By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Four players in double figures, including 30 by combination junior guard Cade Keller, propelled host Watauga men’s varsity in dispatching High Country rival Avery County, 89-64, on Dec. 6 at Lentz Eggers Gym.
As usual for these annual rivalry games, it was a packed house on both sides of the court providing an electric atmosphere. While the Pioneers started slow, even allowing the Vikings to lead, 23-21, at the end of the first quarter, they turned things up several notches as the game progressed.
Four 3-pointers by Keller and a total of 18 first half points from the junior sharpshooter invigorated the Pioneers, who picked up another first half “trey” by Logan Greene in the second quarter, augmented by strong inside play from senior Josiah Railey and junior big man, Jace Blocker, pushing Watauga out to a 40-36 lead by intermission.
In the second half, the Pioneers ratcheted up their defensive efforts and turned on the scoring jets, with Keller, Blocker and Railey continuing their production augmented by an 11-point second half run by junior guard Jackson Love.
“In the first half tonight, defensively we were not good,” noted Keller to reporters after the game. “There was a lot of miscommunication and, really, lack of effort… not getting back on defense. We will clean that up and get better at it.
“I thought we battled well,” said Watauga head coach Bryson Payne after the last whistle. “I was happy with the way we finished the game. Our energy was a little low to begin the game, so it took us a little while to get our groove and play like we want to play. In the second half, we came out and started doing some things that we want to do, like running in transition and choosing better shots, including not settling for threes.”
“When we started getting momentum, we did not let up. Our guys stayed in attack mode and kept that momentum,” Payne added.
For Railey, a senior, the 2024-25 season is the culmination of four years working on things.
“This is a last run. Ever since I got here as a freshman we have been building the program, going from a losing record to a Northwestern Conference winning record last year. We want to build on that this year. I was kept out a lot tonight because of foul trouble, so I had to make every moment count,” said Railey.
Next up for the Pioneers is a rescheduled home tilt against North Wilkes on Dec. 7, following the two junior varsity games and the women’s varsity contest. Tipoff time is estimated to come at about 6 p.m.
SCORING SUMMARY
- WAT – Cade Keller – 30
- AVY – Hank Johnson – 20
- WAT – Josiah Railey – 17
- WAT – Jace Blocker – 16
- AVY – Landon Harmon – 13
- WAT – Jackson Love – 11
- AVY – Oak Markland – 8
- AVY – Cain Hart – 7
- AVY – Silas Garceau – 6
- AVY – Weston Woody – 6
- WAT – Brady Lindenmuth – 4
- AVY – Landon Liner – 4
- WAT – Logan Greene – 3
- WAT – Maddox Greene – 2
- WAT – Seth Greene – 2
- WAT – J T Cook – 2
