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.
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.
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)
