Tonight at Avery High School the Avery Lady Vikings and Mitchell Lady Mountaineers meet for a third time this season, and for the second straight season for the WHC tournament championship.
Leading up to this evening's game, we offer a brief look back at the storylines from the team's first two contests.
First Meeting (February 5 in Newland) - Mitchell took an early double-digit lead on Avery, only to see the Lady Vikings erase the deficit on two occasions. The Lady Mountaineers led by 10 at halftime only to see Avery roar back in the second half. The trio of Katie Ellis, Lauren Avery, and Allison Vance teamed for 19 points in the third quarter to cut the Mitchell lead to six going into the final period.
The teams were tied at 58 with under two minutes left in the game but Mitchell went 20 for 25 from the free throw line in the second half to maintain its advantage. Mitchell got a boost from reserve Lyndsey Jensen who hit four free throws in the final 30 seconds to ice the 65-61 Lady Mountaineer victory. Laken Norris and Autumn Thompson each scored 19 points to lead Mitchell, while four Lady Vikings reached double-figures. Katie Ellis and Lauren Avery scored 16 points each. Samantha Shook scored 13, with ten from Allison Vance.
Second Meeting (February 13 in Ledger)- The rematch between the teams was a lower scoring affair as defense was the name of the game on Mitchell's senior night. Avery scored the first five points of the game, but once Mitchell substituted a pair of its usual starters, Norris and Thompson, into the contest, the tide turned.
First Meeting (February 5 in Newland) - Mitchell took an early double-digit lead on Avery, only to see the Lady Vikings erase the deficit on two occasions. The Lady Mountaineers led by 10 at halftime only to see Avery roar back in the second half. The trio of Katie Ellis, Lauren Avery, and Allison Vance teamed for 19 points in the third quarter to cut the Mitchell lead to six going into the final period.
The teams were tied at 58 with under two minutes left in the game but Mitchell went 20 for 25 from the free throw line in the second half to maintain its advantage. Mitchell got a boost from reserve Lyndsey Jensen who hit four free throws in the final 30 seconds to ice the 65-61 Lady Mountaineer victory. Laken Norris and Autumn Thompson each scored 19 points to lead Mitchell, while four Lady Vikings reached double-figures. Katie Ellis and Lauren Avery scored 16 points each. Samantha Shook scored 13, with ten from Allison Vance.
Second Meeting (February 13 in Ledger)- The rematch between the teams was a lower scoring affair as defense was the name of the game on Mitchell's senior night. Avery scored the first five points of the game, but once Mitchell substituted a pair of its usual starters, Norris and Thompson, into the contest, the tide turned.
Norris scored eight in the first period to tie the score at 12 after one period.
Both frontcourt players Katie Ellis and Katelynn Eudy were whistled for third personal fouls early in the second quarter to hamstring the VIkings defensively and offensively. Mitchell capitalized with a 25-5 scoring run to close the first half. Norris hit three 3-pointers and matched her game total from the teams' first matchup by halftime with 19 points. Teammate Whitney Jones scored eight to help the Lady Mountaineers lead 36-19 at halftime.
Avery came out in the second half and forced a third foul on Norris, putting her on the bench for a period of time. Avery outscored Mitchell 18-6 for the third period as Allison Vance netted eight points, with eight combined points from Lauren Avery and Katelynn Eudy. Avery cut the Mitchell lead to 42-37 with eight minutes to play.
Laken Norris scored only two second-half points, but her presence on the floor was tangible and key to Mitchell maintaining its lead. Midway through the frame, both Katie Ellis and Katelynn Eudy had fouled out and the Viking offense suffered, scoring only two points for the entire final quarter. Avery's bench scoring was non-existent as no reserve registered a single point for the contest. Mitchell scored only eight points in the quarter themselves, but controlled possession of the basketball late to secure the 50-39 win.
Allison Vance was Avery's only double-figure scorer with 12 points. Sam Shook added nine, with eight from Avery. Mitchell held Avery's leading scorer Katie Ellis to only four points.
Norris led Mitchell with 21 points and seven steals, with 11 points and 9 rebounds from Thompson and 8 rebounds from Jones.
Norris led Mitchell with 21 points and seven steals, with 11 points and 9 rebounds from Thompson and 8 rebounds from Jones.
Tonight's contest begins at 7 p.m., or 15 minutes following the conclusion of the junior varsity boys championship game.
