By David Rogers. MORGANTON, N.C. — Although outpointed by Freedom in the first and fourth quarters, visiting Watauga got between those “bookends” to survive a critical Northwestern Conference game, 72-69.
It may well have been a matter a shifting offensive emphasis in the backcourt for Watauga. Where offensive leader Cade Keller was unusually quiet in the first half, only scoring two of his team-high 21 points before halftime, backcourt teammate Maddox Greene scored 11 of his 13 points before intermission.
Keller and Josiah Railey combined for 16 points in the third quarter, helping the visiting Pioneers to a 52-44 advantage by the opening of the final stanza. Freedom’s King Johnson and Amore Connolly combined for 14 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Patriots’ attempt to close the deficit, falling just short.
The win leaves Watauga in a tie atop the Northwestern Conference standings with South Caldwell, both with identical 7-2 conference records and 16-6 overall records. The Pioneers and the Spartans split their home and away series in the regular season, South Caldwell rallying to take the Jan. 9 encounter in Hudson, 76-64, with Watauga defending home court, 80-61, on Jan. 31.
Watauga closes out the regular season on Feb. 14 vs. Ashe County (7-13 overall, 2-7 in conference), while South Caldwell hosts Hibriten (3-20, 0-9).
SCORING SUMMARY
- FRE – King Johnson (21 points)
- WAT – Cade Keller (20)
- WAT – Josiah Railey (18)
- WAT – Maddox Greene (13)
- FRE – Kobe Johnson (13)
- FRE – Braxton King (11)
- WAT – Jace Blocker (9)
- WAT – Jackson Love (8)
- WAT – Brady Lindenmuth (4)
- FRE – Jonah Griggs (3)
- FRE – Amare Williams (3)
- FRE – Elijah Davidson (3)
