The third time was the charm as the Avery Lady Vikings outlasted the Mitchell Lady Mountaineers 63-59 in overtime to capture the Western Highlands Conference Tournament Championship.
Laura Lacey was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player with 25 points 6 rebounds and 2 steals. Lacey scored 12 points in the second half and overtime, including the final free throw to clinch the win.
For sixth-year head coach Missy Lyons, it is her first win over the Lady Mountaineers, who trailed by as many as nine points in the second half before forcing overtime. Laken Norris scored a game-high 27 points in a losing effort, with 20 points and 12 rebounds from Samantha Blevins.
For the Lady Vikings, Kimberley Gragg tallied a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds, with 13 points from Hayley Pyatte. For a full recap and photos from Avery's championship, as well as the Lady Vikings' tournament draw for next week's NCHSAA 1A state basketball playoffs, stay tuned to the blog over the weekend.
Score by Quarters:
A- 9 20 9 16 5 - 59
M- 15 13 16 10 9 - 63
Individual Scoring: A (63) - Jennings 6, Shook 2, Ellis 1, A. Vance 5, Lacey 25, Gragg 11, Pyatte 13 M (59) - Ayers 2, Norris 27, McKinney 2, Thompson 2, Blevins 20, Peterson 6
Ladies All-WHC Tournament Team:
Brooks Walz (Hendersonville), Kourtney Burchfield (Owen), Christina Ponder (Madison), Kayla Byrd (Polk), Aly Parker (Mt. Heritage), Hayley Pyatte (Avery), Katie Ellis (Avery), Laken Norris (Mitchell), Samantha Blevins (Mitchell)
Tournament MVP - Laura Lacey (Avery)
Men's All-Tournament Team (pending outcome of final game b/w Owen and Mt. Heritage)
Kyle Cable (Avery), Thomas Buchanan (Mitchell), Josh Twitty (Polk), Stephen Clay (Hendersonville), Ryan Henderson (Madison), Cole Huskins (Mountain Heritage), Daniel Miller (Mountain Heritage), Ian McVay (Owen), Nate Torrance (Owen)
Tournament M.V.P - Joe Halverson (Owen)
