAL 308
    • Net Yards Rushing – CAR 36, BAL 115
    • Net Yards Passing – CAR 169, BAL 193
    • Penalties – CAR 9/66, BAL 10/93
    • Turnovers – CAR 3, BAL 1
    • Time of Possession – CAR 26:46, BAL 33:14
    • 3rd Down Conversions – CAR 3/12 (25%), BAL 6/15 (40%)
    • 4th Down Conversions – CAR 0/1 (0%), BAL 0/0 (0%)

    SELECTED INDIVIDUAL STATS

    Passing

    • BAL Lamar Jackson 24-33, 209 yards, 3 sacks, 1 INT
    • CAR Baker Mayfield 21-33, 196 yards, 4 sacks, 2 INTs

    Rushing

    • BAL Kenyon Drake 10 carries, 46 yards
    • BAL Lamar Jackson 11 carries, 31 yards, 1 TD
    • CAR D’Onta Foreman 11 carries, 24 yards

    Receiving

    • BAL Demarcus Robinson 9 catches 128 yards
    • CAR Terence Marshall, Jr. 3 catches, 76 yards
    • BAL Mark Andrews 6 catches, 63 yards

     

     

  • App State rallies in second half to overtake Southeastern Louisiana, 83-74

    By Bobby Neal for App State Sports. BOONE, N.C. – App State men’s basketball overcame a halftime deficit for the 20th time under head coach Dustin Kerns in an 83-74 win over Southeastern Louisiana on Sunday.

    The Mountaineers (4-2) outscored the Lions (3-3) 52-39 in the second half when they shot 60% from the field, 40% from three, and made 13 of their 14 free throws.

    During that second-half run, Justin Abson blocked three shots, giving him 18 through the first six games of his career. His total is the second-highest in the nation and first among freshmen this season. Abson finished with eight points, four rebounds, four assists, three blocks and a steal.

    Dibaji Walker led the Black & Gold in scoring with 17 points on 7-10 shooting. He made three three-point field goals and also grabbed six boards and a steal. Donovan Gregory followed with 16 points, eight rebounds and two steals.

    After a back-and-forth first half that ended with a score of 35-30 in favor of the Lions, Walker came into the second half with a steal that led to a three-point shot from Carvell Teasett. Teasett finished with eight points, two three-pointers and a team-leading plus-minus of 20.

    The first few minutes of the second half still saw back-and-forth action until Gregory made a floater that put the Mountaineers up 50-48. App State increased and held the advantage for the rest of the contest.

    Xavion Brown had the highlight of the night after Abson blocked an SLU jump shot, rebounded it and threw it to Brown in the open court. The junior guard slammed it home to cap a 15-2 run by the Mountaineers, making the score 63-50 with seven minutes left to play.

    Right after that, CJ Huntley scored the next six points for the Mountaineers with two and-one finishes in a row. The Lions continued to attempt to slow down the game with fouls, but the Mountaineers missed just one of their 14 second-half free throws, led by Gregory who went 8-8 from the line.

    The Lions made a couple of big shots in the closing moments but were not able to come within striking distance, thanks to the offensive consistency of the home team.

    ATTENDANCE: 1,552

    The Mountaineers will go on the road for the second time this season on Wednesday when they visit ETSU at 7 p.m.

    SELECTED TEAM STATS

    • Field Goal % – SLU 35%, APP 47%
    • 3Pt% – SLU 36%. APP 36%
    • Free Throw % – SLU 67%, APP 72%
    • Turnovers – SLU 8, APP 14
    • Total Rebounds – SLU 41, APP 45
    • Bench Points – SLU 39, APP 36
    • Points in Paint – SLU 26, APP 30
    • Fast Break Points – SLU 18, APP 8
    • Blocks – SLU 1, APP 3
    • Steals – SLU 8, APP 6
    • Lead Time – SLU 16:48, APP 18:55
    • Times Tied – 8
    • Lead Changes – 5

    LEADING SCORERS

    • Dibaji Walker (17)
    • APP Donovan Gregory (16)
    • APP Tyree Boykin (14)
    • SLU Brody Rowbury (12)
    • SLU Roscoe Eastmond (12)
    • SLU Roger McFarlane (11)

    LEADING REBOUNDERS

    • SLU Roger McFarlane (12)
    • SLU Brody Rowbury (11)
    • APP Tamell Pearson (8)
    • APP Donovan Gregory (8)

    BLOCKS

    • APP Justin Abson (3)

     

  • WBB: Mountaineers beat Mountaineers, 72-51

    By Katherine Jamtgaard for App State Sports. MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The App State women’s basketball team suffered a 72-51 setback to Big 12 contender West Virginia on Nov. 20. Sunday’s Mountaineers vs. Mountaineers battle was one of two games against Power Five contenders on App State’s non-conference slate this year.

    Junior Faith Alston led the Black and Gold, scoring a team-high 10 points, which also tied her season high. Alston went 4-for-4 from the charity stripe and notched two rebounds, two assists and two steals. Off the bench, sophomore Zada Porter had the second-most points (9) and went 3-for-3 from the free throw line. The Roanoke, Va. native also pulled down six rebounds and dished out two assists. Redshirt junior A’Lea Gilbert and graduate student Lauren Carter tied for a team-high seven rebounds each. Appalachian recorded 29 points off the bench.

    “Like I shared with the team after the game, I’m very optimistic. I think we’ve had a tough stretch of games and I think in all of our games we’ve learned something and we’ve grown. That’s really the objective of our non-conference schedule,” said head coach Angel Elderkin.

    “One thing I highlighted with them was our board play. It continues to improve, our defense continues to improve, so although it might be growing pains, we’re having a lot of growth moments, which is really positive.”

    WVU jumped to an early 6-0 lead in the first quarter. A jumper and free throw from Porter brought App State within one (8-7). West Virginia’s Savannah Samuel drained a 3-pointer, which Gilbert promptly answered with a 3-pointer of her own to keep the Black and Gold within one (11-10). Another WVU three extended the gap to 14-10. Freshman Alexis Black made a jumper to close out the quarter, putting App State within two at 14-12.

    West Virginia built off its momentum for the remainder of the game, creating a deficit App State couldn’t recover from. WVU’s Kylee Blacksten, Madisen Smith and Jayla Hemingway combined for 42 of the Old Gold and Blue’s points.

    UP NEXT
    App State will host Davidson on Nov. 27 at 2 p.m. Fans can use promo code CYBERWBB to get special discounted pricing on tickets. At Sunday’s game, fans can enter to win a brand new TV.