By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Often overlooked in high school athletics are the performances of junior varsity teams, but those younger squads are comprised of the varsity’s future.
That’s why Watauga girls JV team’s 17-1 overall record for 2023-24, 8-1 in Northwestern Conference and a dominating, 41-26 win over Ashe County on Feb. 16 should not be overlooked.
Against the Huskies in West Jefferson, Watauga allowed only five Ashe County players to get into the scoring column, and only one in double figures. That was freshman guard Madason Cox, who recorded a game-high 14 points.
They allowed Ashe County to score just four points in the first quarter and only five points in Q4.
The Pioneers countered with eight players scoring points, two in double figures: Sarah Thompson (13) and Blair Haines (12). While Thompson and Haines accounted for more than half of the Pioneers’ offensive production, Presli Wood and Izzy Torgerson contributed six and five points, respectively while also dishing out assists with key passes and helping clear the boards, rebounding.
A hallmark of the Pioneers’ varsity teams (women and men) is tenacious defense and those individual and team skills have filtered down to the JVs. In none of the four quarters played on Feb. 16 did Ashe County score more than 9 points, in the third period. The Watauga team proved especially stingy at the beginning and end, allowing the Huskies just four points in the first quarter and only five points in Q4.
They are a really special group of sophomores. They led this team with a lot of compassion and competitive spirit. Their legacy will definitely be felt on future JV teams.
Reflecting back on the 2023-24 season, the girls junior varsity Pioneers were only two points removed from a perfect, 18-0 season. On Jan. 24, Watauga lost to Alexander Central in Lentz Eggers Gym, 49-47. A couple of weeks later, on Feb. 6, the young Pioneers returned the favor and then some, defeating the Cougars, 44-37, in Taylorsville.
We caught up with Watauga JV coach Kalie Eppley after their last game of the season and, not surprisingly, she was pretty enthusiastic about what her team had accomplished.
