By David Rogers. WEST JEFFERSON, N.C. — Talk about “finishing,” this time the Watauga men’s basketball team hammered Alexander Central, 71-47, in the Northwestern Conference tournament semifinal — and maybe even polished off the nail in the proverbial coffin.
Watauga head coach Bryson Payne tells his players to ‘finish’ at the start of the fourth quarter vs. Alexander Central on Feb. 18. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Early in the 2024-25 season, the Watauga men’s basketball team had a hard time “finishing” the game. They had second half leads suddenly evaporate into losses against South Caldwell and Alexander Central in the Pioneers’ first two Northwestern Conference games. In Hudson, the Spartans dumped Watauga, 76-64. In Taylorsville, the Cougars rallied from a 7-point deficit with five minutes to go to edge the Pioneers, 68-65.
Fast forward to the regular season’s end. It turns out, those were the only two conference losses suffered by Watauga. In the rematches at Lentz Eggers Gym, Watauga pummeled South Caldwell, 80-61, on Jan. 31. Less than a week later, on Feb. 4, the Pioneers upended Alexander Central, 55-43.
Landon Smith (12) makes a shot at close range for Watauga vs. Alexander Central on Feb. 18, in the semifinals of the Northwestern Conference tournament. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
So, with the Pioneers holding a 53-33 lead at the start of the fourth quarter, when Watauga head coach Bryson Payne implored his troops to “finish,” that is exactly what they did. Inspired by a rousing 3-pointer from Jackson Love and consecutive driving layups in transition by Josiah Railey, Watauga erased all thoughts of anything else save victory.
Railey finished with a team-high 23 points, one shy of the game-high posted by Alexander Central’s one-man show, Jayon Connor (24 points). Also in double figures for the Pioneers were Cade Keller (12) and Love (11). The rest of Watauga’s points were spread pretty evenly among Landon Smith and Eli Bishop, each with seven points off the bench, and strong inside play from starting forward Jace Blocker (6).
Watauga’s Josiah Railey finishes with a fastbreak layup on Feb. 18 vs. Alexander Central in the semifinals of the Northwestern Conference tournament. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
The win now sets up the NWC tourney championship game encounter with Freedom on Feb. 21, also to be hosted by Ashe County, with an 8 p.m. scheduled tipoff. The Patriots advanced with a 75-68 win over South Caldwell in the other semifinal pairing on Feb. 18.
Freedom brings a respectable 19-6 overall record into the Feb. 21 matchup, 8-3 in conference. They lost once to South Caldwell and two close games against Watauga, so the Patriots will be gunning to upset the Pioneers’ Cinderella season in the third encounter. They lost to Watauga, 77-70, on the road, and were edged, 72-69, on their home court in Morganton. Will a neutral venue be a difference maker?
Cade Keller (10) shot from inside and out on Feb. 18 in the Northwestern Conference semifinals vs. Alexander Central. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
KEY PERFORMERS of WATAUGA VS. ALEXANDER CENTRAL
AC – Jayon Connor: 24 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists
By David Rogers. WEST JEFFERSON, N.C. — Shrugging off 14 turnovers that included eight opponent steals, the Watauga women’s basketball team waltzed to a dominant, 75-52 win over Alexander Central on Feb. 18, in the semifinals of the 3A/4A Northwestern Conference Basketball Championships, hosted in 2025 by the Ashe County Huskies athletic program.
With the win, the Pioneers advance to the championship final on Friday, Feb. 21, also in West Jefferson, with tipoff vs. the other semifinal winner, South Caldwell, at 6:30 p.m.
Watauga senior Julie Matheson (1) lets fly a 3-pointer on Feb. 18 vs. Alexander Central in the Northwestern Conference tournament semifinal. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Watauga used a 13-4 opening run to gain separation from the Cougars and never looked back. As a team, the Pioneers were hot, hot, hot in burning the net on the offensive end — and disruptive on the defensive end of the court.
A quartet of Pioneers led the team to a 54.2 percent success rate from behind the 3-point arc. Starting guards Julie Matheson, Izzy Torgerson, Blair Haines and Kate Sears combined to knock down 13 treys, accounting for over half of the team’s total points on the night.
Watauga sophomore Blair Haines drives baseline vs. Alexander Central on Feb. 18, in the Northwestern Conference tournament semifinal. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
As impactful as the Pioneers’ aim from long distance might have been, this game was also won in the trenches. Led by Sears (14 rebounds), Chloe Wilson (6) and Shelby Thompson (5), Watauga nearly doubled up the Cougars in clearing the boards on both ends of the court, pulling down 40 errant shots vs. 24 rebounds by the Alexander Central hoopsters. Eleven offensive boards by the Pioneers led to a 10-4 advantage in second chance points and contributed to a 22-14 edge in points scored inside the paint.
“When we are shooting that well,” said Watauga head coach Bill Torgerson after the game, “it is hard to beat us.”
As Pioneer fans have come to expect, Sears recorded yet another triple double on the night, with 32 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists. For good measure, she added a blocked shot to her impressive stat line.
Watauga senior Kate Sears is looking to drive the lane vs. Alexander Central on Feb. 18, in the semifinal of the Northwestern Conference tournament. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
The Pioneers also got double-digit scoring from Matheson (18) and Torgerson (11).
The Feb. 21 championship game between No. 1 seeded Watauga and No. 2 seed South Caldwell sets up a potentially dynamic rematch. On Jan. 9 in Hudson, the Pioneers all but dismantled the Spartans in front of their home crowd, 74-55. But South Caldwell returned the favor on Jan. 31, taking a 93-91, double overtime win on a buzzer-beater 3-pointer off the hands of freshman guard Ava Anderson.
South Caldwell advanced to the final with a 64-54 win over Freedom in the second women’s semifinal on Feb. 18. Anderson again led the team with 18 points, but was just one of a Spartan quartet to reach double figures on the night. Fellow backcourt freshman Maggie Wilks poured in 15 points while sophomore Holland Weisner and senior Kristin Barber each added 11 points.
It would be an understatement to say that the upcoming women’s championship game could be the must-see ticket of the year in high school women’s basketball, at least in the High Country.
Kate Sears (12) goes up for two vs. Alexander Central in the Northwestern Conference semifinal on Feb. 18. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
KEY PERFORMERS in WATAUGA VS. ALEXANDER CENTRAL
WAT – Kate Sears: 32 points, 14 rebounds, 10 assists, 1 blocked shot
By David Rogers. BLOWING ROCK, N.C. — It started with a Bill Wilson dream and came to reality with Jim Walters’ persistence, some divine intervention and the work of a community of communities.
Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church dedicated the installation of two frescoes by Ben Long in its newly completed Gathering Space on Feb. 16. Testimony to the significance of the event: the large crowd packing the sanctuary for the worship service — and everyone remained to file into the Gathering Space for the ceremonial blessing.
The newly installed frescoes by Ben Long, based on the Bible’s Psalm 23, were officially celebrated on Feb. 16 at Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church. Photographic images by David Rogers for Blowing Rock News
“We are calling them our Fresco Ministry,” explained Pastor Kathy Beach in an interview with Blowing Rock News before the worship service, “as part of our outreach efforts. Our hope is that the frescoes will connect with people who might not come to worship service but when they enter the church to see the frescoes they will encounter the biblical art and engage with the biblical stories. So we really feel this is an outreach beyond the walls of the church. Some estimates (suggest) tens of thousands of people may come through these doors who might never come otherwise. So this extends and expands our ministry.”
They almost painted over them.
Beach suggested it was fortuitous that the frescoes, purchased from a closed hospice facility in Mt. Pleasant, S.C., became available at a time when the church was in the middle of extensive renovations.
“Had we not been going through the renovations,” said Beach, “we would not have been able to receive the frescoes because we wouldn’t have had a place to put them. We didn’t have any big walls. While the timing was not completely perfect, it is remarkable that we were planning on knocking out walls and creating this huge Gathering Space. Three years ago there was no place to put them on our campus. It all fit in really nicely with everything else that is growing and expanding in the church’s life.”
Both of the fresco subjects are derived from Psalm 23, arguably the most popular of the Psalms.
Rumple worship service on Feb. 16, to /bless’ and celebrate the newly acquired Ben Long fresoes. Photo by David Rogers for Blowing Rock News
During her worship service sermon outlining the Fresco Ministry, Beach recalled that a congregation member, Bill Wilson, had approached the church leadership about a dream he had of Rumple having a Ben Long fresco.
“It was October 2021 and Bill shared his dream with Alice Salthouse, a co-chair for the ongoing capital campaign. The dream had woken him up in the middle of the night. Rumple, he told Alice, should have a Ben Long fresco. It could be added to the capital campaign,” Beach recalled.
“Alice shared the idea with her co-chair, Cullie Tarleton and me,” Beach added. “We took the proposal to the capital campaign committee but ultimately it was decided that the campaign was too far along and another huge and expensive element would be difficult to add,” said Beach.
So the idea was rejected. Beach explained that the Holy Spirit was nonetheless still at work. Only three months later, in January 2022, the Rumple pastor said she received a phone call from a complete stranger, Jim Walters.
“Jim said he was calling to talk with about Rumple obtaining two Ben Long frescoes. I remember catching my breath. I could not believe what I was hearing. Jim told me the story about these two frescoes tucked away in an old hospice chapel, in Mt. Pleasant and they could likely need a new home. Would Rumple be interested?”
Beach called in Salthouse and Tarleton to meet with Walters about the possibility of moving these frescoes to Rumple where, Jim suggested, they would be close to other frescoes on what is referred to as “The Fresco Trail” in North Carolina. But these, said Jim, would be at Rumple, in Blowing Rock.
L-R: Pastor Kathy Beach, artist Ben Long and Jim Walters, whose persistence was a driving force behind Rumple’s acquisition of the frescoes and saving them from being ‘painted over’ in their original home, in Mt. Pleasant, S.C. Photo by Sherry Wilson, courtesy of Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church
‘Bucket List’ Stuff
In a separate interview, Walters told Blowing Rock News that he had a long interest in North Carolina-based Ben Long frescoes and he found all of them except two, of which nobody seemed to know where they were being housed.
“I was trying to look at all of Ben Long’s frescoes as a bucket list item,” said Walters, “but I could not find the ones in Mount Pleasant. I searched and searched and searched. After a lot of work going to the Secretary of State, the Chamber of Commerce and the Register of Deeds, I found out where they were. When I finally saw them, it occurred to me they didn’t appreciate the paintings. They were going to paint over them.”
My grandmother ran the Blowing Rock newspaper.
The artist, Ben Long, was also in attendance for the Rumple installation on Feb. 16 and confirmed Walters’ fears. He said the frescoes were commissioned in 2006 by Mabel Stowe Query, but she reportedly died in the hospice before they were completed in 2009. As the hospice business failed, went through numerous name changes as well as changes in ownership, the Ben Long frescoes were all but forgotten.
“It is kind of interesting,” said Long. “When they sold the hospice in Mount Pleasant, (the new owners) didn’t know what they were so they almost painted over them. But, thankfully, somebody figured it out.”
Thanks to Walters, the new owners not only realized what they had but also were presented with an opportunity to save the frescoes.
With Beach and the rest of the Rumple church leadership now on board with the idea of bringing them to Blowing Rock, realization of the project’s completion gained momentum. In an April 2024 presentation at Blowing Rock Art & History Museum focused on Ben Long frescoes, Walters explained that Tarleton did an exceptional job of negotiating a fair price for Rumple to pay for the art, then arrangements were made to dismantle the pieces from their wall mounts.
“A welder had to lay down on the floor underneath the murals and use an acetylene torch to cut away the brackets on the wall that were holding them,” recalled Walters, in describing the process to Blowing Rock News. “For the transport company, I estimated the larger one would be 1,000 pounds. They got to the location and had to bring back different equipment. It weighed closer to 3,000 pounds.”
A “Fresco Update” from early 2024 includes how the frescoes were dismantled in Mount Pleasant, S.C. and prepared for transport to storage in Charlotte.
After transporting the frescoes to Charlotte where they were stored for almost two years, the art was brought up to Blowing Rock and carefully inserted through openings in the walls of the new, yet unfinished Gathering Space, using a massive crane.
After the transfer and installation was complete, it was just a matter of finishing the renovations of the Gathering Space, as well as putting the finishing touches of the frescoes by Long and associate artist, Roger Nelson.
It is a miracle and God’s hand is surely in the middle of it.
“It is the 23rd Psalm,” said Tarleton, “because it was originally for a hospice center and Ben wanted the patients there to go into the chapel and take comfort in visually seeing the 23rd Psalm. The large one has more visual elements of the 23rd Psalm. The smaller one is the Good Shepherd, also relating to the 23rd Psalm. ‘The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want.’ That is the core of the Psalm and Ben shared his interpretation of those verses.”
Tarleton admitted that taking possession of the frescoes was a challenge given the context of the renovations.
“We went down to Mount Pleasant in the fall of 2022 and removed them from the wall down there, then moved them into storage in Charlotte,” Tarleton recalled. “It was my expectation that we would surely have them installed at the church within a year, but a year came and passed. We were coming out of COVID-19, but anytime you get into construction, remodeling and restoration, it always takes longer that you expect. So we finally got them here in November of 2024 and have been planning this day ever since.”
Tarleton related how the acquisition of the frescoes was embraced by Rumple’s leadership and, ultimately, the broader congregation.
“These frescoes and our Fresco Ministry adds a new dimension to our overall ministry. It is a natural extension of our mission outreach because of the biblical focus of the 23rd Psalm, one of the most popular psalms in the Bible. Ben Long is one of the foremost fresco painters in the world, so we are doubly blessed to receive these,” added Tarleton.
For Long, having the 23rd Psalm frescoes not only saved from being painted over but finding a home in Blowing Rock is meaningful. He spent a lot of time in Blowing Rock as a child and was married here.
“I am thrilled they ended up in Blowing Rock,” said Long. “My grandmother ran the newspaper here for awhile. I have special memories of Blowing Rock.”
Bill Wilson, left, had a dream in October 2021 about Rumple Church having a Ben Long (right) fresco on the church campus. Now, Rumple has two in the Gathering Place. Photo by Sherry Wilson. courtesy of Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church
Impact beyond Rumple
The impact on the Blowing Rock community goes well beyond Rumple Church.
“This is an amazing cultural light being shined on the community,” Blowing Rock Art & History Museum executive director Stephan Dragisic said after the blessing ceremony. “While Rumple will share the (biblical) story behind the frescoes, we at the museum are shining a light on the artist and the art form. We will be doing that, always thinking the frescoes are here now and a part of our community. As this groundswell of appreciation for art and culture builds, you will witness the broader discovery of the Elliott Daingerfield piece across the street at St. Mary’s Church, of the Elliott Daingerfield studio at Edgewood Cottage, and of this museum, too. This south end of town becomes a destination within the larger destination (of Blowing Rock.”
It is not lost on civic leaders that the frescoes will have a significant impact on that “larger destination,” Blowing Rock, generally.
“These frescoes certainly add to the inventory of assets that we have in town which reflect on the culture and history here,” said Blowing Rock Tourism Development Authority executive director Tracy Brown. “It is great to see Ben Long out and about. Just his coming to town creates a lot of buzz. This should end up being a win-win for the town as well as the church and I look forward to seeing how the public access is achieved.”
Plans for ongoing public access have not yet been completed but are underway, Rumple elder Alice Salthouse explained to Blowing Rock News in a phone interview.
“We have a good number of volunteers and docents, to help guide visitors and answer questions,” said Salthouse. “We have to coordinate the schedules of the volunteers as well as the schedules of the church staff. These plans should be completed soon. I am so excited that we have been able to pull this together. In some ways, it is a miracle and God’s hand was surely in the middle of it.”
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — There was plenty of love in Lentz Eggers Gym on Feb. 14 for the last regular season game of Watauga men’s basketball. Not only was it Valentine’s Day but it was also Senior Night — and grandstands were packed for the rivalry game between the Pioneers and the Ashe County Huskies. There were plenty of smiles to go around as Watauga left little doubt in forging a 70-43 win.
Maddox Greene is celebrated by fellow students in player introductions for the final regular season game, vs. Ashe County on Feb. 14. Photo by Jared Everett for High Country Sports
A quintet of Pioneer seniors took the floor in the opening period and battled the Huskies to a 13-13 draw by the end of the quarter, the seniors playing most of the eight minutes. As the regular starters began to rotate in, Watauga began to flex their offensive muscles, jumping out to a 33-25 lead by halftime. The team’s leading scorer, junior point guard-shooting guard Cade Keller poured in half of his game-high 24 points in the second quarter to drive the Pioneers’ separation.
The Huskies’ Trent Sheets tried to keep it close for the home team with 13 points in the first half but had little in the way of help other than 8 points from Ian Graybeal. By comparison, Watauga’s first half may have featured Keller’s 14, but the Pioneers also got key contributions from Maddox Greene, Jackson Love, Josiah Railey and Jace Blocker.
Whatever hopes Ashe County harbored for forging a second half comeback were quickly dashed by defensive adjustments made by the Pioneers during intermission. Watauga tightened the screws and extended their lead even with liberal substitutions. They used a 21-8 third quarter run to take a 54-33 lead to begin the final stanza, then stayed consistent with a 16-10 run in the final 8 minutes.
For the game, 10 Pioneers got on the scoreboard, led by their usual scoring leaders Keller (24 points) and Railey (15). Scoring opportunities were bolstered by Blocker pulling down six of his game-high nine rebounds on the offensive end, providing second chances for a number of teammates.
L-R: Josiah Railey, Maddox Greene, Landon Smith, Paul Taylor, Seth Greene, and JT Cook on Senior Night, Feb. 14, 2025. Photo by Jared Everett for High Country Sports
Taking advantage of his most minutes in a game this season, senior JT Cook only scored two points but still had a significant impact in corralling 8 rebounds.
Senior J T Cook took full advantage of his minutes on the floor, Feb. 14, vs. Ashe County, pulling down 8 rebounds. Photo by Jared Everett for High Country Sports
With the win, Watauga secures the No. 1 seed and a first round bye in the Northwestern Conference tournament. First round games are Monday, Feb. 17, hosted by the higher seed. Watauga will host the winner of the No. 4 vs. No. 5 seed game in the first round. The other first round bye goes to No. 2 seeded South Caldwell. The semifinal games (round 2) will be hosted by Ashe County on Tuesday, Feb. 18, with the Championship game at the same location on Friday, Feb. 21.
Jace Blocker finishes off a monster dunk during the Feb. 14, 2025, men’s basketball game between Watauga and Ashe County. Photo by Jared Everett for High Country Sports
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Leaving little doubt as to who might be the best high school women’s basketball team in northwestern North Carolina, Watauga head coach Bill Torgerson emptied his bench and had nine rostered players make the scoring column, including all five seniors, running away from Ashe County for a 72-33 romp at Lentz Eggers Gym on Feb. 14.
Chloe Wilson (40) continues to show marked improvement in her play. Here she takes one from close in vs. Ashe County. Photo by Jared Everett for High Country Sports
It is yet another Northwestern Conference championship for the Pioneers, who will take the No. 1 seed into the conference tournament slated to begin next week.
After jumping out to a 19-11 lead by the end of the first quarter, led by 13 combined points in the quarter from Kate Sears (7 points in the quarter) and Blair Haines (6), Watauga went for a statement win. Sears finished with a game-high 26 points and Haines, 11, but the Pioneers got broad production from seven other players throughout the night. Senior forward Chloe Wilson again showed how she is growing into her basketball potential with 8 points and even more rebounds in coming off the bench.
An ‘all-state’ selection since her freshman year, Kate Sears looks to drive baseline vs. Ashe County on Feb. 14. Photo by Jared Everett for High Country Sports
Shelby Thompson came off the bench to pour in a half dozen points in the second period with back-to-back 3-pointers. Meanwhile, regular starters Julie Matheson and Izzy Torgerson may have played limited minutes, but contributed 7 points and 5 points, respectively. Little used senior Gracie Lawrence saw her first court time of the year and rewarded the team with four points in the fourth quarter to help keep the rout going.
Ashe County’s Abby Sheets did her part, scoring 25 of the team’s 33 game points. She was 11-of-11 from the free throw line and added two buckets from long distance.
As the No. 1 seed in the Northwestern Conference tourney, Watauga is likely to receive a first round bye. Watauga is also playing for a high seed in the NCHSAA 4A West Bracket of the state tournament.
In a 72-33 Watauga rout of Ashe County on Feb. 14, even the younger players double rostered from the junior varsity got to play. Here, Steph Mendez gets a taste of varsity action — and scores. Photo by Jared Everett for High Country Sports
By David Rogers. ARMAGH, N. Ireland — It was Blowing Rock “bookends” for the top five finishers in the prestigious Armagh International 5K. Three runners broke the course record, led by Blowing Rock’s Andrew Colley, a ZAP Endurance professional club member representing the USA in 13:33. ZAP Endurance teammate Ryan Ford wasn’t far behind as the No. 5 finisher, in 13:48.
Holland Sports Athletic Club team member Jack Kavanaugh picked off a dozen runners in the final mile to finish second, in 13:35, while Sebastian Larstad of IFK Lindingo (Sweden) crossed the line No. 3, in 13:36.
Young Sebastian Larstad, left, points to Andrew Colley, center, the winner of the 2025 Armagh International 5k in Armagh, Northern Ireland on Feb. 13. Colley and Ryan Ford, right, who finished No. 5, are both members of Blowing Rock-based ZAP Endurance professional running team.
Colley’s performance comes just three months after he topped the field of the iconic Manchester Road Race in Connecticut, followed by a No. 8 finish in the Houston Half Marathon, setting a ZAP Endurance club record in the process.
Larstad, only 16 years of age, took to the lead right from the get-go in Armagh, leading a pack of 10 runners in gaining separation from the field by the halfway point. Event organizers after the race believed that Larstad’s 13:36 was close to a world record for a 16-and-under athlete, comparing him to Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen, now a few years older..
Colley flirted with taking the lead with 1,000 meters to go, drawing side-by-side with Larstad, then tucked back in behind the young runner from Sweden.
At 600 meters to go, however, Colley put the proverbial pedal to the floor and rocked to the front, slowly extending the lead as Kavanaugh came from well behind to overtake the other leaders.
Nearly 80 percent of the approximately 300 athletes competing in the Armagh Men’s International 5k meter Road Race are from off the island of Ireland, according to event organizers. This year, 22 entrants had already run a sub-14 minute 5k time so a fast, competitive race was expected. It did not disappoint, as nearly two dozen runners finished under 14 minutes this year, a new event record, said the organizers.
By David Rogers. CONWAY, S.C. — App State shrugged off an early defensive battle with Coastal Carolina on Feb. 13 — and leveraged a 23-7 run over the final 11 minutes to record a fourth straight win, defeating the Chanticleers, 64-46.
Senior guard Myles Tate and graduate forward CJ Huntley continued to lead the Mountaineers, each scoring 17 points to claim a share of game-high honors. Tate recorded a double-double with 10 rebounds (another game-high), while Huntley cleaned the boards for 8 rebounds. Luke Wilson (8 points, 6 rebounds, 2 blocked shots) and Jalil Beaubrun (3 points, 6 rebounds, 1 blocked shot) led the Mountaineers coming off the bench.
Conference Tournament Ramifications
The win keeps the Mountaineers locked in a 4-way tie for the coveted No. 2 spot in the Sun Belt Conference standings with South Alabama, Troy and James Madison, all at 9-4 in league play. Arkansas State has sole possession of No. 1, at 10-3. After regular season play, the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds are rewarded with byes into the semifinals of the conference tournament slated for Pensacola, Fla., March 4-10. The No. 3 and No. 4 seeds receive byes into the quarterfinals, so a lot is at stake for the remaining conference games in February. App State is at Georgia State on Feb. 15, returns home on Feb. 20 to host Georgia Southern, then stays at home to face Marshall on Feb. 22. The Mountaineers travel to Statesboro, Ga. on Feb. 25 in a rematch game vs. Georgia Southern and close out the regular season on the road, at Marshall, Feb. 28.
By Katherine Jamtgaard. HARRISONBURG, Va. — The App State women’s basketball team fell short to James Madison, 77-61, on the road on Thursday.
“JMU really controlled this game tonight. We had a slow start offensively and it seemed to suck the life out of us,” said head coach Alaura Sharp. “Their defense was really packed in and they have great length. It’s important for our team to learn how to break down a defense like that. I thought we had some good moments as a group but consistency is key when playing a great team like (JMU).”
For a fourth game this season, senior Mara Neira led the Mountaineers, netting 18 points and draining four of App State’s eight treys. Junior Emily Hege netted 11 points and knocked down two 3-point buckets for the Mountaineers. App State’s top rebounder on the night was senior Emily Carver (8 rebounds). Senior Eleyana Tafisi dished out a team-high seven assists and made a team-high seven steals. App State netted 31 points off the bench and 11 second chance points. The Mountaineers also held the Dukes to five treys and four second chance points.
James Madison led early in the first quarter and maintained the lead through the duration of play. A jumper from Hege put the Mountaineers on the board to cut JMU’s lead to 5-2. Neira got around the defense for a layup and later drained a trey for the Black and Gold, but it wasn’t enough as JMU took a 15-7 lead at the close of the quarter.
Senior Zada Porter opened the second quarter with a three-point play. Carver and fellow senior Samantha LaFon, who netted a season-high eight points on the night, combined for nine of App State’s 15 points in the quarter. Carver drained a trey and LaFon got to the hoop for a pair of layups to cut into JMU’s 27-17 lead. Despite a trey from Neira and a Carver layup, the Dukes took a 36-22 lead into halftime.
Early in the third quarter, Hege went on a 7-0 run of her own, knocking down back-to-back treys as well as an and one free throw. The Mountaineers went on an 8-0 run over 1:08 as Tafisi completed a three-point play, Neira made a layup, and Pericic drilled a trey. Junior Rylan Moffitt landed a jumper and Carver completed her own three-point play to chip away at the deficit (53-42). Despite trailing 55-42 at the close of the quarter, App State never turned the ball over and caused six JMU turnovers during the period.
Hege opened the fourth quarter with a jumper before the Dukes extended the deficit. Neira and LaFon combined for 12 of App State’s points in the quarter. The Mountaineers made a late 8-0 surge over 0:28, which included a layup from LaFon and back-to-back 3-point buckets from Neira, but it wasn’t enough as JMU sealed the win, 77-61.
Up Next
The Mountaineers will head to Atlanta, Ga. for a rematch against Georgia State at 5 p.m. on Saturday. App State will return to Boone to host Marshall on Feb. 19 and James Madison on Feb. 22.
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).
By David Rogers. MORGANTON, N.C. — A trio of Pioneer seniors combined for 19 points in the fourth quarter, leading Watauga to a comeback rally and a thrilling, 58-53 win over the host Freedom Patriots on Feb. 12.
With Freedom defending home court and the Patriot faithful loudly behind them, it was a very different game than the dominating, 83-63 win by Watauga on Jan. 22 in Lentz Eggers Gym.
Freedom led by eight points at the end of the third quarter, 45-37, and seemed to be breaking things open early, jumping to an 11-point lead senior point guard Peyton Caldwell netted a 3-pointer in the opening minute of the final stanza.
But stifling defense by the Pioneers created forced shots and turnovers by the Patriots. Meanwhile, Watauga capitalized on the turnovers at the other end.
Freedom’s Caldwell, who was the only Patriot to score in the decisive fourth quarter, tallied a game-high 36 points as the Morganton girls’ offensive seemed to run through Patriot veteran.
It just wasn’t enough against the deeper Watauga roster. Matheson poured in a team-high 21 points for Watauga, with Sears adding 15 and Darner 12. Nine of Darner’s dozen points came in the fourth quarter.
Watauga (16-5 overall, 8-1 in Northwestern Conference) closes out the regular season on Feb. 14, at home vs. High Country rival, Ashe County (9-13, 0-9). With a win, the Pioneers will clinch at least a share of the conference regular season title for the fourth straight season.
KEY PERFORMERS
WAT – Julie Matheson: 21 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals
WAT – Kate Sears: 15 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, 6 steals, 2 blocked shots
