Revenge game? No. 3 Blowing Rock rallies back to take 30-26 win over No. 2 Bethel

December 13, 2022

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Blowing Rock's Kate Rex goes up for a basket in the second half of the Rockets' 30-26 win over Bethel in the semifinals of the Watauga County middle school girls basketball tournament. Photographic image by David Rogers

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — It was sweet revenge for the Blowing Rock middle school girls basketball team on Dec. 12, at Lentz Eggers Gym. After being shutout by Bethel in the first game of the regular season, 24-0, the Rockets earned their comeuppance by defeating Bethel, 30-26, in the second semifinal game of the Watauga County Middle School Championship Basketball Tournament at Lentz Eggers Gym.

Blowing Rock’s Susanna Goff only scored 8 points against Bethel in the semifinals of the Watauga County middle school tournament, but used her penetration to feed other open players. Photographic image by David Rogers

No. 2 seeded Bethel trailed No. 3 seeded Blowing Rock, 11-1 in the opening half of the Watauga County Middle School Girls Basketball Championship semifinal on Dec. 12, but used an 11-1 run to tie the game at 12-12 with 4:50 remaining in the third quarter and jump into the lead, 16-12, a few moments later. But the resilient Rockets used a 3-pointer from Susanna Goff to pull within a point, 16-15, then traded leads with the girls from Watauga County’s west side before pulling away at the end to win by four points.

“Our girls really wanted this one,” said Blowing Rock head coach Libby Warren after the game. “They fought hard and they played for each other. Down the stretch, we really played good defense to keep a really good Bethel team from scoring more.”

Blowing Rock middle school girls head coach Libby Warren lays out strategy during a timeout in the second half of the Rockets semifinal matchup against Bethel in the county tournament. Photographic image by David Rogers

Bethel was able to rally in the latter portion of the first half and into the third quarter on Blowing Rock turnovers — and “traveling” calls. But the Rockets eventually got their act together, eliminated most of their earlier mistakes, and played disruptive defense.

Although in a losing effort, Payton Guy was prolific for Bethel, pouring in a game-high 12 points, including 9 in the second half. After intermission, she was 5-of-6 from the charity stripe.

Bethel’s Payton Guy (30) drives to the basket on a fast break against Blowing Rock. Guy tallied a game-high 12 points, but the Rockets went on to win, 30-26 with a broad scoring effort and pesky defense. Photographic image by David Rogers

Blowing Rock was led by Susanna Goff’s team-high eight points, but the balanced attack saw Francis Davis contribute 7 points, Kate Rex 6 points, Anna Byrne 5 points, and Ellie Hege 4 points.

With the win, Blowing Rock will another shot at Parkway on Dec. 15, in the tournament championship game, also at Watauga High School’s Lentz Eggers Gym. Tipoff is slated for 6:30 p.m. as the curtain raiser for the boys championship game to follow.

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