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Watauga advances to NWC tourney final, surviving Ashe County, 39-33

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Watauga advances to NWC tourney final, surviving Ashe County, 39-33

By David Rogers. MORGANTON, N.C. — On a night when the Watauga women’s basketball team starters weren’t shooting the ball particularly well, they got a surprise spark from the bench in a tense, 39-33 win. Sophomore guard Julie Matheson was good on 3-for-3 from behind the 3-point arc and was a perfect 2-for-2 from the free throw line, matching junior Charlotte Torgerson for team high honors with 11 points on the night, Feb. 16, in the semifinals of the Northwestern Conference tournament hosted by Freedom High School.

Watauga’s Caroline Farthing lets one fly from behind the 3-point arc on Feb. 16, in the Northwestern Conference semifinal vs. Ashe County. The Pioneers survived, 39-33, to advance to the Feb. 17 final vs. Hibriten. Photographic image by David Rogers.

It was the fourth time during the 2022-23 season that the Pioneers and the Huskies have faced off against each other and you could tell by the defensive play that these two High Country adversaries know each other pretty well. While Watauga has won by larger margins in previous games against Ashe County this season, the Huskies kept things close by anticipating and interfering with Watauga’s passing lanes, including 7 steals on the night spread among five different Husky players.

To win, the Pioneers had to survive a standout, all around performance by Ashe County junior guard, Paige Overcash. The athletic, 6-0 guard pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds while also recording a game-high 13 points while adding a pair of assists and two steals to round out her evening’s stat line. Fellow guard Abby Sheets pulled down 9 rebounds and was 4-for-5 from the free throw line, pouring in 11 points on the night.

Where Watauga seemed more effective, especially in the first half, was on the defensive boards, rebounding the basketball on errant Husky shots and preventing second chance opportunities. If Watauga had a bad night shooting — just 30.2 percent from the field (13-43) and only 21.1 percent from the 3-point arc — Ashe County was even worse, only 24.5 percent from the field and just 6.7 percent (1-for-15) from long range.

On Feb. 16, Watauga point guard Kate Sears (12) was only good on 3 of 13 shots from the field, here with a pullup jumper to help the Pioneers win, 39-33, in the semifinals of the Northwestern Conference tournament vs. Ashe County. Photographic image by David Rogers

To their credit, Ashe County kept the Pioneers’ usual high-scoring guard tandem of sophomore guard Kate Sears and Torgerson all but bottled up. Torgerson matched her season average of 11 points per game thanks to 5-of-5 shooting from the charity stripe late in the game when the Huskies were in foul mode, trying to get the ball back.

Sears, though, was well off her season-long average of 20.4 points per game, with just six points of offensive production on this night. Uncharacteristically, the all-state phenom in her freshman season had an off night while being challenged by whatever Ashe County quintet was on the floor. Sears was just 3-of-13 from the floor, including 0-for-5 from behind the 3-point arc. And while normally getting to the free throw line with her fearless, drive-to-the-basket style, against the Huskies in the NWC tournament semifinals she was 0-1 in free throw attempts.

Although Sears may have stumbled in her own point production, she more than made up for it in rebounding (9) game-highs in assists (5) and steals (3) while distributing the ball effectively from her point guard position.

On a night when she came off the bench to score a team-high 11 points, including going 3-for-3 from behind the 3-point arc, it wasn’t a bed of roses for Watauga sophomore guard Julie Matheson (1). Getting fouled as she goes up with a shot sent her to the free throw line, where she was successful on both attempts vs. Ashe County in the semifinals of the Northwestern Conference tournament. Photographic image by David Rogers

After the game, Watauga head coach Laura Barry pointed out that much of Ashe County’s scoring came in transition, after missed Pioneer shots.

“They know us now,” said Barry, “and I think they did a very good job in (anticipating) our tendencies. A lot of their scoring was in transition. We just didn’t shoot very well tonight. We come out of this game looking back at making 13-of-43 shooting, which is better than Ashe County’s 12-of-49, but it was just a (terrible) game, offensively. You can credit the defense or just say that both teams shot the ball poorly.

In fast break transition, Watauga guard Charlotte Torgerson (33) finishes things off with a layup on Feb. 16 vs. Ashe County in the semifinals of the Northwestern Conference tournament, hosted by Freedom HS in Morganton. Torgerson ended the night tied for team-high scoring honors, with 11 points. Photographic image by David Rogers

“I thought our kids stuck it out very well, but on our misses, we weren’t getting back like we want to be,” Barry added. “Kate did a good job of taking care of the ball. When you are missing your shots, you have to take care of the ball. She has a huge focus for the defense of the opposing team and she did a good job of finding people although we had a lot of back door cuts that we simply blew, (but I was impressed by) our kids’ movement away from the ball when the defense was focused on Kate. Every shot Kate took were shots we wanted her to take. She had a number of good pull-up jumpers in the first half, but just didn’t hit them.”

With that, Barry turned her attention to the real positives of the night.

“What a huge step-up by Julie Matheson,” said Barry. “She had three 3-pointers and as a team we had just four. That’s a kid we’ve brought in from the bench all year. She has managed to buy into that role even though she was more time. Tonight she proved, ‘Hey, I am here when you need me.'”

Watauga now turns its attention to the finals, slated for Friday, Feb. 17, 6:30 p.m., against the team with whom the Pioneers shared the regular season championship: Hibriten. The Panthers were 54-44 winners over Alexander Central in the other women’s semifinal matchup on Feb. 16.

Although they shared the regular season NWC title with Hibriten, Watauga comes into the tournament championship game with something to prove. The Pioneers lost a close one to the Panthers on Jan. 12, 48-45, on the Lentz Eggers Gym floor. For the home team at least it was a rather chaotic night because a classroom fire down the hall from the gymnasium disrupted the team’s normal routine in preparation. When the teams met for the second time, on Feb. 3 in Lenoir, a number of the Watauga players, including Sears and Torgerson, were sick with the flu and Hibriten prevailed, 64-50, while being allowed by the game officials to play a highly physical style, with close quarters contact.

So now presumably healthy on a neutral court at Freedom HS in Morganton and with perhaps a different orientation of referees, the Pioneers aim to make the third encounter a charm, indeed.

SELECTED KEY PEFORMERS ON FEB. 16 VS. ASHE COUNTY

  • ASH Paige Overcash: 13 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
  • WAT Julie Matheson: 11 points, including 3-for-3 from behind the arc
  • WAT Charlotte Torgerson: 11 points, 2 assists, 1 steal
  • ASH Abby Sheets: 11 points, 9 rebounds, 1 steal
  • ASH Morgan Phipps: 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
  • WAT Kate Sears: 9 rebounds, 6 points, 5 assists, 3 steals
  • WAT Laurel Kiker: 6 rebounds, 1 point
  • ASH Lexie Dawson: 5 rebounds, 5 points, 1 assist, 1 steal

Watauga MBB falls to Hibriten in first round thriller, 84-77

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Watauga MBB falls to Hibriten in first round thriller, 84-77

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — In one of the most entertaining high school men’s basketball games of the year, Watauga dropped the Northwestern Conference first round game to Hibriten, 84-77.

BONUS PHOTOS at bottom of article.

Neither team was accurate from the free throw line, although the Panthers got plenty more opportunities at the charity stripe when the Pioneers were forced to foul often in the closing minutes in an effort to get the ball back with the potential to close the gap. For the game, Watauga was 9-of-18 from the foul line (50 percent) while Hibriten was 21-of-41 (51.2 percent).

A major difference maker in both halves was the ability of the Panthers to bring down offensive rebounds and get second chance points. It was a feature of the game that persisted throughout the night.

That, and the ability of Hibriten’s Nylan Battle and Thomas Vaught to drive the lane and penetrate Watauga’s defense, along with a whopping five 3-pointers by Jay Willis proved to be the Pioneers’ undoing.

The Watauga Pacers dance team was in good form for the night during the Pioneers’ first round matchup against Hibriten on Feb. 14. Photographic image by David Rogers

Watauga junior forward Jackson Pryor brought the partisan crowd to its feet on three occasions with resounding dunks, while Grant Morrison’s three 3-pointers in the second half helped close the gap. Pryor finished with a game-high 20 points, while Morrison (13 points) and Cole Horine (10 points) also produced double figures in scoring.

Hibriten was led by Battle and Vaught, each with 19 points, while Willis finished with 16 and Kalen Bowers and Jay Maxwell added 12 and 11 points, respectively to round out the five Panthers in double figures.

Cole Horine goes up for two on a dribble-drive to the basket on Feb. 14, against Hibriten in the first round of the Northwestern Conference tournament. Photographic image by David Rogers

Hibriten now moves on to play Alexander Central in the semifinals of the Northwestern Conference tournament’s men’s division on Thursday, in the semifinals hosted by Freedom, in Morganton.

Watauga’s season hangs in the balance. The Pioneers are the second place 4A team in the Northwestern Conference but with a 12-13 overall record, it remains to be seen whether or not that will be good enough to earn a probable low seed in the 4A state playoffs.

Watauga’s Wyatt Kohout drives to the basket in hopes of closing the early first half gap on Feb. 14, vs. Hibriten in the first round of the Northwestern Conference tournament. Photographic image by David Rogers

Alexander Central and South Caldwell are the other two 4A teams in the Northwestern Conference. As the second place team in the league standings, Alexander Central (16-7, 7-3) has the inside track on representing the Northwestern Conference in the state playoffs, but with both Watauga and South Caldwell at 12-13 overall, 5-6 in conference play counting the first round games, the jury is still out on their chances for a state playoffs berth. The Pioneers did defeat South Caldwell in their two meeting this season, so are likely to own any tiebreaker.

SCORING SUMMARY

  • WAT Jackson Pryor (20)
  • HIB Nylen Battle (19)
  • HIB Thomas Vaught (19)
  • HIB Jay Willis (16)
  • WAT Grant Morrison (13)
  • HIB Kalen Bowers (12)
  • HIB Jay Maxwell (11)
  • WAT Cole Horine (10)
  • WAT Maddox Greene (9)
  • WAT Wyatt Keller (8)
  • WAT Wyatt Kohout (7)
  • WAT Davis Hunt (5)
  • WAT Josiah Railey (5)
  • HIB Bryce Horton (5)
  • HIB Kayvien Felder (2)

BONUS PHOTOS

Final Week: Photos, Race Results, and Final Standings from SMARL’s 2023 Race Season

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Final Week: Photos, Race Results, and Final Standings from SMARL’s 2023 Race Season

The 2023 Sugar Mountain Adult Racing League’s 17th season came to its conclusion after the sixth week of the 2023 season on Monday, February 13.

Each team competed with six to eight racers and the times of the top four finishers on each team counted towards the team score for that night.

Races began with the January 9th runs and concluded on Monday night.

See the chart below for stats from each team as well as the leaderboard after the final week:

SMARL-Wk6-RaceResultsDownload

Team Sugar takes the final lead for ski teams with 118 points, with Ski Country A coming in at a close second with 113 points.

The Tavern wins in snowboard teams with a total of 107 over the six weeks.

Congratulations to all of this year’s winners and a special thank you to all the racers that participated in the 2023 SMARL season! We look forward to racing with you again soon!

Team Sugar – 2023 SMARL Ski Team Winners. Photo by Josh Floyd
The Tavern – 2023 SMARL Snowboard Team Winners. Photo by Josh Floyd

Running on all cylinders

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Running on all cylinders

By David Rogers. BLOWING ROCK, N.C. — With a small-town population of around 1,300 full-time residents, Blowing Rock might not be the first place you think of to find nine world class running athletes at the top of their game. Then again, relatively few places — at least on the East Coast of the U.S. — are home to elite professional running teams like ZAP Endurance, training at modestly high altitude in a scenic environment with often challenging mountain trails.

In the 20-plus years that ZAP has been operational since its founding by former elite marathoner Zika Rea and her late husband Andy Palmer, the ZAP team has had several noteworthy performances. That includes Andrew Colley’s earning a spot on the U.S. team to the World Cross Country Championships in 2015, staged in China — and again this year, headed next week to the World championships hosted in New South Wales, Australia.

That ZAP history also includes Tyler Pennel’s finish just off the podium in the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials – Marathon, in Los Angeles. He earned global headlines for leading the race from Mile 13 to Mile 19, then hung on to finish 5th among the nation’s top 300 male marathon athletes, a race won by Nike sensation Galen Rupp. And the ZAP team had six marathoners who qualified to run in the men’s and women’s Trials. On a per capita basis, Blowing Rock and the High Country likely had more runners in that 2016 Olympic Trials marathon event than any other municipality in the country.

Just wait for ZAP’s 2024 encore, when as many as eight team members may have qualified to compete in the Trials, even with the U.S. Olympic Committee tightening the eligibility standards.

Since its founding, zap endurance qualified 54 team members for the olympic trials in events from 1500 meters to the marathon. 

Over the years since the club’s founding in Blowing Rock, the ZAP Endurance team won the title as the top professional cross country club in the nation: 2006, 2007, 2011, and 2014. In two of those years, a ZAP man won the national cross country championship race, including current ZAP assistant coach Ryan Warrenburg (2007) and David Jankowski (2011).

That is just a sampling of ZAP’s best historic performances. There are others. Fast forward to 2023 and the High Country based team has never been stronger.

Consider:

    • ANDREW COLLEY: After an injury-plagued mid-career, Colley is returning to the World Cross Country Championships. He earned a spot on the U.S. team last month, placing second in the Richmond, Va., hosted U.S. Cross Country Championships. Only six Americans represent the USA in the Worlds, which is only held once every four years. On Feb. 18, the USA team will be running in the World Cross Country Championships, hosted this year by Bathurst, in New South Wales, Australia. Colley is a rare combination of both speed and endurance. According to World Athletics, in 2017 he covered the Sacramento U.S. Marathon Championships course in 2:15.27, placing 16th. Three years earlier, he ran 3:59.34 for the Mile at the Greenville Blue Shoes Track Invitational, placing 5th. This comes after a stellar career running for North Carolina State University where he earned multiple “All American” honors in both track and cross country at various distances. He will be looking to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Trials in the marathon after the World XC Championships.
  • Andrew Colley mid-race during the National Cross Country Championships on Jan. 21 in Mechanicsville, Va. He place second and qualified for the U.S. team. He will compete with the U.S. team on Feb. 18 in Bathurst, Australia. Photo by @pacephoto, courtesy of ZAP Endurance
    • TRISTIN VAN ORD: As assistant men’s cross country coach at Appalachian State, when Tristin Van Ord speaks, the guys are likely to listen. A highly decorated collegian while competing for App State just a few years ago, the 2:27:07 she ran last month for the Chevron Houston Marathon not only lowered her personal record by some two and a half minutes — set just eight months earlier in Rotterdam, The Netherlands — but made her the 10th fastest American woman among those currently running the 26.2 mile distance. It also qualifies her to compete for a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team in the next U.S. Olympic Trials at that distance, which will be run in Orlando, Fla., on Feb. 3, 2024.
    • RYAN FORD: One of the newest members of the ZAP Endurance team, Ryan Ford quickly gained notice in the running world when he finished 12th in the same U.S. Cross Country Championships in Richmond, Va. on Jan. 21, the same even where Colley finished second and qualified for the national team — and Ford was the youngest competitor in the top 12 by roughly two years. Only six days earlier, on Jan. 15, Ford won the 3,000 meters event at the Virginia Tech Invitational vs. a strong field of top collegiate and professional runners. The latest? On Feb. 11, Ford placed second in the 5,000 meters at the Valentine Invitational in Boston against a strong professional and collegiate field.  In running a 13:29.96, he was just half a second behind the leader. In recording his first time for the 5,000m under 13:30, he took a full five seconds off of his personal best.
    • DAN SCHAFFER: Running a sub 4-minute mile remains a significant accomplishment and Dan Schaffer, another new ZAP team member. has done it both outdoors and indoors. Last month, he ran a 3:59.6 to win the featured Mile race at the Hokie Invitational in Blacksburg, Va., against some of the nation’s top collegians and professional runners. He followed that up with a second place finish at 3,000 meters, in a time of 7:43:47 at the Dr. Sander Columbia Challenge in New York City, less than a second and a half out of first place. The performance lowered his personal best at 3,000 meters indoors by seven seconds, set a new ZAP club record for the distance, and qualified him for his first senior national championship event, the U.S. Indoor Championships on Feb. 18, in Albuquerque, N.M.
  • ZAP Endurance team member Dan Schaffer lines up at the start of the Hokie Invitational Men’s 1 Mile Run on Jan. 20. Photo by Ryan Warrenburg, courtesy of ZAP Endurance.
    • TYLER PENNEL: To say that Tyler Pennel burst onto the national stage in 2014, when he ran away from the field to win the U.S. Marathon Championships in the Twin Cities (Minn.) wouldn’t quite be accurate since he had already started getting attention as a collegian, winning the NCAA Division II 10,000 meters title in 2012 while representing Western State College (now Western Colorado University) of Gunnison, Colo. Early in his tenure with ZAP, he also rattled off a 3:58 for the Mile, 13:32 for 5K, and 28.22 for the 10K. Since winning at Twin Cities, he has maintained a spot among the top American marathon athletes. After his 5th place finish at the Los Angeles hosted U.S. Olympic Trials, he followed up with an 8th place run in the 2016 New York City Marathon and a 4th place at the 2018 Boston Marathon. In 2020, as COVID-19 was just beginning to engage the world, Pennel finish 11th in the Atlanta Olympic Trials with a personal best of 2:12.34. That “PR” didn’t last long, however. Last month, on Jan. 15, 2023, he ran a 2:12:16 in the Chevron Houston Marathon on a muggy day in south Texas. The run lowered his PR as he place 5th and met the qualifying standard for the next U.S. Olympic Trials, in Orlando, on Feb. 23, 2024.
    • JOSH IZEWSKI:  A former star performer at the University of Florida in track and field, at 3000m, 5000m and 10,000m distances, Josh Izewski took five years off after college to compete as a professional triathlete. In 2018, ZAP’s Tyler Pennel “discovered” Izewski as a potential teammate when he beat Pennel in a 10-mile road race. A short while later, ZAP welcomed him onto the team and the Florida alum quickly started recording faster and faster times. In the distance running world, Izewski has the potential to be a speed demon after running 1500 meters in 3:54 as a collegian, in a 2013 Tallahassee race. After returning to the track and joining the ZAP team, he has begun to focus more and more on the longer distances, including the marathon. As soon as the qualifying window opened up in January of 2022 (for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials), Izewski ran a 2:12.45 at the 2022 Houston Marathon, well below the U.S. qualifying standard of 2:18 for the men. He is currently taking about five months off (training only) after a full schedule of racing in 2022, ending with a 10 mile road race in the Twin Cities last October, where he lowered his own personal record for that distance by some 20 seconds. The big push now? He and Pennel are focused on qualifying for the Olympic Trials, aimed at competing in the Berlin Marathon to better the 2:18 qualifying standard in September.
    • ANNMARIE TUXBURY: ZAP Endurance head coach Pete Rea says that Annmarie Tuxbury is his “diamond in the rough.”  A native of New Hartford, Conn. and 2016 graduate of Bryant University in Rhode Island, where she is 4th on the program’s all-time list for 1,000 meters, 7th in the Mile, 3rd at 3,000 meters, and 2nd at 5,000 meters. She is also on three of the school’s Top 10 teams in the Distance Medley Relay. After leaving school, she began transitioning to longer distance running. She ran in the Atlanta Marathon in late February 2020, posting a time of 2:39. In May of 2021 she finished 7th at the US 25k Championships in Grand Rapids, Mich., and followed that up in the fall of 2021 with another top 10 US Championship finish, a 10th place showing at the U.S. 20k Championships.  In 2022, Tuxbury ran 2:38 at the Boston Marathon and turned around six weeks later to run 2:39 and take the win at the Vermont City Marathon. Now 28, the former middle distance runner ran the Boston Marathon in April 2022, the 23rd woman to cross the finish line and lowered her personal best to 2:38.15. Then, just a month after joining ZAP, in December 2022 she finished 12th among 3,421 women competing in the U.S. Marathon Championships in Sacramento, Calif, where Tuxbury lowered her personal best by some 7 minutes, to 2:31:29. While Tuxbury has already qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials with her 2:31 (the standard is 2:37), she is currently training for the Rotterdam Marathon on April 16.
  • New ZAP Endurance team member Annmarie Tuxbury finished the California International Marathon in 12th place on Dec. 4. Photo by Pete Rea, courtesy of ZAP Endurance
    • WHITNEY MACON: Whitney Macon, a native of Asheville who was part of a University of New Mexico championship cross country team, has also already qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials in the marathon, running a 2:32:48 at the Rotterdam Marathon in April 2022. Along with Tuxbury, Macon is training for the Rotterdam Marathon in April 2023. She is a 2015 graduate of Harvard University and spent her last year of eligibility as a graduate student at New Mexico. At the Atlanta U.S. Olympic Trials in 2020, Macon finished 40th, in 2:39:40, among the 390 women who had qualified for the Trials race, all competing for a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team.
    • ERIC VAN DER ELS: The ninth and final athlete being supported on the ZAP team is Eric Van Der Els, a recent graduate of the University of Connecticut where he was a top performer in cross country as well as on the track. While his debut with ZAP has been cut short by a foot injury, Van Der Els has a lot of upside as a middle distance runner. In May of 2022, he finished in 1st place of the Big East Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships at 1500 meters, running the distance in 3:46.64 to win the final after being a tick faster in the preliminaries, 3:46.63. At the elite Dr. Sander Invitational Columbia Challenge in February 2022, Van Der Els finished first in the 3,000 meters. Just out of high school, Van Der Els showed his potential in running a 3:43.16 at 1500 meters to capture first place in the Pan American Under 20 Championships in Trujillo, Peru, in 2017. Once he returns from the foot injury, Van Der Els is expected to compete in distances ranging from 3,000 meters to 10,000 meters. In his pro debut with ZAP, he placed 10th in the USA Track & Field 5k Championships in and around New York City’s Central Park, in early November. Only 32 pro athletes had qualified to run in the race.

  • Left to right, Eric van der Els, Andrew Colley, Ryan Ford and Dan Schaffer in Connecticut after all finished in the top 16 of the historic, Manchester Road Race on Nov. 24, with more than 10,000 running in the race. Photo courtesy of Pete Rea, ON/ZAP Endurance elite running team

App State softball earns opening day split at Queens

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App State softball earns opening day split at Queens

By Bobby Neal for App State Sports. CHARLOTTE, N.C. – App State softball split the opening day of its 2023 season at Queens University, defeating the Royals 5-2 in Game 2 after a 5-4 loss in the opening contest.

Sejal Neas threw the first six innings of the second contest, punching five strikeouts and allowing only one run. Offensively, three home runs were hit by the Black & Gold throughout the day, including a 3-run bomb by Kylie LaRousa in the second game.

On the day, App State earned nine runs to Queens’ seven, and out-hit the Royals, 16-11.

Recapping Game 1 (Queens 5, App State 4)

After two scoreless innings by both squads to start, Mary Pierce Barnes scored the first run of the 2023 season in the top of the third, homering to right-center to give the Mountaineers a 1-0 lead. Barnes has recorded nine home runs in her career.

The Royals responded with three consecutive runs in the third and fourth innings, giving themselves a two-run lead heading into the fifth.

During the top of the fifth, preseason All-Sun Belt selection Kayt Houston and Barnes hit back-to-back singles, landing them at third and first base, respectively. With two outs, Kaley Coltrain singled to left field, bringing in Houston for Coltrain’s first RBI as a Mountaineer.

Queens posted two runs in the bottom of the fifth, making the score 5-2.

As App State needed a spark in the sixth, Sidney Martin delivered, landing the first home run of her career to cut the lead to two.

The pressure shifted to the defense in the bottom of the sixth. Down by two runs with two on and one out, Taylor Thorp and McKenzie McCullen ended the inning with a double play.
The Black & Gold kept their foot on the gas in the top of the seventh, as Addie Wray and Houston each singled to open the inning, advancing to second and third during a throw.

With two runners on and no outs, the Royals, up by two runs, brought in their relief pitcher. Coltrain was walked shortly after, loading all three bases with one out.

McCullen reached first on a fielder’s choice, bringing in a run by Wray, cutting the lead to one in what would be App State’s final run of the contest.

Delani Buckner started the day in the circle and was later relieved by Kaylie Northrop, who struck out two batters.

The Mountaineers had 10 hits in the contest, including three by Houston.

Recapping Game 2 (App State 5, Queens 2)

App State never trailed in the second match. Thorp got the scoring trend started in the second inning, singling up the middle and bringing in Martin’s second run of the day.
Pairing that score with two straight innings of no Royals on bases, App State led 1-0 heading into the fourth.

After Coltrain brought in an unearned point, LaRousa stole the show, raising the lead to five with a home run to left center. Thorp and McCullen were on base.

Neas, who also assisted three putouts, held Queens scoreless until the bottom of the sixth.

The Royals would score one run in each of the last two innings as Neas would eventually be relieved by Kapri Toone, who made her first appearance in the Black & Gold.

Thorp and McCullen made their second double play of the day to finish the game. Over both games, McCullen led the fielders from first base with 15 putouts, one assist and a perfect fielding percentage.

Up Next

The Mountaineers will compete in the Pinnacle PC Invitational with matchups against IUPUI, Seton Hall and Presbyterian next weekend, in Clinton, S.C. Their first home game will be on Mar. 8 against North Carolina.

Northwestern Conference tournament brackets announced, first round play to start Feb. 14

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Northwestern Conference tournament brackets announced, first round play to start Feb. 14

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — As luck would have it, the No. 3 seeded Watauga men’s basketball will get another shot at No. 6 seeded Hibriten, in Lentz Eggers Gym on Tuesday, Feb. 14, with tipoff at 6:30 p.m. in the first round of the Northwestern Conference tournament. The winner advances to the semifinal round against the No. 2 seed, Alexander Central, based on results from regular season play.

Watauga (12-12 overall, 5-5 NWC) split with the Panthers in the regular season, winning 70-63 at home on Jan. 12 and losing, 62-51 in Lenoir on Feb. 3, in what turned into a controversial foul fest (56 fouls called, 71 free throws, 5 players fouling out).

In the upper bracket of the men’s conference tourney, No. 4 South Caldwell takes on No. 5 seed Ashe County on Feb. 14 in Hudson, with the winner advancing to face Freedom on Feb. 16 in the semifinals.

All semifinal and final games (men and women) will be played at Freedom, the semis on Feb. 16 and the finals on Feb. 17.

Watauga WBB earns bye into semifinals

In the women’s tournament, by virtue of its tying for a share of the regular season championship title and a No. 2 seed, Watauga earned a bye into the semifinals and awaits the first round winner on Feb. 14 between No. 3 Ashe County and No. 6 South Caldwell. The Watauga semifinal will be played at Freedom, on Feb. 16, at 4 p.m.

In the upper half of the women’s bracket, on Feb. 16, No. 1 Hibriten will play the Feb. 14 tilt between No. 4 Alexander Central and No. 5 Freedom. As with the men’s semis and finals, the women’s semifinals and championship games will be played on Feb. 16 and Feb. 17, in Morganton.

Sears, Scheffler lead Watauga WBB past Ashe County, 55-46

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Sears, Scheffler lead Watauga WBB past Ashe County, 55-46

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Although Watauga mostly dominated in the women’s basketball game on Feb. 10, the Pioneers had to survive two Ashe County runs to close the gap. Watauga prevailed in front of a packed house, 55-46.

BONUS: Senior Night photos at bottom of article.

It was Senior Night for Watauga and that brought special meaning to this rivalry rematch with the Huskies. In West Jefferson on Jan. 20, the Pioneers won convincingly, 70-59, but the rematch evolved as more of a defensive battle. The trio of Kate Sears (18 points), Brooke Scheffler (16) and Charlotte Torgerson (12) accounted for most of Watauga’s offensive production on the night, but it was the teamwide defensive effort that limited just two Husky players to double figures that made the difference.

Watauga forward Brooke Scheffler (20) goes up strong for the basket on Feb. 10, drawing a foul by Ashe County junior small forward Abigail Jones (12). Photographic image by David Rogers

Ashe County junior forward Paige Overcash dropped in a team-high 15 points with strong inside play while sophomore guard Abby Sheets was good on two made baskets from beyond the arc to edge into double figures, with 10 points.

“We knew it was going to be a tough game,” said Watauga head coach Laura Barry after the last second had ticked off the game clock. “I loved the way we started so hot, but then we had to really dig in and manage a tough game. I thought we weathered their runs well. They made one in the first half and one in the second half. I really loved our poise when it came down to clock management.”

Kate Sears (12) dribbles at the top of the key on Feb. 10 against Ashe County in Lentz Eggers Gym, looking for an opening. She found plenty, recording a game-high 18 points on the night. Photographic image by David Rogers

Barry added that the Ashe County runs were prompted by transition play, and in rebounding.

“Some of what they got was in transition and off the glass. We talked about it before the game that missed shots by us would lead to transitions for them. Ashe County opened the second quarter with three offensive boards and we knew we wouldn’t be able to play that way in the second half. So I thought we tightened up after that. Laurel Kiker had a phenomenal game. We were honoring our seniors tonight and she was just ready to go and do something special. She is really coming on at the right time.”

Watauga’s Charlotte Torgerson (33) shook the rafters with this made early 3-pointer on Feb. 10 in front of a packed house for the rivalry rematch with Ashe County. Photographic image by David Rogers

Barry acknowledged the mixed feelings about seeing her time with the team’s three graduating seniors (Caroline Farthing, Laurel Kiker, and Brooke Scheffler) coming to an end with the finish of the regular season schedule and just the post-season (conference tournament and state playoffs) remaining.

“Undoubtedly, it is bittersweet,” said Barry, about the annual ritual of a high school or college coach in seeing seniors move on. “As you get into their senior year, you know them the best and you know them the most. They are great people. So yes, it is bittersweet that they will not be with us next year, but I am excited about their futures.”

Ashe County’s Paige Overcash (10) stretched high on the opening tipoff to secure first possession for the Huskies. Photographic image by David Rogers

The win secured a share of the Northwestern Conference championship for Watauga, tied with Hibriten, both teams recording 8-2 conference records. Playing a very tough non-conference schedule, Watauga was 18-6 overall. By virtue of its two wins over Watauga during the regular season, Hibriten gets the No. 1 conference tournament seed, with Watauga the No. 2. Both will get first round byes.

For the conference tournament, there is a high probability that Watauga will play Ashe County (16-7, 6-4) again next Thursday, in the second round. If so, it will be the fourth time the Huskies and Pioneers have faced off during the 2022-23 basketball season.

“You see a team four times during the year, you know each other so well,” said Barry. “It comes down to making a lot of adjustments and who can step up and play.”

SCORING SUMMARY

  • WAT Kate Sears (18)
  • WAT Brooke Scheffler (16)
  • ASH Paige Overcash (15)
  • WAT Charlotte Torgerson (12)
  • ASH Abby Sheets (10)
  • ASH Abby Eller (6)
  • ASH Ally Greer (6)
  • ASH Morgan Phipps (5)
  • WAT Laurel Kiker (4)
  • ASH Lexi Dawson (4)
  • WAT Kaitlyn Darner (2)
  • WAT Caroline Farthing (2)
  • WAT Diane McGlamery (1)

BONUS PHOTOS OF “SENIOR NIGHT”

 

 

Watauga survives Ashe County surge in ‘Senior Night’ rivalry game, 65-60

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Watauga survives Ashe County surge in ‘Senior Night’ rivalry game, 65-60

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — They weren’t giving away gold, land or cryptocurrency at Watauga High School on Feb. 10, but by 4:30 p.m. parking was only available in the nether regions of the expansive school parking lot. No, it was rivalry basketball night in the High Country, as well as “Senior Night” at host Watauga — and the atmosphere was as electric as the play on the court.

BONUS: Senior Night photos at bottom of article.

A second half surge by Ashe County’s men’s basketball team all but swallowed up a 19 point halftime deficit. The Huskies’ Jake Grubb (17 points in the second half), Eli Lemley (12 points in the second half) and Harrison Langdon (11 points in the second half) reeled in the Pioneers but weren’t quite able to overtake their hosts. Watauga held on for a nail biter win that went down to the last few seconds, 65-60.

Nice touch! Watauga senior Davis Hunt made the most of his starting opportunity on Feb. 10, vs. Ashe County. He scored 7 points in contributing to the Pioneers’ ultimate 65-60 win. Photographic image by David Rogers

This was high school basketball at its finest. Sure, there were some boos and catcalls when one side or the other’s fans disagreed with an official’s call — or no call when the crowd thought a foul had been committed. And yet, there was nothing abusive heard from the packed grandstands on both sides of the court. It was fun. It was entertaining. It was special.

After Watauga lost a thriller at Ashe County just a couple of weeks ago, on Jan. 20, 70-59, in a game that was back and forth close until the Pioneers were forced to foul in the last seconds, this Northwestern Conference rematch had to have been circled on the entire Pioneer team’s calendars.

Twisting, turning, leaping… Watauga senior Cole Horine attacks the basket on Feb. 10 vs. Ashe County in Lentz Eggers Gym during the Pioneers’ 65-60 win to close out the regular season. Photographic image by David Rogers

And that is the way the Pioneers played in the opening two quarters to take a 39-20 lead into halftime. Seniors Grant Morrison, Wyatt Keller, Davis Hunt and Cole Horine poured in 9, 7, 7 and 6 points, respectively, in the first half and the team made just about every Husky shot difficult, defensively.

The only Ashe County scoring of note in the first half was by Grubb, whose 12 first half points when combined with a whopping 17 in the second half earned him game-high scoring honors, with 29 on the night, including five made baskets from behind the 3-point arc.

Morrison and Keller shared team-high honors scoring for the Pioneers, with 16 each, the only Watauga players in double figures on a night when there was good offensive production spread up and down the roster.

A couple of the guys in the Watauga student section aptly described themselves as ‘ions’. The ‘white out’ theme certainly contributed to the electric atmosphere with the grandstands packed on both sides of the court for the rivalry game vs. Ashe County on Feb. 10. Photographic image by David Rogers

“This was just good rivalry basketball,” said Watauga head coach Bryson Payne afterwards. “I am proud of how our guys finished.”

Watauga finished the regular season 12-12 overall and 5-5 in Northwestern Conference play. Ashe County ends the regular season 9-15 overall and 3-7 in the NWC. Both teams await the seeding decisions of the conference competition committee as they determine the pairings for next week’s Northwestern Conference tournament play.

SCORING SUMMARY

  • ASH Jake Grubb (29)
  • WAT Grant Morrison (16)
  • WAT Wyatt Keller (16)
  • ASH Eli Lemley (14)
  • ASH Harrison Langdon (11)
  • WAT Cole Horine (9)
  • WAT Davis Hunt (7)
  • WAT Jackson Pryor (6)
  • WAT Wyatt Kohout (6)
  • ASH Austin Grogan (4)
  • WAT Maddox Greene (3)
  • WAT Josiah Railey (2)
  • ASH Tanner Poe (2)

BONUS: Senior Night and other photos

Already? Sears hits 1,000 career points milestone in Watauga’s 59-46 win over Freedom

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Already? Sears hits 1,000 career points milestone in Watauga’s 59-46 win over Freedom

David Rogers. MORGANTON, N.C. — Among Kate Sears’ game-high 25 points scored on Feb. 7 against rival Freedom was her 1,000th career point — and she is not yet finished with her sophomore season. It is a remarkable achievement, especially when you consider she spends a lot of her court time distributing the ball to teammates, looking for a better, open shot.

BONUS PHOTOS AT BOTTOM OF ARTICLE

Watauga ended up winning convincingly, 59-46, but Sears’ 16 second half points helped Watauga gain separation from the Patriots, after the Morganton side was trailing by only four points at intermission, 24-20.

Watauga’s Laurel Kiker (21) goes up for two of her six points against Freedom on Feb. 7. Photographic image by David Rogers

Watauga’s other dynamic point and shooting guard, junior Charlotte Torgerson, had a big second quarter en route to a 20-point game by the end, leading the Pioneers in scoring in the first half, with 11.

Almost all of Freedom’s offensive production came in Payton Caldwell’s work inside the paint, recording 20 points on the night. Patriot guard Sydnie Demiter also finished in double figures, with 10.

“Credit freedom,” said Watauga head coach Laura Barry after the game. “They came out really, really tough and bothered us. The kind of made the game ugly for us, offensively. I had told our kids that the Freedom we remembered for the game played in Boone a couple of weeks ago would not be the same Freedom we saw today.  And that held true.”

Despite the tougher matchup, Watauga prevailed.

Charlotte Torgerson (33) made plays both inside and outside on Feb. 7 against Freedom in Morganton. Photographic image by David Rogers

“I am proud of our kids for making some big shots. Charlotte Torgerson was really good for us, especially from the 3-point line. Brooke Scheffler had some big second half plays. Kate Sears made some big shots for us when we needed to separate. This was a huge win on the road for us, that we needed after this past week,” said Barry, acknowledging the challenging Feb. 3 loss to Hibriten.

While a few of the Watauga players were quite ill in the game at Hibriten, they were almost back to their normal selves against Freedom.

Still only a sophomore with two more high school seasons ahead of her, Kate Sears reached the 1,000 points scored milestone on Feb. 7 against Freedom. Photographic image by David Rogers

“We are healthier, but I don’t think our wind is back,” said Barry. “I thought we looked tired at times tonight. I think it is just the kids getting over the colds or flu, whatever it was that we had. And yet, this was much better than Friday. But really, this is a gut check. These are the last games of the regular season and we are staring at the upcoming post-season.”

With the win, the Pioneer women are 17-6 overall and 7-2 in Northwestern Conference play, their only two losses to Hibriten. They will take those regular season records into a Senior Night tilt vs. Ashe County on Feb. 10.

“It will be a good game,” said Barry. “They know us and we know them. It is going to be about a lot of heart and a lot of fight, as well as a good many in-game adjustments. However they start and we start… I think both teams will figure it out. The top players on both teams are going to be ready to play.’

SCORING SUMMARY

  • WAT Kate Sears (25)
  • FRE Payton Caldwell (22)
  • WAT Charlotte Torgerson (20)
  • FRE Sydnie Demiter (10)
  • WAT Brooke Scheffler (6)
  • WAT Laurel Kiker (6)
  • FRE Ava Whisnant (6)
  • FRE Haven Gladden (5)
  • FRE Statler McGee (3)
  • WAT Kaitlyn Darner (2)

BONUS PHOTOS

Watauga comes up just short in 64-62 thriller at Freedom

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Watauga comes up just short in 64-62 thriller at Freedom

By David Rogers. MORGANTON, N.C. — Watauga took the Northwestern Conference’s first place team to the last 0.4 seconds on Feb. 7, but couldn’t quite pull off the upset, losing 64-62.

The Pioneers trailed most of the game, including a 10 point deficit during the third quarter, but tightened things up and actually took the lead briefly in the final stanza before the Patriots pulled back ahead. With under 15 seconds to play, Freedom had a 5-point lead after a dunk that brought the Patriot fans to their feet, but Watauga’s Jackson Pryor received a long pass down court and launched a 3-pointer from downtown Morganton that found nothing but net to shrink the lead. As Freedom was taking the ball back upcourt and time was ticking down, a mishandled ball ended up in Watauga’s hands. While the buzzer sounded to end the game, a chat among the officials concluded that the Pioneers had indeed called a timeout — but with just 0.4 seconds left on the game clock.

With 0.4 seconds remaining in regulation, head coach Bryson Payne was able to call a timeout and plot strategy for a potential game-tying or game-winning shot. Photographic image by David Rogers

Watauga assistant coach Andrew Wilson said, “At 0.4 seconds, there is time to catch and shoot. At 0.3, it can only be a tap-in.”

Neither scenario worked in the end for Watauga as time expired.

While Watauga’s scoring was spread among several players, Freedom’s Amare Connolly scored 36 points for the Patriots, or more than half of the team’s total. The 6-1 sophomore is listed as a small forward as well as a point guard — and looked both parts in shooting from both inside and outside. Philly Harris, another small forward, had the next most points for Freedom, with nine.

Grant Morrison (3) sizes up the basket on Feb. 7 against Freedom. The Pioneers lost, 64-62, although Morrison scored 14 points on the night. Photographic image by David Rogers

Watauga had three players in double figures, led by Pryor’s team-high 22 points with 14 and 12 points, respectively, added by Grant Morrison and Wyatt Keller.

Keller’s four 3-pointers, including three of them in the final quarter, was critical in Watauga’s keeping the game close.

At the end of the first quarter, Freedom had a 14-11 lead, which they expanded slightly to 34-29 at intermission. At the end of the third quarter, the Morganton team still held a small lead, 46-42.

Watauga’s Maddox Green looks for 2 against Freedom on Feb. 7. Photographic image by David Rogers

With the win, Freedom is now 18-4 overall and 8-1 in Northwestern Conference play. The Patriots also secured at least a share of the conference title and, depending on the outcome of second place Alexander Central’s tilt against Hibriten on Feb. 7, may already be assured of the regular season championship if the Cougars lost to the Panthers. Either way, Freedom and Alexander Central will meet in a showdown on Feb. 10, in Morganton.

Watauga falls to 11-12 overall and 4-5 in Northwestern Conference play, but given their narrow loss to first place Freedom on Feb. 7 and after handing the Patriots their only conference loss (98-80) on Jan. 17, the Pioneers may be the most dangerous team on any given night. To close out the regular season on Feb. 10, Watauga will host High Country rival Ashe County in a much anticipated rematch after losing to the Huskies on Jan. 20, in a 70-59 thriller that was closer than the 11 point differential indicates because of late fouling to regain possession.

SCORING SUMMARY

  • FRE Amore Connelly (36)
  • WAT Jackson Pryor (22)
  • WAT Grant Morrison (14)
  • WAT Wyatt Keller (12)
  • FRE Philly Harris (9)
  • WAT Cole Horine (7)
  • WAT Wyatt Kohout (5)
  • FRE Avery Pollard (5)
  • FRE Kobe Johnson (5)
  • FRE Dyson Dellinger (3)
  • WAT Maddox Greene (2)
  • FRE Kayden Lytle (2)
  • FRE Gavin McNaughton (2)
  • FRE Max Taylor (2)

BONUS PHOTOS

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