Both middle schools were busy with basketball action last week, taking the floor for three games apiece.
Avery Middle School began its week on Monday, Nov. 15, with a conference contest at home against Bowman Middle School. The Avery Lady Panthers won its contest handily, defeating Bowman by a 44-20 final score.
Nine different Lady Panthers players scored in the win, led by 13 points from Jody Poore. Destiny Ollis tallied seven for the home team, with six from Ashley Singleton, five points from Christian Burleson and four points from Alex Bare.
“To be successful in basketball you have to play team ball. I think our team does well. We played our best game last Monday against Bowman,” Avery Lady Panthers head coach Tonia Hall said after the win. “I thought our defense against Bowman was really good. The girls hustled and played smart, and they also shot the ball better than normal too.”
In the evening’s night cap, the Avery boys continued its unbeaten streak with a dominating 59-36 win. Avery took a 16-7 edge after one period, but led by only a 27-21 margin at halftime. The Panthers roared out of the locker room at halftime with an 18-5 scoring spurt to lead 45-26 en route to the win.
Austin Phillips an Kobe Pittman scored 12 points each in the win, with 10 points from both Dalton Tennant and Tre Jackson, as well as six points from Dylan Bauer.
“We had four kids in double-figures. When you’re able to do that in a game, it makes you hard to beat,” Avery boys head coach Gordon Polsgrove said after the win.
On Tuesday, Nov. 16, the Panthers traveled to take on the Harris Blue Devils. The Lady Devils proved too tough to tame as they defeated Avery by a final score of 40-28.
Only four Lady Panthers registered points in the contest, led by Poore’s 14. Kylie Polsgrove added nine, with three points from Anna Gragg and two points from Ollis.
“We were not prepared when we played Harris. Harris is definitely well coached and played under control. We, on the other hand, had too many turnovers and did not make many free throws,” Hall said after the game. “We did not run our offense, and we could have played better defensively too. Also, I could have done a better job coaching the girls, and mixing up our defense. Overall, I thought they hustled and played hard.”
Avery Middle School began its week on Monday, Nov. 15, with a conference contest at home against Bowman Middle School. The Avery Lady Panthers won its contest handily, defeating Bowman by a 44-20 final score.
Nine different Lady Panthers players scored in the win, led by 13 points from Jody Poore. Destiny Ollis tallied seven for the home team, with six from Ashley Singleton, five points from Christian Burleson and four points from Alex Bare.
“To be successful in basketball you have to play team ball. I think our team does well. We played our best game last Monday against Bowman,” Avery Lady Panthers head coach Tonia Hall said after the win. “I thought our defense against Bowman was really good. The girls hustled and played smart, and they also shot the ball better than normal too.”
In the evening’s night cap, the Avery boys continued its unbeaten streak with a dominating 59-36 win. Avery took a 16-7 edge after one period, but led by only a 27-21 margin at halftime. The Panthers roared out of the locker room at halftime with an 18-5 scoring spurt to lead 45-26 en route to the win.
Austin Phillips an Kobe Pittman scored 12 points each in the win, with 10 points from both Dalton Tennant and Tre Jackson, as well as six points from Dylan Bauer.
“We had four kids in double-figures. When you’re able to do that in a game, it makes you hard to beat,” Avery boys head coach Gordon Polsgrove said after the win.
On Tuesday, Nov. 16, the Panthers traveled to take on the Harris Blue Devils. The Lady Devils proved too tough to tame as they defeated Avery by a final score of 40-28.
Only four Lady Panthers registered points in the contest, led by Poore’s 14. Kylie Polsgrove added nine, with three points from Anna Gragg and two points from Ollis.
“We were not prepared when we played Harris. Harris is definitely well coached and played under control. We, on the other hand, had too many turnovers and did not make many free throws,” Hall said after the game. “We did not run our offense, and we could have played better defensively too. Also, I could have done a better job coaching the girls, and mixing up our defense. Overall, I thought they hustled and played hard.”
In the boys game, Avery took care of yet another conference foe with a 65-53 road victory.
Avery led by a single point at 11-10 after one stanza, but built a lead of a half-dozen at 29-23 by halftime.
A 21-12 scoring burst by the Blue Devils gave Harris a 44-41 lead going into the final six minutes of play, jeopardizing Avery’s undefeated record. However, the Avery club stepped up with a 24-point fourth quarter to seize control of the game for good and earn the hard-fought win.
James Stewart led the Panthers with 17 points, while Jackson and Pittman tallied 16 points apiece in the victory. Phillips pitched in with nine points, with six from Tennant.
“It was a tough game. We were behind late, and to score 24 points in the final quarter is good for a junior high team,” Polsgrove said after the win.
Avery wrapped up its week on Thursday, Nov. 18, returning home to host Cane River.
The Lady Panthers picked up its second win of the week, a 26-19 margin over the Lady Rebels.
A 21-12 scoring burst by the Blue Devils gave Harris a 44-41 lead going into the final six minutes of play, jeopardizing Avery’s undefeated record. However, the Avery club stepped up with a 24-point fourth quarter to seize control of the game for good and earn the hard-fought win.
James Stewart led the Panthers with 17 points, while Jackson and Pittman tallied 16 points apiece in the victory. Phillips pitched in with nine points, with six from Tennant.
“It was a tough game. We were behind late, and to score 24 points in the final quarter is good for a junior high team,” Polsgrove said after the win.
Avery wrapped up its week on Thursday, Nov. 18, returning home to host Cane River.
The Lady Panthers picked up its second win of the week, a 26-19 margin over the Lady Rebels.
Both teams struggled to score on offense in the early going, as Avery took a narrow 7-4 lead after one period and led by three at 13-10 at halftime.
Both teams could manage only two field goals in the third period, with Avery clinging to a 17-14 lead going into the final period. In the final stanza, a five-point burst from Ollis proved to be enough to put Avery over the top.
Ollis led the Lady Panthers with 11 points, with five points from Polsgrove and four points each from Burleson and Raina Wiseman.
“I am not sure what happened against Cane River. We looked out of control and never got into rhythm on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball,” Hall said. “We were lucky to win. Cane River did a good job keeping the game close.”
In the second half of the doubleheader, the Avery boys maintained a sizable lead, then exploded in the final quarter to win by a 60-42 margin.
Avery led 15-8 after one period. In the second period Cane River cut the margin to three points on two occasions, but a pair of Jackson three-point baskets answered each rally and allowed the Panthers to lead 31-20 at halftime.
The Panthers began to pull away in the third quarter, extending its lead to 42-28 as it went on to keep its perfect 2010 record intact.
Pittman led all scorers with 20 points, six assists and four steals, with 11 from Jackson and 10 points and seven rebounds from Tennant. Stewart chipped in with eight points, with seven points from Jeffery Puckett.
“Cane River played tough. They’re a good ballclub,” Polsgrove said after the win. “We had good balance tonight and have had that all season. We have several players who contribute to the team, and that’s made us successful. We play as hard as we can and play defense as best as we can, and it’s proven to be enough. Our point guard Kobe plays extremely well, as does Tre when he plays the point. Kobe may be one of the best, if not the best player this season in the conference.”
The Avery boys team stands at 8-0 overall, with a 7-0 conference record.
The Cranberry Middle School teams took the floor with a trio of games last week as well. The Lady Wildcats hosted the East Yancey Lady Panthers on Monday, Nov. 15, with the Lady Panthers coming away with a 36-16 win. East’s Destiny Elkins led all scorers with 24 points in the contest. The Lady Wildcats played hard for the entire contest, but were unable to overcome a highly talented East club which has proven to be the top team in the conference during the regular season.
In the boys game, the Panthers captured a 47-35 win over Cranberry. The Wildcats trailed by only two points at intermission, but East put together a scoring run in the third period to take a nine-point lead into the final period and take the 12-point decision.
“We have improved very much as the season has progressed, “Cranberry head coach Jimmy Tilley said after the game.
On Tuesday, Nov. 16, the Wildcats journeyed across the border to Cloudland High School in Roan Mountain to take on the Highlanders. In girls action, the Lady Wildcats came away with an impressive 23-15 win in a defensive affair.
Cranberry held Cloudland to only one point in the first six minutes of action and led 9-5 at halftime. In the third quarter the Lady Cats exploded on a 12-3 scoring run to put the contest out of reach.
Both teams could manage only two field goals in the third period, with Avery clinging to a 17-14 lead going into the final period. In the final stanza, a five-point burst from Ollis proved to be enough to put Avery over the top.
Ollis led the Lady Panthers with 11 points, with five points from Polsgrove and four points each from Burleson and Raina Wiseman.
“I am not sure what happened against Cane River. We looked out of control and never got into rhythm on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball,” Hall said. “We were lucky to win. Cane River did a good job keeping the game close.”
In the second half of the doubleheader, the Avery boys maintained a sizable lead, then exploded in the final quarter to win by a 60-42 margin.
Avery led 15-8 after one period. In the second period Cane River cut the margin to three points on two occasions, but a pair of Jackson three-point baskets answered each rally and allowed the Panthers to lead 31-20 at halftime.
The Panthers began to pull away in the third quarter, extending its lead to 42-28 as it went on to keep its perfect 2010 record intact.
Pittman led all scorers with 20 points, six assists and four steals, with 11 from Jackson and 10 points and seven rebounds from Tennant. Stewart chipped in with eight points, with seven points from Jeffery Puckett.
The Avery boys team stands at 8-0 overall, with a 7-0 conference record.
The Cranberry Middle School teams took the floor with a trio of games last week as well. The Lady Wildcats hosted the East Yancey Lady Panthers on Monday, Nov. 15, with the Lady Panthers coming away with a 36-16 win. East’s Destiny Elkins led all scorers with 24 points in the contest. The Lady Wildcats played hard for the entire contest, but were unable to overcome a highly talented East club which has proven to be the top team in the conference during the regular season.
In the boys game, the Panthers captured a 47-35 win over Cranberry. The Wildcats trailed by only two points at intermission, but East put together a scoring run in the third period to take a nine-point lead into the final period and take the 12-point decision.
“We have improved very much as the season has progressed, “Cranberry head coach Jimmy Tilley said after the game.
On Tuesday, Nov. 16, the Wildcats journeyed across the border to Cloudland High School in Roan Mountain to take on the Highlanders. In girls action, the Lady Wildcats came away with an impressive 23-15 win in a defensive affair.
Cranberry held Cloudland to only one point in the first six minutes of action and led 9-5 at halftime. In the third quarter the Lady Cats exploded on a 12-3 scoring run to put the contest out of reach.
Sierra Jones led Cranberry with 11 points, with eight from Bethany Burleson and three points from Elizabeth Pittman.
“The girls played one of their best games of the year and pulled away in the second half,” Tilley said of the win.
In the second half of the twin bill, the Cranberry boys made it a clean sweep of Cloudland with a decisive 47-33 win. The Wildcats held a narrow 10-9 lead after one period and preserved its one-point margin at 19-18 at halftime.
Three-point baskets by Jeremiah Vance and Tyler Pitman in the third period helped stake Cranberry to a 33-28 advantage after three periods, while a 10-point flurry by Wildcat center Cainan Singleton put the contest out of reach.
“The boys did not play well in the first half, but they increased their intensity to pull away in the second half,” Tilley said.
Cranberry’s girls team picked up its second straight win on Thursday, Nov. 18, defeating Bowman 30-17 in Bakersville. Both teams started the first half slowly offensively, but the Lady Cats held a narrow 14-12 lead at halftime. Cranberry picked up its offense in the second half, while holding the Lady Bulldogs to just five points over the final two periods to pick up the win.
Jones led all Cranberry scorers with 12 points, with eight points from Pittman.
“Our first game to the Lady Dogs was a seven-point loss, so we have really improved as the season has progressed,” Tilley said of his team’s effort.
In the night cap, the Wildcats held a five-point lead at halftime and led by three points after three periods, but the Bulldogs took advantage of a number of Cranberry turnovers to outscore the Wildcats by 17 points in the final stanza to win by a 51-37 final score.
“The boys game was a good one for three periods. Our scoring and floor leader Tyler Pitman did not play due to illness, so that hurt our hopes quite a bit late in the game,” Tilley said.
“The girls played one of their best games of the year and pulled away in the second half,” Tilley said of the win.
In the second half of the twin bill, the Cranberry boys made it a clean sweep of Cloudland with a decisive 47-33 win. The Wildcats held a narrow 10-9 lead after one period and preserved its one-point margin at 19-18 at halftime.
“The boys did not play well in the first half, but they increased their intensity to pull away in the second half,” Tilley said.
Cranberry’s girls team picked up its second straight win on Thursday, Nov. 18, defeating Bowman 30-17 in Bakersville. Both teams started the first half slowly offensively, but the Lady Cats held a narrow 14-12 lead at halftime. Cranberry picked up its offense in the second half, while holding the Lady Bulldogs to just five points over the final two periods to pick up the win.
Jones led all Cranberry scorers with 12 points, with eight points from Pittman.
“Our first game to the Lady Dogs was a seven-point loss, so we have really improved as the season has progressed,” Tilley said of his team’s effort.
In the night cap, the Wildcats held a five-point lead at halftime and led by three points after three periods, but the Bulldogs took advantage of a number of Cranberry turnovers to outscore the Wildcats by 17 points in the final stanza to win by a 51-37 final score.
“The boys game was a good one for three periods. Our scoring and floor leader Tyler Pitman did not play due to illness, so that hurt our hopes quite a bit late in the game,” Tilley said.
Zack Guinn had 16 points to lead the Wildcats.
Both county middle school teams play a limited schedule this week. Avery hosted Harris on Monday, Nov. 22, while Cranberry traveled to Cane River the same evening and hosted West McDowell in a non-conference contest on Tuesday, Nov. 23.
Both county middle school teams play a limited schedule this week. Avery hosted Harris on Monday, Nov. 22, while Cranberry traveled to Cane River the same evening and hosted West McDowell in a non-conference contest on Tuesday, Nov. 23.
