By David Rogers. LENOIR, N.C. — Getting hot from beyond the 3-point arc is often a formula for a basketball win. Combine that with suffocating defense, and victory is almost a certainty. With a whopping 10 made 3-pointers and disruptive defense, a Watauga men’s junior varsity win at Hibriten was never in doubt, 71-28.
Pioneer guard Cole Lewis lit up the hoop with six made 3-pointers, enroute to a game-high 20 points. Mason Tate added another pair of treys, contributing to a 13-point offensive performance. Forward Colby Whiteside also muscled his way into double figures, scoring 10 points, mostly from inside the paint.
The Panthers had few answer for the Pioneers. Only Colin Cook could get things going on the offensive end for Hibriten — and only in the first half — on his way to tallying 11 points, the only Panther player to reach double figures.
Now 13-2 on the season and the two losses coming to non-conference opponents (T C Roberson and Northern Guilford), Watauga will challenge Freedom on Feb. 11, in Morganton, before hosting Ashe County on Feb.14 in the final regular season game.
SCORING
- WAT – Cole Lewis (20 points)
- WAT – Mason Tate (13)
- HIB – Colin Cook (11)
- WAT – Colby Whiteside (10)
- WAT – Bryce Scheffler (7)
- WAT – Wit Williamson (6)
- WAT – Blake Bance (5)
- HIB – Deagon Ogborn (5)
- WAT – Lucas Cash (4)
- WAT – Asa Privette (3)
- HIB – Cooper Boggs (3)
- WAT – Caleb Ogden (2)
- HIB – Smith Rasch (2)
- HIB – Rylen Morgan (1)
