Watauga MBB season ends in Elite 8, falls to North Meck, 84-48

March 7, 2025

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DSC02271-X3 — Watauga's Maddox Greene goes for an early bucket at North Mecklenburg on March 7. Photographic image by Jared Everett for High Country Sports

By David Rogers. HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. — The No. 7-seeded Watauga men’s basketball season came to a close on March 7, losing to a very talented No. 3 North Mecklenburg in the Elite 8 round of the NCHSAA 4A Men’s Basketball Championships, 84-48.

A strong inside performance by the Vikings’ Chadlyn Traylor (28 points) along with long range contributions from a quartet of shooters in senior guard Carson Evans (23), junior guard Ashton Pierce (10), sophomore guard Alek Lewandowski (6) and senior guard Greg Murray (6) proved to be too much firepower for the Pioneers on this night. The Vikings Wilson Estwick also contributed seven points from close range.

Cade Keller (10) attracted a lot of defensive attention in Watauga’s Elite 8 matchup with North Mecklenburg on March 7. Photographic image by Jared Everett for High Country Sports

Watauga was buoyed by a large contingent of High Country basketball fans and a large student section, but North Meck jumped out to 37-29 lead by halftime, then piled it on in the second half while using a stifling defense to keep the Pioneers’ usual scorers at bay.

Watauga’s leading scorer, junior combo guard Cade Keller, was limited to 11 points on the night, while senior guard Maddox Greene added 9. Senior guard/forward Josiah Railey scored all of his seven points before intermission.

North Meck extended its record of defeating opponents by 21 or more points to 21 games this season. They will face No. 13 seeded Chambers in the state playoffs’ semifinals and West bracket championship. The Cougars advanced with a 70-63 win over No. 9 Myers Park. Earlier in the week, Myers Park received a bye into the Elite Eight when the NCHSAA 4A West bracket’s No. 1 seed was reportedly disqualified for using an ineligible player.