By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Led by JJ Everett’s and Mason Tate’s 12 and 11 points, respectively, the Watauga District middle school boys basketball team raced by Carolina Day School on Dec. 14, 44-29, at the Watauga Community Recreation Center.
The young Pioneers jumped out to an early lead by the end of the first quarter, 13-6, but CDC came roaring back on a 10-5 run in the second quarter to trail by just two points, 18-16. The first half ended with the visitors faced with just a four point deficit, 20-16, but things almost immediately changed as momentum shifted to the host Pioneers.
Tate hit a 3-pointer and Colby Whiteside added a couple of inside buckets in the third quarter. That opened the floodgates for Watauga in the final stanza as they played determined defense, limiting CDC to just 2 points in the fourth quarter while finding the basket for 17 points of their own.
With the win, Watauga lifts its record for the season to 6-5, with five more games remaining. Next up: the District teams play at Heritage Middle School, in Valdese, N.C. on Dec. 15, the last game before Christmas and New Year. They open the 2023 new year with the final four games, all in January and beginning at East McDowell on Jan. 5.
SCORING
- WAT JJ Everett (12)
- WAT Mason Tate (11)
- CDC Lyndon Bryan (10)
- WAT Colby Whiteside (6)
- CDC Max Dukowicz (6)
- WAT Noah Vanwerkhoven (5)
- CDC Henry Tutera (5)
- CDC Finn Francis (4)
- WAT Truett Healy (3)
- WAT Blake Bance (3)
- WAT Hunter Townsend (2)
- WAT Devan Shook (2)
- CDC Scott Deters (2)
- CDC Jaylen McArce (2)
BONUS PHOTOS
