By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Mabel jumped out to a 7-0 lead before Parkway could even get on the scoreboard in the first semifinal of the Watauga County girls middle school championship tournament — but the Patriots clawed their way back to trail by only 13-10 at the half. A 10-point outburst in the third quarter combined with pesky, disruptive defense throughout the second half allowed the Patriots to advance to the Dec. 15 championship final. Final score: Parkway 22, Mabel 21.
Mabel’s Gwen May poured in a game-high 13 points. nine of them in the team’s runaway first half. Parkway’s Caroline Childers also got into double figures, with 10 points on the night.
Although the Patriots were able to tie the game at 10-10, Mabel went on a run to expand their advantage in the second half, at one point ahead, 17-13, prompting thoughts of a potential upset in the making for the No. 4 seeded Mabel over the No. 1 seed, Parkway.
But a 5-0 run by the Patriots thrust them into the lead, 18-17. The teams would alternate leads three more times before Parkway went ahead to stay and used stifling defense to force Mabel turnovers and thwart their scoring efforts in the closing seconds.
Asked what he was thinking when his team opened the game looking at the wrong end of a 7-0 deficit, Parkway head coach said, “I was thinking we might have a very long night ahead of us. I am proud of how our girls fought back, their resilience.”
With the win, Parkway advances to the championship final on Dec. 15, vs. Blowing Rock, which defeated Bethel in the second girls semifinal tilt.
SCORING
- BTL Gwen May (13)
- PKY Caroline Childers (10)
- Kailey Greer (6)
- PKY Kaylee Lewis (4)
- PKY Cali Townsend (3)
- PKY Mary Flynn Sevensky (3)
- PKY Emma Kate Wade (2)
- BTL Camaline Hicks (2)
