On Monday, Feb. 14, the Lady Vikings obliterated an overmatched Hendersonville by the final score of 83-22. Megan Tennant scored a season-high 28 points in the win, with 19 points from Mercedes Bentley.
The Lady Vikings used a 15-3 run to open the second half to build a 25-point lead. The fourth quarter was a mere formality as every AHS player saw extended action in the period to close out the victory.
Last Thursday, Feb. 17, the Big Red defeated a pesky Polk County club 57-38. AHS used it interior advantage to build a 22-10 lead after one quarter. Polk rallied in the second stanza, however, outscoring AHS 15-8 in the period to draw to within 30-25 at halftime.
AHS extended its lead with a productive third quarter, as Mary Chesnut Smith scored three points in the frame, with baskets from Katelynn Eudy and Lauren Burleson that padded the Lady Viking advantage back to 43-31. In the final eight minutes of action, Avery pulled away for good with points from Bentley and two buckets from Eudy.
The AHS defense held Polk to only 13 second-half points in the semifinal win. Tennant again led the Lady Vikings with 18 points and six rebounds, with 12 points and five rebounds from Eudy, eight points from Bentley and six points from Mary Chesnut Smith.
The Lady Vikings advanced to the tournament final where, last Friday, Feb. 18, it squared off with the Mountain Heritage Lady Cougars. AHS took charge with an early lead and refused to relinquish it in earning a 60-48 win and a tournament championship.
In multiple games during the season, the Big Red has gotten off to slow starts. This championship game was a different story, however, as AHS raced to a 17-8 lead after one period. Guard Savannah Dellinger, normally a pivotal distributor of the basketball, helped the Lady Vikings set the pace with a pair of three-point baskets in the first period. Bentley added her own three-pointer, while Tennant scored six points. Burleson and Eudy chipped in with four points apiece in the second period as the Lady Vikings led 33-20 at halftime.
The Lady Vikings refused to surrender an inch, with six AHS players scoring points in the frame to push the Big Red to the 12-point win and second tournament title in four seasons.
Tennant tallied 18 points in the win, earning tournament Most Valuable Player honors. Eudy added 11 points, with 10 from Dellinger. Kelsie Clarke, Bentley and Burleson tallied six points apiece, with three from Smith.
In addition to Tennant’s MVP performance, Bentley and Eudy also garnered All-Tournament honors for their performances during the week.
AHS hosted East Surry in the first round of the state playoffs in the Viking Octagon last Monday, Feb. 21. A full report on Avery’s performance in the state sectional playoffs will be available in next week’s edition.
