By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Colby Whiteside and Aiden Amason poured in 13 and 11 points, respectively, but visiting Providence Academy countered with a whopping seven 3-pointers combined from three different players to lead the Knights past the Watauga District Middle School boys team, 50-44, on Jan. 17 at the Watauga Community Recreation Center.
It was 8th Grade Night as the last home game of the 2022-23 season and the grandstands were packed with parents, grandparents and an assortment of Watauga well-wishers. While the home side kept the score close with persistent defense, allowing Providence to lead by only four points, 26-22, at intermission, the Knights built on their advantage through the second half.
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — A tight, defensive basketball game between the Watauga District Middle School girls team and Providence Academy in the first half morphed into something more in the second half on Jan. 17 at the Watauga Community Recreation Center. After leading 12-5 at halftime, the Watauga girls exploded for 26 second half points en route to a convincing, 38-21 win over the Johnson City, Tenn.-based Knights.
Ten Watauga athletes made it into the scoring column, led by Blair Haines’ game-high 16 points.
Peyton Isaacs (21) score half of Watauga’s 8 second quarter points against Providence Academy on Jan. 17. Photographic image by David Rogers
Providence Academy struggled to find the basket for most of the evening but was led, offensively, by Kennedy Phillips’ team-high 8 points, with scoring contributions from three other players
Bonus Photos at bottom of article. All photographic images by David Rogers
By David Rogers. CONNOLLY SPRINGS, N.C. — Watauga rallied in the second quarter of the boys middle school basketball game at East Burke but could survive Connolly Springs boys’ first and third quarter offensive explosions.
Led by Tyler Brown’s 23 points — 17 of them in the first half — and Sam Keaton’s 18 (11 in the second half), East Burke rolled to a convincing, 55-29 win over Watauga on Jan. 12.
In the loss, Watauga’s Noah Vanverkhoven tallied a team-high 11 points while J. J. Everett and Aiden Amason contributed 8 and 6 points, respectively.
With the loss, the Watauga boys’ record evens out to 7-7 on the season. Next up on the schedule is a game against Providence Academy on Jan. 17 at the Watauga Community Recreation Center, with action to begin following the 4:30 p.m. girls game.
Watauga girls rally for 25-22 win
With a 13-7 run in the fourth quarter, Watauga’s district middle school girls basketball team rallied to defeat East Burke on Jan. 12 in Connolly Springs.
For Watauga, Blair Haines scored 9 of her game-high 12 points in the second half, seven of them in the decisive fourth quarter. Stephanie Morales-Mendez added 6 points over the course of the game to help lead the visitors.
East Burke’s Addie Brittain poured in a team-high 8 points, 6 of them in the first half in helping the home team to a 9-8 advantage at intermission. With buckets from East Burke’s Sarabeth Bradley, Sydney Mostellar, and Saleen Franklin in the third quarter while limiting Watauga to just 4 points in the period, the Connolly Springs quintet seemed to take control, 15-12, as the low-scoring contest entered the fourth quarter.
Watauga’s Haines, however, had other ideas as she tallied more than half (7) of the visitors’ 13 final period points, with contributions from Presli Wood, Paige Shuman, and Izzy Mohr in the finale to put the game away.
With the win, the Watauga district middle school girls team extends its season record to 11-2. The next opponent is Providence Academy, scheduled for 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 17 at Watauga Community Recreation Center.
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — With Hardin Park’s Miller Hankins exiled to the bench with two fouls early in the first half, Parkway took advantage of his absence to take a 22-11 lead at intermission. Hankins’ return and fierce rebounding on both ends of the court helped propel the Golden Eagles to an improbable rally to tie the game at the end of regulation to send it into overtime. With a strong inside effort by Lukas Flores adding to the Eagles’ cause, Hardin Park survived a late Parkway charge to win the Watauga County Middle School Championship Tournament, 38-36.
BONUS PHOTOS AT BOTTOM OF ARTICLE
Daniel Jones (23) helped fuel Parkway’s big lead by intermission. Photographic image by David Rogers
Parkway’s Daniel Jones and Chase Watts nearly dominated the court in the first half with Hankins on the bench, who seemed to be the only one capable of neutralizing the Patriot duo’s athletic attack.
While Hankins’ return to the court in the second half sparked the Hardin Park rally and Flores’ coming to life with six of his game-high 13 points in the fourth quarter, it was Eagles’ guard Brodie Lippard’s bucket in overtime and Flores’ foul shot during the OT period that provided the winning margin.
Brodie Lippard (13) scored the game-winning points for Hardin Park in overtime against Parkway, for the Watauga County middle school championship. Photographic image by David Rogers
For Parkway, Watts recorded a team-high 12 points on the night, including a 3-pointer in the second quarter to expand the Patriot lead. Jones was close behind with 11, including 7-of-0 from the charity stripe as he often drew fouls driving to the basket.
Although Flores secured game-high honors with his 13 points, Hankins finished with a dozen, seven of them in the second half.
TRIVIAL PURSUIT: This was Andrew Freeman’s first year as head coach of Hardin Park. He is a former Watauga High School varsity player, but before he was a Pioneer he played on a Hardin Park team that also won a Watauga County middle school championship.
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — With energy high in Lentz Eggers Gym on Dec. 15, Cali Townsend’s 8 points in just the first quarter along with a pressing Parkway defense sparked a decisive, 21-13 Patriot win over Blowing Rock in the championship game of the Watauga County middle school girls basketball tournament.
The Rockets played the Patriots close to even after the first frame, but could never make a good run to close the opening deficit.
Blowing Rock’s Anna Byrne drives for the hoop against Parkway on Dec. 15. Photographic image by David Rogers
As is often the case at this level of middle school basketball, turnovers, traveling calls, fouls and “jump balls” thwarted many an opportunity on both sides.
Townsend finished with a game-high 10 points while Anna Byrne recorded a team-high 5 points for the Rockets.
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Led by JJ Everett’s and Mason Tate’s 12 and 11 points, respectively, the Watauga District middle school boys basketball team raced by Carolina Day School on Dec. 14, 44-29, at the Watauga Community Recreation Center.
The young Pioneers jumped out to an early lead by the end of the first quarter, 13-6, but CDC came roaring back on a 10-5 run in the second quarter to trail by just two points, 18-16. The first half ended with the visitors faced with just a four point deficit, 20-16, but things almost immediately changed as momentum shifted to the host Pioneers.
Watauga’s Truett Healy (4) maneuvers outside the paint against Carolina Day on Dec. 14. Photographic image by David Rogers
Tate hit a 3-pointer and Colby Whiteside added a couple of inside buckets in the third quarter. That opened the floodgates for Watauga in the final stanza as they played determined defense, limiting CDC to just 2 points in the fourth quarter while finding the basket for 17 points of their own.
With the win, Watauga lifts its record for the season to 6-5, with five more games remaining. Next up: the District teams play at Heritage Middle School, in Valdese, N.C. on Dec. 15, the last game before Christmas and New Year. They open the 2023 new year with the final four games, all in January and beginning at East McDowell on Jan. 5.
By David Rogers. BLOWING ROCK, N.C. — Before they were adversaries, they were collaborators.
Parkway Patriots pictured, back row from left: Samuel Oren, Chase Watts, Daniel Jones, Kaiden Chiarolanzio, Landon Gilbers. Front row from left: Luke Dilner, Avery Tester, Chance Triplett, Tyce Anderson. NOT PICTURED: Parker Williams, Xander Law and Danny Bohoslavski. Photo courtesy of Rachael Mills
The Blowing Rock and Parkway middle school boys basketball teams were matched up in a championship tournament semifinal on Monday night, Dec. 12, but they weren’t thinking about that earlier in the day. Instead, they were working together to organize and deliver 16 gift bags for men residing at the The Foley Center at Chestnut Ridge rehabilitation facility.
Of course, there were moms involved, too, but once the idea was sprung upon them, the student athletes from both teams eagerly embraced the community service project as something they wanted to do.
Rachael Mills, a mother of one of the Blowing Rock boys explained to High Country Sports, “In a conversation, a member of First Baptist Church in Blowing Rock mentioned the need for various things for men at The Foley Center and two moms with sons on both teams came up with the idea. The boys were enthusiastic about the service opportunity and jumped into action very quickly.”
The 16 large gift bags “manufactured” by the two teams included blankets, shaving kits, mirrors, body wash, shampoo, mini Christmas trees and other decor for their rooms at The Foley Center.
“And the boys each wrote personalized notes and greeting cards for the residents,” said Mills. “That was very special.”
Blowing Rock Rockets pictured from left: Charlie Shive, Noah Blevins, Fletcher Farris, Knox Winebarger, Wilson Henline, John Wilson Mills, Cullen Sukow, Lucas Cash, Sean Rea, and Carson Morris. NOT PICTURED: Oryan Boling, Evan Cutlip, and Joaquin Miranda. Photo courtesy of Rachael Mills
Representing Parkway School were Samuel Oren, Chase Watts, Daniel Jones, Kaiden Chiarolanzio, Landon Gilbers, Luke Dilner, Avery Tester, Chance Triplett, Tyce Anderson
Parker Williams, Xander Law and Danny Bohoslavski.
Team members from Blowing Rock included Charlie Shive, Noah Blevins, Fletcher Farris, Knox Winebarger, Wilson Henline, John Wilson Mills, Cullen Sukow, Lucas Cash, Sean Rea, Carson Morris, Oryan Boling, Evan Cutlip, and Joaquin Miranda.
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — After falling to Blowing Rock in the regular season and falling into a 3-way tie for regular season honors with the Rockets and Hardin Park, the Patriots of Parkway had something to prove. They took it out on the Blowing Rock boys team in the second semifinal match of the championship tournament, 44-22.
Blowing Rock point guard Louie Winger twists and leaps through Parkway defenders on Dec. 12 during the final semifinal game of the county championship tournament. Photographic image by David Rogers
The Patriots got ahead and stayed ahead on this one, gradually pulling away to finish by doubling up on the Rockets. Parkway’s Chase Watts and Daniel Jones scored 22 and 17 points, respectively, to account for almost all of their team’s offensive production. Only Chance Triplett (3) and Sam Orem (2) contributed more points for Parkway.
John Wilson Mills and Lucas Cash tallied 10 and 8 points for Blowing Rock. Cullen Sukow picked up the first points of the game on an early bucket, but that was all he could manage on the night. The only other Rocket points came from free throws from Louie Winger and Fletcher Farris, one point each.
With the win, Parkway advances to meet Hardin Park on Dec. 15, with tipoff scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Lentz Eggers Gym.
SCORING
PKY Chase Watts (22)
PKY Daniel Jones (17)
BR John Wilson Mills (10)
BR Lucas Cash (8)
PKY Chance Triplett (3)
BR Cullen Sukow (2)
PKY Sam Orem (2)
BR Louie Winger (1)
BR Fletcher Farris (1)
During the regular season, Parkway finished in a 3-way tie with Hardin Park and Blowing Rock for the championship. After defeating Blowing Rock in the semifinals of the county tournament, they will face Hardin Park on Dec. 15. Photographic image by David RogersChase Watts (22) goes takes advantage of an open look against Blowing Rock on Dec. 12. Photographic image by David RogersOn Dec. 12, Blowing Rock’s Fletcher Farris goes up for two in the second half against Parkway. Photographic image by David RogersCullen Sukow (42) got the first two points of Blowing Rock’s game against Parkway on Dec. 12 in the semifinals of the county middle school championship tournament. Photographic image by David RogersJohn Wilson Mills of Blowing Rock has eyes only for the basket on Dec. 12, against Parkway in the county middle school tournament semifinals. Photographic image by David RogersLouie Winger goes for two on Dec. 12 vs. Parkway. Photographic image by David RogersAlong with Hardin Park and Parkway, the Blowing Rock middle school boys basketball team finished in a 3-way tie for the regular season championship in 2022. Photographic image by David Rogers
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Where both middle school girls semifinal games were nail biters, the first boys semifinal pitting No.1 seed Hardin Park against No. 5 upstart Green Valley was a runaway. The HP Golden Eagles defeated the GV Eagles, 51-25, on Dec. 12 at Lentz Eggers Gym.
Hardin Park’s Miller Hankins was a force on both ends of the court, collecting rebounds as well as scoring a game-high 14 points on the night. Lucas Flores added 12 to complement the Hankins’ offensive production.
Green Valley’s Olson Critcher (5) sets up an offensive play for the Eagles against Hardin Park on Dec. 12, in the county tournament semifinals. Photographic image by David Rogers
For Green Valley, Chauncey Garvin shot a game-high 9 points and Olson Critcher added 7 points to account for most of the Eagles’ offensive production. Given Hardin Park’s pressing defense, Green Valley was afforded very few scoring opportunities.
With the win, Hardin Park advances to the Dec. 15 championship tilt against Parkway. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., at Lentz Eggers Gym.
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — It was sweet revenge for the Blowing Rock middle school girls basketball team on Dec. 12, at Lentz Eggers Gym. After being shutout by Bethel in the first game of the regular season, 24-0, the Rockets earned their comeuppance by defeating Bethel, 30-26, in the second semifinal game of the Watauga County Middle School Championship Basketball Tournament at Lentz Eggers Gym.
Blowing Rock’s Susanna Goff only scored 8 points against Bethel in the semifinals of the Watauga County middle school tournament, but used her penetration to feed other open players. Photographic image by David Rogers
No. 2 seeded Bethel trailed No. 3 seeded Blowing Rock, 11-1 in the opening half of the Watauga County Middle School Girls Basketball Championship semifinal on Dec. 12, but used an 11-1 run to tie the game at 12-12 with 4:50 remaining in the third quarter and jump into the lead, 16-12, a few moments later. But the resilient Rockets used a 3-pointer from Susanna Goff to pull within a point, 16-15, then traded leads with the girls from Watauga County’s west side before pulling away at the end to win by four points.
“Our girls really wanted this one,” said Blowing Rock head coach Libby Warren after the game. “They fought hard and they played for each other. Down the stretch, we really played good defense to keep a really good Bethel team from scoring more.”
Blowing Rock middle school girls head coach Libby Warren lays out strategy during a timeout in the second half of the Rockets semifinal matchup against Bethel in the county tournament. Photographic image by David Rogers
Bethel was able to rally in the latter portion of the first half and into the third quarter on Blowing Rock turnovers — and “traveling” calls. But the Rockets eventually got their act together, eliminated most of their earlier mistakes, and played disruptive defense.
Although in a losing effort, Payton Guy was prolific for Bethel, pouring in a game-high 12 points, including 9 in the second half. After intermission, she was 5-of-6 from the charity stripe.
Bethel’s Payton Guy (30) drives to the basket on a fast break against Blowing Rock. Guy tallied a game-high 12 points, but the Rockets went on to win, 30-26 with a broad scoring effort and pesky defense. Photographic image by David Rogers
Blowing Rock was led by Susanna Goff’s team-high eight points, but the balanced attack saw Francis Davis contribute 7 points, Kate Rex 6 points, Anna Byrne 5 points, and Ellie Hege 4 points.
With the win, Blowing Rock will another shot at Parkway on Dec. 15, in the tournament championship game, also at Watauga High School’s Lentz Eggers Gym. Tipoff is slated for 6:30 p.m. as the curtain raiser for the boys championship game to follow.
