By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — There was plenty of love in Lentz Eggers Gym on Feb. 14 for the last regular season game of Watauga men’s basketball. Not only was it Valentine’s Day but it was also Senior Night — and grandstands were packed for the rivalry game between the Pioneers and the Ashe County Huskies. There were plenty of smiles to go around as Watauga left little doubt in forging a 70-43 win.
A quintet of Pioneer seniors took the floor in the opening period and battled the Huskies to a 13-13 draw by the end of the quarter, the seniors playing most of the eight minutes. As the regular starters began to rotate in, Watauga began to flex their offensive muscles, jumping out to a 33-25 lead by halftime. The team’s leading scorer, junior point guard-shooting guard Cade Keller poured in half of his game-high 24 points in the second quarter to drive the Pioneers’ separation.
The Huskies’ Trent Sheets tried to keep it close for the home team with 13 points in the first half but had little in the way of help other than 8 points from Ian Graybeal. By comparison, Watauga’s first half may have featured Keller’s 14, but the Pioneers also got key contributions from Maddox Greene, Jackson Love, Josiah Railey and Jace Blocker.
Whatever hopes Ashe County harbored for forging a second half comeback were quickly dashed by defensive adjustments made by the Pioneers during intermission. Watauga tightened the screws and extended their lead even with liberal substitutions. They used a 21-8 third quarter run to take a 54-33 lead to begin the final stanza, then stayed consistent with a 16-10 run in the final 8 minutes.
For the game, 10 Pioneers got on the scoreboard, led by their usual scoring leaders Keller (24 points) and Railey (15). Scoring opportunities were bolstered by Blocker pulling down six of his game-high nine rebounds on the offensive end, providing second chances for a number of teammates.
Taking advantage of his most minutes in a game this season, senior JT Cook only scored two points but still had a significant impact in corralling 8 rebounds.
With the win, Watauga secures the No. 1 seed and a first round bye in the Northwestern Conference tournament. First round games are Monday, Feb. 17, hosted by the higher seed. Watauga will host the winner of the No. 4 vs. No. 5 seed game in the first round. The other first round bye goes to No. 2 seeded South Caldwell. The semifinal games (round 2) will be hosted by Ashe County on Tuesday, Feb. 18, with the Championship game at the same location on Friday, Feb. 21.
SCORING SUMMARY
- WAT – Cade Keller (24 points)
- WAT – Josiah Railey (15)
- WAT – Jace Blocker (8)
- WAT – Maddox Greene (7)
- WAT – Jackson Love (6)
- WAT – Landon Smith (4)
- WAT – Kyle Williams (3)
- WAT – Wit Williamson (2)
- WAT – JT Cook (2)
- WAT – Paul Taylor (2)
