LIVE from.... Holmes Convocation Center

We're live from ASU for this afternoon's Southern Conference contest between Appalachian State (7-11, 4-6 SoCon) and Furman (3-16, 1-9 SoCon). ASU is playing without a pair of players, as it was announced just before gametime that Ryann Abraham and Eduardo Bermudez have been suspended indefinitely due to conduct detrimental to the team. Donterious Hughes and Tyler Webb get the start for the Apps today.

Quick Notes: Furman is coming off a loss to Western Carolina, while ASU fell in its last game out, a 74-68 loss to Wofford. Local Watauga High School standout Zach Greene is on the roster for the Furman Paladins. The coaching staff for the Mountaineers, as well as the Furman staff are wearing sneakers on the sideline as part of the Coaches Vs. Cancer program.

We'll be bringing updates throughout today's contest, so stay tuned!

3:40 PM - At the first TV timeout, the Mountaineers lead the contest 11-7. Kellen Brand has six of the Mountaineers' points, with the other five coming off the hands of Tyler Webb. Brand has also picked up a pair of personal fouls in the first four minutes, relegating him to the ASU bench. Jeremi Booth will need to step up to help the Mountaineers on both ends of the floor without the team's leading scorer and short two other players on the bench.

3:50 PM - Official timeout at 10:23 remaining in the first half. Furman has cut the lead to a single point at 17-16. It has been a balanced scoring effort for the Paladins. Marcus Wright hit a three-pointer off the bench, while Ike Butts added a pair inside.

3:57 PM - 6:54 remains before halftime. ASU leads by four at 22-18. Both teams were shooting an identical 46.2% at the last TV timeout, with ASU lighting it up from the perimeter in hitting four of its first six three-point shot attempts. Marcus Wright added another bucket during the last four minutes of play.

Furman takes a timeout at the 4:27 mark after ASU opens up a 29-20 lead. A steal by Donterious Hughes and three shots on the ensuing possession entices the Furman head coach to take a timeout.

4:05 PM - with 3:47 left before halftime the Mountaineers score another pair to lead by 11 points at 31-20. ASU's defense has stiffened up, forcing a couple of turnovers. Webb and Donald Sims each have five points in the half, while Justin Dehm has eight for the Paladins.

4:15 PM - At the half, the Mountaineers lead 37-26. It wasn't the prettiest half of basketball, but the Mountaineers were effective from the perimeter, and also was able to work the ball inside as Tyler Webb put up seven points with five each from Sims and Wright. Dehm has 11 to lead the Paladins.

During the halftime break ASU basketball alumni were honored, with specific recognition of the 1979 ASU basketball squad that earned the first NCAA berth in school history.

Halftime statistics:

Appalachian shot 50% (14 for 28) from the field for the half, while holding the Paladins to only 10 of 26 shooting (38.5%). Webb and Butts lead the Mountaineers with seven points each, while Butts has pulled in nine rebounds. Other than Dehm, no other Paladin player has scored more than four points in the first half. Appalachian outrebounded the Paladins 20-11 in the first 20 minutes of play.

Second half play will be coming up!

Just a quick programming note that the Cloudland Highlanders high school basketball teams will be hosting the Johnson County Longhorns this evening from Sonny Smith Gymnasium in Roan Mountain.

4:40 PM - The Mountaineers have extended their lead to as much at 45-29, but a '3' from the Paladins entices ASU coach Houston Fancher to take a timeout to talk to his club. With 15:50 left in the contest, the Mountaineers lead 47-35. Donald Sims has 11 points to match Furman's Dehm.

4:55 PM - Furman was forced to take a timeout when unable to in-bound the basketball. A short time after the timeout, Neil Duval was stuffed on a dunk attempt as Tyler Webb rejected the Furman forward. It's always a great atmosphere at the Black Hole, and the students continue to show great support for their Apps. 10:33 remains in the game, and the Mountaineers lead by a 57-45 score. Butts has a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Mountaineers as he earns a living inside. Sims still has 11, with nine from Webb and six from Booth

5:03 PM - 6:56 left at Holmes with the Mountaineers leading 63-50. ASU has managed well without two of its star players, but the Paladins continue to hang around.

5:10 PM - Furman has made a comeback behind the shooting of Jordan Miller. He knocks down a jumper to cut the ASU lead to 67-60, forcing Coach Fancher to ask for a 30-second timeout with 4:15 left. Sims and Butts are the two Mountaineers in double-figures with 13 and 16, respectively. The media timeout comes at 3:46 remaining and the Apps lead it by the same seven-point margin. Ike Butts is having a monster game with 16 points and 16 boards.

Furman has cut the lead to 74-67 after a pair of free throws by Jordan Miller as the game clock ticks under two minutes. Miller picks the pocket of Donald Sims and drives for a layup to cut the lead to five. A backcourt violation by ASU gives the ball to Furman with the opportunity to make it a 2 or 3 point game with 1:37 to go. App takes a timeout.

5:22 PM -- After a blocking foul on Josh Hunter, Bryson Barnes steps up to the line and makes a pair of free throws to make the score 74-71 with 1:14 left to play. Furman takes a timeout to talk over strategy on defense. ASU ball leading by three.

5:25 PM - Barnes of Furman is called for a foul on a driving layup attempt by Kellen Brand. Brand hits one of two free throws with 40.6 seconds to go to give ASU a 75-71 lead. Furman's Noah States misses a three-point shot and Josh Hunter grabs the rebound and is immediately fouled with 22.4 seconds left.

Hunter misses both free throws to keep Furman alive down four. Barnes drives into the lane for a quick layup to cut the lead to 75-73 with 16.5 seconds left. Timeout Furman. ASU basketball. ASU inbounds the ball, but Donald Sims is trapped in the backcourt and ASU takes a timeout. 8.5 seconds remain with the Mountaineers up a deuce. The ball is inbounded to Sims and he is immediately fouled by Anderson of Furman. Two free throws for Sims. Sims hits both free throws to make it a four point game again at 77-73 with 8.0 seconds left.

5:30 PM - Anderson quickly drives down the floor and hits a layup to again cut the lead to 2 with 3.3 seconds left. Donterious Hughes cannot get the ball inbounds after the make, so he has to take a timeout. 77-75 ASU with 3.3 seconds left. ASU gets the ball in to Booth who runs out the clock. 77-75, ASU wins it over Furman. ASU advances to 8-11 on the season and 5-6 in SoCon play. That's it from Boone. Thanks for checking out the Blog!

Avery Wrestling Locks up with Conference Rival Mitchell to Close Regular Season

The Avery wrestling team traveled to Ledger on Wednesday evening to close out regular season dual meet action with the Mitchell Mountaineers. Mitchell won decisively in a meet one week earlier, and the Mountaineers were strong again on their Senior Night, defeating the Vikings by a 57-13 final team score.

Winners in the dual for Avery included Anthony Varacalli, who was victorious by 11-3 major decision over Mitchell's Maxx Glenn. Jose Munoz won by pinfall at the 152-pound class for Avery's lone pin of the night. Brock Yackey was the only other Viking to earn a win, as he shut out his opponent by a 6-0 final score.

Both Avery and Mitchell compete in the Western Highlands Conference tournament this Friday at Madison High School. Avery did not qualify for the State Duals to be held next week, so the next action following the conference tournament will come at the NCHSAA 1A/2A Western Regionals, held at North Henderson High School on February 13 and 14.

Avery Grapplers Travel to Mountain Heritage for Trio of Dual Meets

With weather causing a number of postponements and in order to convene a number of teams together to collectively assist one another’s schedules, four Western Highlands Conference wrestling squads gathered at Mountain Heritage High School for an evening of high school mat action.

The Avery wrestling squad took on a trio of teams in conference foes Mitchell, Mountain Heritage, and Owen. It was a difficult evening in team competition, as the Vikings were unable to come away with a team dual victory.

Avery began the evening by tangling with the neighboring Mitchell Mountaineers. A strong Mountaineers team defeated the Big Red by a final dual score of 69-8.

Brock Yackey continued his strong season at the 112 pound weight class with an 11-2 major decision victory over Mitchell’s Seth Hollifield. Yackey led 4-1 after one period and the pair battled through a scoreless second period. Yackey picked up a reversal from the down position, gave up an escape, then earned a takedown and three nearfall points for the win.

The senior Viking wrestling standout Anthony Varacalli also competed against a tough foe at the 145 pound weight class in Caleb Mitcler, falling by a 5-3 decision. “Anthony had a difficult match that. He’s struggled against that particular opponent and he is developing a skill set, but he needs to bring his confidence along to be able to defeat the same guy if he faces him in the conference tournament, but Anthony is making strides at this point in the season, which has been reflected in his wins,” Avery head wrestling coach Stacey Clark commented following the event. “I felt he wrestled well in the match, but just came up short in the end.”

The match was tied at 2-2 after one period. Varacalli deferred the choice and Mictler chose the down position. Mictler earned an escape and a takedown to lead 2-5 going in the third peiod. Varacalli earned a penalty point for an illegal hold but could score no more in the 5-3 final decision.

Avery’s only other win came from Jose Munoz at 152 pounds, who won by 11-1 major decision over Mitchell’s Jubal Church. “Mitchell is a strong 2A team and is a tough opponent for us. We managed a couple of wins. The rest of our team showed our inexperience, and a more veteran Mitchell team reflects that,” Coach Clark added.

In the second dual of the evening, Avery took on host Mountain Heritage. In a closer match than the prior contest with Mitchell, Avery was still unable to come out on top as the Cougars prevailed 51-27.

The dual began with the 189 pound class and Avery picked up its first points with a forfeit win awarded to Brock Yackey at 112 pounds. At the 119 pound class, Jacob McKinney earned a pinfall victory in the final seconds of the second period over Heritage’s Calvin Denny. Denny scored first with a takedown and earned three points for a near fall. Jacob reversed the position for a pair of points, Denny escaped and the period ended 2-6 with McKinney trailing. McKinney chose the down position, earned an escape and takedown, Denny earned an escape, then Jacob got a quick takedown and finished the match with a pin.

Another tight match in the dual was at 135 pounds, where Forrest Sickler fell in a narrow 8-5 decision to Wyler Fondaw. Fondaw earned the first takedown of the match for the only first period points. Sickler deferred decision then gave up a reversal before earning one of his own. Another reversal by Fondaw left the score 6-2. Sickler began in the down position, earned an escape and takedown to cut the lead to 6-5, but a reversal by Fondaw closed the match.

Avery earned pin fall wins in the dual from Anthony Varacalli in the first period at 145 pounds and also from CJ Vance in the second period at 171 pounds. Jose Munoz earned the other four points with a 10-4 decision win at 152 over David Johnston. Munoz led 2-0 after the first period with a takedown, then led 5-0 after an escape and takedown in the second period. Munoz earned a penalty point for an illegal hold and earned an escape and takedown. Johnston picked up a takedown and two-point near fall in the third period, but Munoz took the win.

The Vikings had won a previous dual with Heritage, but there were a number of differences between the prior meeting and Friday’s encounter. “Both our teams had a few lineup shifts going into Friday’s match. Several wrestlers were at different weight classes, and Mountain Heritage had picked up a few of their wrestlers who had been out due to injury,” Coach Clark explained. “Also, in a match as close as it was, there are several bouts we refer to as “swing matches” that pit wrestlers who are really close in skill levels and wrestling skills that can go either way. We picked up favorable results in every swing match except one in the first meeting, but we didn’t get any in this match.”

Avery’s final dual match was against their regularly scheduled opponent Owen, and the Warhorses handed the Vikings a tough 69-6 defeat. At the 112 pound class, Brock Yackey was handed a rare loss by pin in the third period to Austin Edwards. Yackey led 4-1 at the end of the first period. The pair started in the neutral position to start the second period and Edwards earned a takedown and three near fall points. The bout was stopped on three occasions due to blood from Yackey’s nose which eventually had to be gauzed for the match to continue. Edwards earned a takedown in the third period and finished the match with a pin.

“Edwards is a tough opponent for Brock who wrestles similarly to the Bottoms kid from Tuscola that Brock faced in the finals at Robbinsville. All three wrestlers have similar styles and look for the same takedowns and finishes,” Clark added. “Hopefully we can help him with further developing his skill set over the next couple of weeks to be able to overcome those types of opponents heading into regionals. He’s close to getting over that hump to be a strong factor at regional and state competition.”

A pair of Vikings earned decision wins in the dual. Anthony Varacalli won by 9-6 decision at 145 pounds and Jose Munoz won by a 3-1 decision for Avery’s only points for the match.

Avery wrestles in a dual match on Wednesday at Mitchell on Senior Night in Ledger, and will travel to Madison on Friday for the Western Highlands Conference Tournament. The 1A/2A Western Regional take place the following weekend at North Henderson High School.

Avery’s cumulative records by weight classification and wrestler are as follows:
103 pounds- no wrestler
112/119 pounds- Brock Yackey: 26-13
112/119 pounds- Jacob McKinney: 11-16
125/130 pounds - Tyler Long: 3-14
125/130/135 pounds - Bryan Moody: 3-30
135 pounds - Forrest Sickler: 16-25
140 pounds - no wrestler
145 pounds - Anthony Varacalli: 22-9
152/160 pounds - Jose Munoz: 14-6;
160 pounds - no wrestler
171 pounds - CJ Vance: 7-18
189 pounds - Lucas Lecka: 11-17
215 pounds - Nathaniel Buchanan: 4-34
Heavyweight- no wrestler

Avery Alumnus Hensley Makes First Collegiate Wrestling Start for Limestone College

Just one short year ago, former Avery High wrestling standout John Hensley was dominant during a stellar senior season, completing an outstanding prep career as a three-time state qualifier with a runner-up finish at the 2008 NCHSAA North Carolina State Wrestling Championships.

Hensley was fortunate enough to continue his career at the college level, wrestling as a true freshman for NCAA Division II Limestone College.

In his first start this season at the 133 pound weight class, Hensley competed in three dual meets during the 2009 Domino’s Pizza East Coast Duals Tournament at St. Andrews Presbyterian College over the weekend.

Hensley wrestled Matt Scherich from University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown on Friday and lost a narrow 6-5 decision. On Saturday Hensley returned to the mat where he faced Kutztown University wrestler Joe Kemmerer. Kennerer is the top-ranked wrestler nationally in NCAA Divison II in the weight class, yet Hensley refused to give up a pinfall, losing by technical fall 20-2 to the Kutztown standout.

Hensley’s third match of the weekend was the charm as he faced off against Shippensburg University’s Andrew Jones. Hensley put together a dominant performance as he pinned Jones in the second period, winning by fall at the 4:26 mark of the match. The victory helped the Saints upset the No. 16 nationally-ranked and No. 4 regionally-ranked Shippensburg squad.

Vikings Pull Off Sweep of Owen Warhorses in High School Hoops

Avery swept four straight games at home Friday night in Western Highlands action against Owen High School.

Avery's JV girls won 72-25 over Owen. Mercedes Bentley scored 21 points with 8 assists and five steals, while Emily Pritchard was the only other Avery player in double figures with 11 points, nine of which came in the second half, along with five steals. Monica Estep and Shayna Vance scored nine points each in the win.

The junior varsity boys team won a thrilling 50-47 overtime contest against Owen for their second win of the year. Alex Villanueva led Avery with 13 points, with 11 from Taylor Potter and ten points from Mark Polsgrove.Avery's varsity girls defeated Owen 62-51 as Katelynn Eudy and Allison Vance each netted 16 points with 14 from Katie Ellis. Ellis exploded for ten points in the final quarter, capping off another double-double performance this season with 14 points and 13 rebounds, along with five steals and three assists.

Lady Viking teammate Katelynn Eudy also excelled in the final frame with eight of her 16 total points for the game. Eudy also hauled in ten rebounds to go with five steals. Vance added five assists and three rebounds. Stephanie Jones led Owen with 12 points, with 11 from Twitty and ten from Kyla Perry.

In the night cap, the Avery varsity boys put together its best performance of the season in defeating the Warhorses 67-54.

Dustin Clarke had a career night with 25 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, and five steals. Joey Potter logged the most minutes on the floor for Avery and had 15 points, six rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks. Kody Hughes added nine points and six rebounds, with eight points from Colton Blackburn.

Avery hosts Cloudland in a non-conference game on Thursday evening, then will venture back into Western Highlands Conference play with a trip to Hendersonville to play the Bearcats.