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HomeHigh SchoolKeller, Railey lead Watauga past South Caldwell, 80-61

Keller, Railey lead Watauga past South Caldwell, 80-61

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Finishing has not always been an arrow in the Watauga men’s basketball team’s proverbial quiver in the 2024-25 season, but it was on full display Jan. 31 vs. South Caldwell in a convincing, 80-61 win.

A standing-room-only crowd packing Lentz Eggers Gym for this Northwestern Conference 4A rivalry game was still abuzz when the guys took the floor. The visiting Spartan women’s team had just earned a surprise, double overtime victory with a buzzer-beater from well behind the 3-point arc by freshman Ava Anderson. What did the nightcap feature have in store for the Watauga and South Caldwell guys?

Watauga’s student section was out in full force for the Jan. 31 Northwestern Conference rivalry games vs. South Caldwell. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports

South Caldwell’s men had trailed Watauga, 42-39, at halftime of the teams’ Jan. 9 encounter in Hudson, but used a dominating fourth quarter to turn back the Pioneers by a dozen points at game’s end, 76-64. On Jan. 14, Watauga was ahead of Alexander Central in Taylorsville by seven points with just five minutes remaining, only to lose, 68-65.

Since the last meeting with South Caldwell, Watauga had won games against 3A rivals Hibriten, Freedom and Ashe County, thumped 1A school Elkin in a rare midseason non-conference contest, but fell in a non-conference game to 4A adversary, East Forsyth, 65-58, even after leading the Eagles at halftime.

So forgive the skeptics if they had questions about this very talented Watauga men’s team.

Josiah Railey (13) finishes off a fastbreak with a dunk, Jan. 31 vs. South Caldwell. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports

Against the Spartans in Lentz Eggers Gym, Watauga looked sharp at the outset, leading 20-14 at the end of the first quarter. Led by the versatile, junior Carter Anderson, who splits his time between forward and shooting guard, South Caldwell battled back to take a tenuous lead at halftime, 35-34.

Defensive adjustments at halftime, though, allowed Watauga to explode to a 60-43 lead at the end of the third quarter, with offensive production in the period coming from Cade Keller (10 of his game-high 29 points), Josiah Railey (6 of his 19 points) and forward Jace Blocker (6 of his 11 points).

In the final period, Watauga kept the proverbial pedal to the medal, led by another 10 points from Keller. The Pioneers outscored the Spartans in the fourth quarter, 20-18, to answer all questions about their ability to “finish.”

Next up for Watauga is another 4A rivalry rematch vs. Alexander Central in Lentz Eggers Gym on Feb. 4. South Caldwell returns home to host Freedom on the same night.

SCORING

  • WAT – Cade Keller (29 points)
  • WAT – Josiah Railey (19)
  • SC – Connor Setzer (18)
  • SC – Carter Anderson (12)
  • SC – Larson Wilks (12)
  • WAT – Jace Blocker (11)
  • WAT – Jackson Love (8)
  • SC – Caleb Greene (7)
  • SC – Tyler Cline (6)
  • WAT – Maddox Greene (4)
  • WAT – Landon Smith (2)
  • SC – Dawson Carr (2)
  • SC – Gavin Frasure (2)
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