The Avery Lady Vikings (AHS) swept a trio of opponents in home games last week. AHS routed the Madison Lady Patriots and West Wilkes Lady Blackhawks early in the week.
The team concluded the week with a decisive victory last Friday, Feb. 4, on Senior Night over second-place Mountain Heritage, clinching the first Western Highlands Conference (WHC ) regular season championship for the school since 1996.
Early in the squad’s contest againstMadison
The team concluded the week with a decisive victory last Friday, Feb. 4, on Senior Night over second-place Mountain Heritage, clinching the first Western Highlands Conference (
Early in the squad’s contest against
AHS found its groove in the second period, outscoring Madison
A 12-2 scoring run to open the second half removed all doubt from the outcome as the Lady Vikings led by 40 at 65-25 by the end of the third quarter and cruised to the win.
Mercedes Bentley dropped in 13 points to lead the Big Red, with 12 points apiece from Kelsie Clarke and Megan Tennant. Katelynn Eudy posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds as every player on the Lady Viking roster scored in the win.
The following evening the Lady Vikings returned to the court for a non-conference contest against the West Wilkes Lady Blackhawks inside the Viking Octagon. The Lady Vikings had difficulty getting into an offensive rhythm early against a pesky West defense, but AHS pulled away in the third quarter to post a 58-46 triumph.
West hung around early on the Big Red with its inside height and scrappy play. Shots were not falling in the first quarter for the home team, yet the Lady Vikings battled through the adversity to hold a 16-14 lead after one period.
West guard Caitlyn Kilby helped the Lady Blackhawks stay within striking distance with six points in the first half, but the Lady Vikings started to get in sync late in the half. Bentley drilled a pair of three-point baskets in the second quarter, while Lauren Burleson came off the bench to pour in 10 points in the half. The offensive spark helped the Big Red extend its slim lead to 32-26 at halftime.
The halftime speech by Lady Vikings head coach Missy Lyons should be bottled up and saved for future use, as the AHS club looked like a different ball club. AHS exploded for 20 points in the period while holding West to only three baskets for the same stretch. Bentley scored seven in the frame to push the advantage to 52-33.
A 12-2 scoring run to open the second half removed all doubt from the outcome as the Lady Vikings led by 40 at 65-25 by the end of the third quarter and cruised to the win.
Mercedes Bentley dropped in 13 points to lead the Big Red, with 12 points apiece from Kelsie Clarke and Megan Tennant. Katelynn Eudy posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds as every player on the Lady Viking roster scored in the win.
The following evening the Lady Vikings returned to the court for a non-conference contest against the West Wilkes Lady Blackhawks inside the Viking Octagon. The Lady Vikings had difficulty getting into an offensive rhythm early against a pesky West defense, but AHS pulled away in the third quarter to post a 58-46 triumph.
West hung around early on the Big Red with its inside height and scrappy play. Shots were not falling in the first quarter for the home team, yet the Lady Vikings battled through the adversity to hold a 16-14 lead after one period.
West guard Caitlyn Kilby helped the Lady Blackhawks stay within striking distance with six points in the first half, but the Lady Vikings started to get in sync late in the half. Bentley drilled a pair of three-point baskets in the second quarter, while Lauren Burleson came off the bench to pour in 10 points in the half. The offensive spark helped the Big Red extend its slim lead to 32-26 at halftime.
The halftime speech by Lady Vikings head coach Missy Lyons should be bottled up and saved for future use, as the AHS club looked like a different ball club. AHS exploded for 20 points in the period while holding West to only three baskets for the same stretch. Bentley scored seven in the frame to push the advantage to 52-33.
In the final eight minutes the Lady Blackhawks attempted a comeback, but the Lady Vikings would have none of it as the team won going away. Bentley scored 15 to pace AHS, as Burleson and Tennant each tallied double-figures.
In the regular season home finale, AHS had an opportunity to clinch the firstWHC regular season championship under the guidance of Lyons
The margin on Senior Night was not as close, as an inspired group of Lady Vikings built a double-digit lead late in the first half, built on it further in the third quarter and earned another championship banner with a 67-45 victory.
In the opening stanza the Lady Vikings trio of Bentley, Eudy and Tennant dominated play. Bentley drained a pair of three-pointers, while the frontline duo scored in the paint to stake the home team to a 14-10 lead after one stanza.
AHS opened a double-figure lead using its defensive pressure. The Lady Vikings forced 16 Heritage turnovers in the first two periods and held the Lady Cougars to just five made field goals through two periods. Tennant scored six points in the second quarter and 11 for the half, with 10 from Bentley to propel the Big Red to a 29-17 halftime advantage.
As the second half ensued, the play on the court became physical. Both clubs had been assessed more than 10 personal fouls before the fourth period began, and the clubs combined to shoot 26 free throws in the third period alone.
The Lady Vikings not only survived the physicality of its opponent, it thrived on it, scoring 25 points in the third quarter to race out to a 54-35 lead entering the final eight minutes of action.
The second-chance baskets that supported the Lady Cougars upset bid inBurnsville
In the true team manner of play indicative of the Lady Viking season, six different AHS players scored points in the final period to finish the 22-point blowout win.
With a commanding lead late in the game,Lyons
Bentley led AHS with 17 points, three rebounds and three assists. Tennant dropped in 15 points with eight rebounds, with a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds from Eudy. Burleson scored nine points, with five each from Clarke and Savannah Dellinger and four from Smith.
AHS concluded its regular season schedule by traveling to Ledger to take on Mitchell on Tuesday, Feb. 8, and enters next week’s conference tournament with the top seed.
In the regular season home finale, AHS had an opportunity to clinch the first
The margin on Senior Night was not as close, as an inspired group of Lady Vikings built a double-digit lead late in the first half, built on it further in the third quarter and earned another championship banner with a 67-45 victory.
In the opening stanza the Lady Vikings trio of Bentley, Eudy and Tennant dominated play. Bentley drained a pair of three-pointers, while the frontline duo scored in the paint to stake the home team to a 14-10 lead after one stanza.
AHS opened a double-figure lead using its defensive pressure. The Lady Vikings forced 16 Heritage turnovers in the first two periods and held the Lady Cougars to just five made field goals through two periods. Tennant scored six points in the second quarter and 11 for the half, with 10 from Bentley to propel the Big Red to a 29-17 halftime advantage.
As the second half ensued, the play on the court became physical. Both clubs had been assessed more than 10 personal fouls before the fourth period began, and the clubs combined to shoot 26 free throws in the third period alone.
The Lady Vikings not only survived the physicality of its opponent, it thrived on it, scoring 25 points in the third quarter to race out to a 54-35 lead entering the final eight minutes of action.
The second-chance baskets that supported the Lady Cougars upset bid in
In the true team manner of play indicative of the Lady Viking season, six different AHS players scored points in the final period to finish the 22-point blowout win.
With a commanding lead late in the game,
Bentley led AHS with 17 points, three rebounds and three assists. Tennant dropped in 15 points with eight rebounds, with a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds from Eudy. Burleson scored nine points, with five each from Clarke and Savannah Dellinger and four from Smith.
AHS concluded its regular season schedule by traveling to Ledger to take on Mitchell on Tuesday, Feb. 8, and enters next week’s conference tournament with the top seed.
