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HomeHigh SchoolWilson, Sears lead Watauga past Alexander Central, 63-48

Wilson, Sears lead Watauga past Alexander Central, 63-48

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Maybe call the Feb. 4 women’s basketball game between host Watauga and 4A rival Alexander Central a “Here’s Chloe!” party after the 6-foot senior and first year basketball player Chloe Wilson blossomed before everyone’s eyes at Lentz Eggers Gym.  Drawing a crowd inside the paint and proving a disruptive force defensively, Wilson was a major factor in Watauga’s convincing, 63-48 victory in front of a standing room only crowd at Lentz Eggers Gym.

Watauga sophomore guard Blair Haines finishes a fast break vs. Alexander Central with a layup. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports

A strong third quarter by Alexander Central, led by junior guard Meredith Wike, tightened things up a bit in the second half but host Watauga shrugged off the Cougars’ comeback rally. Watauga countered Wike’s game-high 30 points (and double-double in adding 12 rebounds) with a broad-based team effort.

Three Pioneers, including Wilson’s 14 points, scored in double figures. Senior guard Kate Sears recorded another triple-double with 18 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, all team-highs, and sophomore guard Blair Haines added 10 points. Two more Pioneers were within an eyelash of double figures: senior guards Julie Matheson and Kaitlyn Darner, each with nine points.

Watauga fans had a lot to cheer about on Feb. 4 as the women’s basketball team dismantled Alexander Central, 63-48. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports

Fans of Watauga have come to expect Virginia Tech-bound Sears to put up gaudy numbers, often with the ability to put the team on her back and will the Pioneers to victory when it doesn’t seem possible. But Watauga’s team performance against the Cougars proved that the Pioneers’ supporting cast is nothing to be trifled with. In addition to having five players with nine or more points scored, Watauga had five players with four or more rebounds.

Wilson’s late season emergence is noteworthy. An accomplished softball player, the senior was persuaded to come out for basketball in her final year, a sport in which she had previously not competed, at least formally. Watauga head coach Bill Torgerson noted after the game that where Sears, Matheson, Darner, Haines and others on the Pioneer roster had played organized basketball from a young age, Wilson had not been exposed to some of the game’s fundamental skills, do’s and don’ts, much less the intricacies of a team working together for a common purpose.

Kaitlyn Darner (30) scores from ‘downtown’ for Watauga vs. Alexander Central on Feb. 4. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports

“It is a credit to Chloe’s athleticism and hard work, as well as her teammates helping to bring her along,” said Torgerson in applauding Wilson’s performance against Alexander Central. Especially with her presence inside the paint, said Torgerson, it takes some of their opponents’ defensive pressure away from Sears, as well as from the other Pioneer outside shooters.

Winning nine of the last 10 games buoyed the Pioneers’ overall record to 14-5, 6-1 in Northwestern Conference play. Next up: a Friday, Feb. 7 appearance at Hibriten. Last time out, Watauga beat the Panthers, 59-44, on Jan. 17.

Watauga’s Kate Sears is in ‘launch mode’ (with her best Michael Jordan imitation) on Feb. 4, recording another triple double vs. Alexander Central in Lentz Eggers Gym. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports.

SELECTED TEAM STATS

  • Field Goal%: WAT 43.1% (25-58), AC 31.9% (15-47)
  • 3-Point%: WAT 26.9% (7-26), AC 33.3% (7-21)
  • Free Throw%: WAT 60.0% (6-10), AC 73.3% (11-15)
  • Points in Paint: WAT 34, AC 6
  • 2nd Chance Points: WAT 11, AC 10
  • Fast Break Points: WAT 8, AC 0
  • Bench Points: WAT 17, AC 6
  • Turnovers: WAT 5, AC 9

KEY PERFORMERS

  • WAT – Kate Sears: 18 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, 5 steals
  • AC – Meredith Wike: 30 points, 12 rebounds, 1 steal
  • WAT – Chloe Wilson: 14 points, 4 rebounds, 1 block, 1 steal
  • AC – Malayah Adams: 12 points, 4 assists, 1 steal
  • WAT – Blair Haines: 10 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal
  • WAT – Kaitlyn Darner: 9 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block
  • WAT – Julie Matheson: 9 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists

 

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