By David Rogers. TAYLORSVILLE, N.C. — Shrugging off Alexander Central’s 12-1 record coming into the game on Jan. 10, as well as the loud and enthusiastic, Cougar-friendly arena, Watauga polished off the distaff Cougars, 38-25.
The Watauga athletes kept their poise in what evolved as a highly physical game. As one observer standing courtside said, “The refs are letting the girls play.” Much of the contest was a bump and grind affair with plenty of contact underneath the baskets and several “scrums” as players from both sides dove for loose balls.
Led by sophomore point guard Kate Sears’ 18 points and 8 rebounds, as well as senior forward Brooke Scheffler’s 8 points, 5 rebounds, 1 blocked shot and a steal, Watauga took control by the end of the first quarter and kept up the attack to the end.
Watauga poured in 6 shots from long range during the course of the evening, including a pair of 3-pointers each by senior forward Caroline Farthing and Sears. The other treys were added by Kaitlyn Darner and Charlotte Torgerson. Those six shots from beyond the arc accounted for 18 of the Pioneers’ points, while another 10 points were made by Sears at the charity stripe as she drew defenders’ attention time and again by driving the lane.
At times, Alexander Central had their way inside, with forward Kirstyn Herman notching a double-double with a game-high 10 rebounds to go with a team-high 10 points. Workaholic guard Sydney Hayes only add 3 points, offensively, but contributed six rebounds — all on the defensive end — and two blocked shots to bolster the Cougars’ defensive efforts.
With the win, Watauga maintains its undefeated Northwestern Conference record and a tie with Hibriten atop the early season standings with 2-0 records. The Pioneers are now 12-4 overall while the Panthers are 15-1 after a narrow, 66-65 win at Ashe County (on Jan. 10). Watauga and Hibriten will try to settle things on Thursday, Jan. 12, when the Panthers travel to Boone to take on Watauga.
With the loss, Alexander Central falls to 12-2 overall and 0-2 in NWC play.
SELECTED INDIVIDUAL STATS
- WAT Kate Sears – 18 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists
- WAT Brooke Scheffler – 8 points, 5 rebounds, 1 blocked shot, 1 steal
- WAT Caroline Farthing – 6 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal
- WAT Charlotte Torgerson – 3 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal
- WAT Kaitlyn Darner – 3 points, 6 rebounds
- AC Kirstyn Herman – 10 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists
- AC Sydney Hayes – 3 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocked shots
- AC Hallie Jarrett – 4 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals
SELECTED TEAM STATS
- Field Goal %: WAT 29.4% (10-34), AC 25.0% (11-44)
- 3-Point %: WAT 46.2% (6-13), AC 15.8% (3-19)
- Points from Inside the Paint: WAT 6, AC 14
- Points off Turnovers: WAT 13, AC 2
- Second Chance Points: WAT 5, AC 4
- Bench Points: WAT 3, AC 2
