AJ-T Sports Live From... HOLMES CONVOCATION CENTER

It's time for part two of our Appalachian Football/Basketball doubleheader as the Appalachian State Mountaineers men's basketball team hosts the Camels of Campbell University. Appalachian is 1-2 on the season, while Campbell is 2-2 on the year.

The Mountaineers have had a week to prepare for the Camels after falling 95-80 at Niagara last Saturday. Donald Sims netted 20 points in last week's loss, and this afternoon's game features the second-highest combined scoring average among all 122 Division 1 games played today across the NCAA at 171.8 combined points per game.

Kellen Brand leads the Mountaineers with a 19.3 ppg scoring average, while Isaac Butts averages 10.3 rpg.

We'll be bringing the action throughout the contest.

5:15 PM - 14:52 left in the opening half. Appalachian opens with a 12-2 spurt to tip off the contest. Five early points from Eduardo Bermudez and four from Isaac Butts pace the Black and Gold, as the team has also dominated on the glass thus far, getting a number of second chance opportunities.

5:20 PM -- 11:57 remaining in the first half and the Mountaineers lead it 17-8. Bermudez with eight points in the early going, Kellen Brand has poured in five as well. Jonathan Rodriguez has four points for Campbell.

Back-to-back 3s by Donald Sims and Jeremi Booth force Campbell to take a 30-second T.O. 25-10 Appalachian has raced out to a strong 15-point edge. They've been quicker to the basketball and forced a number of steals and turnovers.

5:40 PM -- Under 4 minute TV timeout, Appalachian leads 32-18. Butts continues to play strong inside as the Camels have no player his size to match up in the paint. Eight points for the 6'10", 285 pound center to match Bermudez for team lead thus far.

5:50 PM - 38-24 Appalachian leads at halftime. Butts leads the Apps in scoring with 10 points go to with 7 rebounds, with nine points from Bermudez, 5 from Brand, 4 by Booth, 3 points apiece from Wright and Sims, with a pair of points by Williamson, and a point each by Hunter and Webb.

Jonathan Rodriguez leads the Camels with 11 points, with three points by Jabril Bailey, and three players with two points each.

6:20 pm -- The Mountaineers are up 42-30 with 15:41 remaining in the game. App has used some 2-3 zone defense and the Camels have not been able to score from the perimeter with any sort of consistency.

6:30 PM -- Appalachian continues to maintain its double-digit lead at 49-35. ASU held a 27-15 rebounding advantage at halftime and continue to maintain that edge, as second-chance points has helped the team to keep its lead to this point.

Just over 8 minutes remain in the contest and a Campbell 13-7 run has cut the lead to 8 points at 56-48. The margin is the closest the team has come in the second half. Eduardo Bermudez has not been a presence at all in this second half, possibly due to an injury. More information as it becomes available.

6:50 PM -- 63-54 ASU and Campbell asks for timeout. Bermudez had been out an extended period due to a third foul picked up early in the second half. He re-entered the game and has two points on free throws in the half. Isaac Butts also picked up his fourth foul at the 7:00 mark. It will be interesting to see when Coach Fancher decides to bring his big man back into the game.

Final official time out of the contest at 3:56 in the game. Appalachian leads 68-60 as they have not been able to extend the lead. Rodrigues has paced the Campbell team with 22 points in the game.

ASU timeout with 2:10 remaining has the Apps leading 74-64.

7:10 PM -- ASU goes 2 for 2 on the day with a win over Campbell. Final Score: 79-66. App evens its record at 2-2 on the season.

Avery Journal-Times Sports LIVE FROM... Kidd-Brewer Stadium

We're here at ASU for a doubleheader of sports action as the ASU football and basketball teams are in action today.

First off, it's the Mountaineer football squad hosting South Carolina State. We'll be blogging all day from Boone with the latest from the game.
12:10 - App. had the opening possession of the game and drove inside the SCSU 5-yard line, but a fumble turned the ball over to the Bulldogs. SCSU's first pass play was picked off by Mark LeGree to give the Mountaineers the ball at the Bulldogs 45 yard line.

Just 2 plays after getting the ball back, an ill-advised Armanti Edwards pass off balance and off his back foot was intercepted by SCSU to give the Bulldogs their second possession of the game via turnover.

The Bulldogs are able to capitalize on the second gaffe with a 50 yard scoring drive, capped by a touchdown pass of 13 yards to Octavus Darby, putting the Bulldogs on the board first. With 6:29 left in the first period, the Bulldogs are up 7-0 over ASU.

The Mountaineers answer quickly with a 73-yard drive, culminating with a 6-yard passing strike from QB Armanti Edwards to tight end Ben Jorden. The PAT ties it at 7-7 with 3:28 left in the first period.

App forces a SCSU punt on its ensuing drive, giving the Mountaineers back at its own 12. The Mountaineers run two plays for 23 yards to close out the first period. Game tied 7-7. The Apps get inside the Bulldog 10-yard line, but the SCSU defense holds, forcing ASU to settle for a 26-yard Jason Vitaris field goal. 12:44 to go in the half, ASU leads 10-7.

SCSU takes advantage of beginning a drive at its 40 yard line to move 60 yards for a go-ahead touchdown. A 16-yard pass from Long to Darby puts the Bulldogs up 14-10 with just over 8 minutes left in the half.

1:20 PM - The Mountaineers get back on the board to re-take the lead. The teams exchanged punts, then the Apps drove a short field, capping a drive with a 27-yard Edwards TD pass to CoCo Hillary, giving ASU the lead again at 17-14 in this back-and-forth affair. 2:28 left before intermission.

SCSU is held to a three-and-out, with the Mountaineer offense back on the field. Two plays later, Edwards is picked off for the second time in the half. SCSU takes over just inside ASU territory with under two minutes left. A last second heave to the end zone falls incomplete, ending the half with the Mountaineers leading 17-14. Looks like an exciting second half to come.

2:00 PM - Appalachian holds SCSU to a three and out, then scores with its first series on a one-yard run by Edwards, set up by a long pass play. Appalachian leads 24-14 with 8:42 left in the third quarter.

2:20 PM - The Bulldogs drive into ASU territory, but attempt a fourth down conversion pass that falls incomplete, giving the Mountaineers back the football at its own 40 yard line. 4:33 remains in the third quarter with the Mountaineers still leading by 10.

The Mountaineers were held and forced to punt, but Neil Young was unable to get a punt away on a blocked punt. SCSU takes over inside the ASU 15, where the Bulldogs convert with a touchdown run on the very next play. The PAT cuts the lead back to a field goal at 24-21 with 3:34 left in the third quarter. The game has tightened as the rain steadily falls on the stadium.

2:35 PM - Three quarters in the books. ASU 24 SCSU 21 as the game goes into its final 12 minutes with SCSU holding possession at its own 35 yard line.

SCSU is forced to punt, but ASU can't move the football either and kicks it back to the Bulldogs with 13:07 remaining.

Following an exchange of punts the Mountaineers get a huge third down conversion deep in its own territory on a scramble by Edwards who found TJ Courman to move the chains. The play sparked the Black and Gold, as they marched downfield with the running of Robert Welton and a pair of passes. Edwards found Quick for a touchdown pass on third and goal to add to the ASU lead, making the score 31-21 with 7:21 left in the contest.

On SCSU's ensuing possession, a fumble was caused by the App defense, and Jacque Roman fell on the football to give the Mountaineer offense the ball at the Bulldogs 30 yard line. App moved the football inside the 10, but the Bulldogs defense stiffened, forcing ASU to settle for a field goal attempt. ASU tried to fake the attempt with the holder flipping the football to kicker Vitaris, but he was unable to run for the first down yardage, giving the football back to SCSU at its own 8 yard line. 5:14 remains in the contest with ASU leading 31-21.

3:10 PM - South Carolina State moves the football inside ASU territory, but the defense holds SCSU to three straight incompletions to turn the ball over on downs with 1:40 to go. Appalachian picks up a pair of first downs to drive to the SCSU 40 yard line. Appalachian runs the football to force SCSU to use timeouts to stop the clock, but the game is effectively over as the Mountaineers will move on to take on the winner of today's Eastern Kentucky/Richmod game. That contest will be next weekend at Kidd Brewer Stadium.

Following the timeout Edwards finds Brian Quick for a 30-yard touchdown pass with 4.7 seconds remaining. A celebration penalty forced the Apps to kick an extra point from the 25-yard line, but the insurance has been provided as the Mountaineers put an exclamation point on a hard-fought 37-21 win.

After a short intermission, we'll be back on the Blog for coverage of this afternoon's basketball game between Appalachian State and Campbell from the Holmes Center.

BASKETBALL GAMES AT WATAUGA POSTPONED

This evening's scheduled basketball games at Watauga have been postponed due to inclement weather.

The game will be made up as part of a schedule change for the week of December 15-19. Changes to the current schedule are as follows:

Monday, December 15th: Watauga at Avery (previously scheduled for 12/16)
Wednesday, December 17th: Avery at Watauga (make-up of 11/25 ppd. game)
Friday, December 19th: Patton at Avery (as previously scheduled)

Middle School Basketball Roundup

The Cranberry Middle School Boys and Girls both had a tough week as both squads lost their two games against Harris and East Yancey. On Monday, the Wildcats traveled to Harris and the girls squad lost 35-27, while the boys team lost a nail biter 22-21. Thursday evening saw Cranberry host the East Yancey Panthers. The Wildcats lost their second close game as they fell 26-23, while the Lady Wildcats lost 43-15.

The Cranberry girls started the week at Harris, and Kristen Burleson started the game off strong as she scored four of Cranberry’s six first quarter points as they trailed 9-6 at the end of the first quarter. The Lady Wildcats held their own in the second quarter as Dani Carpenter and MaKenzi Hayes both hit key shots. CMS trailed 17-15 entering the third quarter. Burleson once again rose to the occasion as she hit a key 3-pointer and added another bucket. Kota Turbyfill also added two points to keep the Lady Wildcats within striking distance.

However, they could not pull closer as Harris took the victory with a final of 35-27. Burleson led the way for Cranberry with 12 points, while Turbyfill added five points. Katie Rigdon scored four points, while Brittany Clawson, Hayes, and Carpenter each had two points apiece.

On Thursday, the Lady Wildcats fought hard, but the East Yancey Lady Panthers came out on top for the 43-15 victory. Burleson and Rigdon led the Lady Wildcats with six points, while Carpenter added two points and Destiny Pryor chipped in a point.

In boys action, Cranberry started the week off with a strong showing at Harris. Shea Buchanan and Stetson Stafford each scored two points in the opening quarter as CMS trailed 4-7 at the end of the first. In the second quarter, Bryce Pittman scored four points as the Wildcats closed the gap and tied the game at 12 right before halftime.

Pittman continued his hot streak as he scored all six of the Wildcats points in the third quarter. Cranberry held Harris without a point in the fourth quarter, but came up short one point shy of the victory as Harris held on and won 22-21. Pittman was the leading scorer for Cranberry as he had 11 points. Buchanan added six points, and Stafford scored four points for the Wildcats.

Cranberry found itself in another tight game on Thursday night as they hosted East Yancey. The Wildcats jumped out quickly for a 5-4 lead at the end of the first quarter. In the second frame, Pittman scored three points while Buchanan chipped in two points, and Alex Manger nailed a 3-pointer to put the Wildcats on top at the half 13-8.

The Panthers managed to hold the Wildcats to four points in the third frame as they chipped the CMS lead down to 17-15. The fourth quarter saw both teams trade the lead in the final minutes; however East Yancey came out on top 26-23.

Pittman led the way for the Wildcats with seven points, and Buchanan added six points. Chandler Austin and Ben Turbyfill scored three points apiece, while Stafford added one point.

Last week, the Avery Middle School Panthers traveled to East Yancey and hosted Bowman. The Lady Panthers swept their games as they won 42-38 over East Yancey and 51-15 over Bowman. The Panthers fell to East Yancey on Monday 31-15, and held on to a 33-30 victory over Bowman.

On Monday, the Lady Panthers traveled to East Yancey, and came home with a 42-38 victory. The Lady Panthers received four points apiece from Lauren Burleson and Megan Dellinger, but trailed by two points entering the second quarter .Kelsey Clarke sparked the Lady Panthers as she hit two 3-pointers in the second quarter, and Brooke Rhodes added four points as Avery Middle pulled within one point at the break.

The third quarter saw the Lady Panthers outscore East Yancey nine to seven, allowing AMS to take a lead into the final period. Sela Pittman scored six points in the fourth to help preserve the Lady Panther victory. Dellinger led the way with 12 points, while Clarke added ten points for the Lady Panthers. Rhodes scored eight points, and Burleson and Pittman added six points.

On Thursday, it was all Avery Middle from the start as they cruised to a 51-15 victory over Bowman. At the end of first quarter, AMS was up 11-1 after starting the game on a 9-0 run, and did not look back the rest of the contest. Ten Lady Panthers scored points during the contest, and was led by Rhodes’ 11 points. Clarke added nine points, while Dellinger tossed in six points. Abigail Vance and Heaton scored five apiece, and Paige Henderson and Burleson scored four points apiece. Pitman added three points while Ginny Leaman and Savannah Perry collected two points apiece.

In boys’ action, the Avery Middle Panthers came up short at East Yancey 31-15. The Panthers hung on tough, but could not keep up in the second half. Chance Watson scored five points, and Dalton Cook added four points. Jordan McClellan, Chase Buchanan, and Rob Wood all scored two points apiece.

The Panthers hosted Bowman on Thursday, and got a much needed victory. Wood scored three points, while Watson and Buchanan added two points apiece to give the Panthers a 7-5 lead at the end of the first quarter. The second quarter belonged to Bowman as they roared back and took a two point lead into the locker room at the half. The Panthers outscored Bowman 9-4 in the third quarter, and that gave AMS a three point edge entering the final quarter. Buchanan rose to the occasion as he scored seven points int eh final six minutes for the Panthers to help preserve the three point victory.

Buchanan led the way for the Panthers with 14 points. Watson had nine points on the night, as Wood scored eight points. Cook also scored two points for AMS.

Manis to Lead Avery Men's Varsity Basketball in 2008-09

The Avery men’s varsity basketball team is looking to improve off a three-win effort in 2007-08. With a number of younger players, including three freshmen used on the varsity roster a season ago, a team returns that is hungry for success.

Taking the reins as head coach this season is Bo Manis. Manis has coached the junior varsity team the past several seasons and succeeds veteran head coach Art Williamson on the bench.
Coach Manis recently sat down with the Avery Journal-Times for a one-on-one interview to discuss the upcoming season.

AJ-T: Coach, you’ve had to split your duties between coaching both football and basketball as they overlap at this time of the year. How have practices gone with having a number of potential players still on the football field and unable to get on the basketball court?

Manis: We’ve been working hard and I’m pleased to have as many players out as we have right now. Basically at this point we’re doing a lot of running and conditioning. We have to because we’re small in size and we’ll have to rely a lot on our defense. We’re doing a lot of running to get in shape. We’ll hopefully be ready physically and mentally for our first game. Everything’s going well, and I couldn’t be happier with these kids.

AJ-T: Expectations change from year to year, and the team was only able to get three wins last season. What are some expectations that you have for your team, and things you hope your team can accomplish on the court this year?

Manis: What I hope first is that we work hard. I preach that when you work hard, good things will happen. I can’t really go into discussing numbers of wins or losses because my expectation for each player is to be a better person and someone of character as they continue to grow.

AJ-T: You had the opportunity to coach most of the players this season when they were junior varsity players. Does prior experience and familiarity with your players offer any sort of advantage?

Manis: I think so, because they know where I stand as far as discipline and what I expect from them. They know I want them in shape and they know what I want to run on the court, and they also know how I approach the game. That gives them a head start as players and gives me the same as their coach.

AJ-T: From your point-of-view, does it take some time to get the team to jell together as you have the football players coming in a few practices after the other players who have already been in the gym? How long do you feel it will take those players coming off the football field to adjust to playing basketball?

Manis: It takes some a longer period of time than others. I can remember when I played and making the transition. For some it may take a few days, while others make take a few weeks. It takes different muscles to use in your legs for basketball versus football. Where basketball is constant running, football is run hard, and then stop and you do that over and over. For the guys who are in shape, it won’t affect them greatly. For the football players it may take them a couple of days, but for those players who have played for me, they’ll know what I expect and what they will need to do to get ready to play.

AJ-T: Who do you have helping you on the bench as a staff of assistants, and what do they bring in helping this year’s team?

Manis: Reggie Oakes is helping me as my assistant. I couldn’t ask for anyone better. He has a great basketball background, and we’re also on the same page as far as discipline and conditioning goes. He’s great to work with and he’s helping me tremendously. Reggie has been involved with the players through the Avery Middle School program.

Kent Hayes is also helping as my assistant. He has been coaching players with the Cranberry Middle School program. They both help me as a coach to understand the players better as far as what each player can and cannot do.

These players come from the middle schools and play together as the Avery High School team, and I want the team to understand that they play for each other. Both Reggie and Kent are great to work with and they have great enthusiasm to work with the players and for the game of basketball.

Quest For Four: Apps Set to Host SC State in First Round of FCS Playoffs

Courtesy of Appalachian State Sports Information

Appalachian State University has been tabbed as the No. 2 seed in the 16-team NCAA Division I Football Championship and will begin its drive for a fourth-straight national title versus South Carolina State on Saturday at Kidd Brewer Stadium. Kickoff is slated for noon and the contest will be televised nationally on ESPNU.

Like Appalachian, SC State, out of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, posted an overall record of 10-2 in the regular season and earned its conference’s automatic postseason berth with perfect 8-0 league record. SCSU’s only losses came at the hands of FBS foes Central Florida and Clemson.The Bulldogs are led by running back William Ford, who led the MEAC and ranks 12th nationally with 1,382 rushing yards on the season.

Defensively, they rank among the nation’s top six in total defense, scoring defense, passing defense, tackles for loss and sacks. The matchup is only the second ever played between the two schools separated by just 228 miles. In their only other meeting, ASU thumped visiting SC State, 24-0, on Nov. 17, 1984.

Thanks to the No. 2 seed, the Mountaineers will play at home for as long as they’re still standing through the first three rounds of the playoffs. The national-title game is set for Friday, Dec. 19 in Chattanooga, Tenn. The Apps have won a 12-consecutive postseason games, including nine in a row at home, en route to their three-straight national titles and have won 41 of their last 42 at home overall.

Tickets are available online now by clicking here and can also be purchased in person at the ASU athletics ticket office in the Holmes Center or by phone at (828) 262-2079 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Wednesday and Friday of this week. Tickets cost $25 for adults, $15 for children ages 3-12 and $5 for currently enrolled ASU students.

NOTE: Saturday’s ASU men’s basketball game versus Campbell at the Holmes Center will tip off at 5 p.m. in order to enable fans to attend both events while on campus that afternoon.