The Vikings got out of the gate quickly, but the sharpshooting CHS squad led 16-10 after one period behind 10 points from guard Matthew Potter. Benji Stewart paced the Big Red with four points in the period.
The Landers built its lead into a double-figure margin with five straight points in the first 37 seconds of the second period, forcing Vikings head coach Bo Manis to take a timeout. AHS used a 10-4 run of its own to cut its deficit to 25-20 midway through the quarter, but CHS responded with a 13-4 spurt to again lead by double digits at 38-24 and led 41-29 at halftime.
Potter was the CHS offense through two quarters with 24 first-half points, while AHS’s leading scorer Dustin Clarke netted only six points for the half.
As in its previous matchup at Watauga, the Vikings was again victim of a huge offensive onslaught by its opponent. CHS tallied seven points in the first 43 seconds of the third quarter to extend its lead to 19 points at 48-29, and outscored AHS 28-5 overall in the first 4:25 of the period to build a commanding 69-34 advantage. CHS made an astounding 7-of-8 shots from three-point range during the run as it put the contest out of reach.
CHS took a 79-44 lead after three quarters and played a number of reserves in the fourth quarter en route to the 35-point victory.
Potter led CHS with a game-high 29 points and 10 rebounds, with 18 points and nine rebounds from Michael Hyden and 11 points from Zac Potter.
For the Big Red, Joey Potter paced AHS with 13 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the floor. Clarke added 12 points and 10 rebounds, with eight points from Timmy Stewart.
AHS sought to bounce back from its loss to the Landers as it hosted WHS in a physical and emotional contest between rival schools.
WHS took a big first-half lead and then had to hold off a furious Avery rally to claim victory.
The Pioneers led 47-28 by halftime, but the Vikings rallied to within five points and scored a staggering 65 points in the second half to put the outcome of the game in doubt until the final minute.
WHS used steals from its perimeter defense took advantage of a number of early misses by the Big Red to build its lead of as many as 21 points at 47-26.
AHS, still learning the nuances of playing together as a full unit, committed 19 turnovers for the game, 14 of which came in the opening two quarters to feed the WHS attack.
From the outset, the strategy for the visiting Pioneers was to limit the touches of 2009 Western Highlands Conference Player of the Year Clarke, but the senior showed what made him one of the region’s most dangerous players, lighting up the Pioneers for a game-high 26 points.
AHS stormed back from its 19-point halftime deficit with 30 points in the third stanza and 35 in the fourth. The Vikings closed to within six points in the fourth quarter twice, the final time at 91-85 after Timmy Stewart hit back-to-back 3-point baskets, the second coming with 1:54 left.
AHS had actually gotten closer in the third quarter. Trailing 55-40, the Vikings went on a 10-0 run capped by a Stewart layup. WHS which turned the ball over three times during that stretch, regrouped and took a 71-58 lead into the fourth quarter.
Indicative of the tough play that characterizes when the two heated rivals meet on the basketball court, WHS was the beneficiary of 33 Viking personal fouls in the contest. Four separate AHS players fouled out of the game and WHS converted 32-of-47 free throws.
Joey Potter, Timmy Stewart and Benji Stewart each pitched in with 12 points apiece. Timmy Stewart scored all of his points on four 3-pointers, giving him half of the Vikings' 8 3-point baskets for the game.
Colton Blackburn, one of four football players who did not play against WHS in the first meeting between the schools, added 11 points and pulled down 11 rebounds.
The non-conference game at West Wilkes scheduled for Monday, Dec. 6, was postponed due to inclement weather. AHS will next take to the court on Friday, Dec. 10, with a rematch against Cloudland inside The Octagon in Newland.
