The final full week of the high school basketball regular season was a busy one for the Avery (AHS) Vikings varsity boys basketball team, defeating Madison 96-85 on Tuesday, Feb. 1, and West Wilkes 80-47 on Wednesday, Feb. 2.
Last Friday, Feb. 4, the Vikings honored assistant coach and senior Ethan Buchanan and the seven AHS senior basketball players prior to its game with Mountain Heritage. Unfortunately for the Big Red, it was the Cougars fromYancey County
The Vikings led 26-16 after one period and exploded for 33 points in the second quarter alone to put the game out of reach, leading 59-34 at halftime. Avery built its lead to as many as 30 points early in the third period, butMadison
Five different Vikings reached double-figures, led by Dustin Clarke who scored 21. Colton Blackburn followed closely behind with 20 points, with 17 from Timmy Stewart, 11 from Joey Potter and 10 from Alex Villanueva.
The victory came in the first game back coaching for Avery head coach Bo Manis, as he and his family had been out of town for the previous four games due to the passing of the coach’s mother-in-law.
“The first thing that stood out and impressed me most was seeing my beautiful wife and daughter,” Vikings head coach Bo Manis said after the win. “I am proud of family and what we’re building with these young student-athletes.”
The next evening the Vikings took the court for a make-up game against non-conference foe West Wilkes. It was a retro night for the Vikings, as the boys varsity team wore the uniforms worn by the 1995-96 team, the jerseys the team’s head coach wore when he was a standout for the Big Red.
AHS started slow in the contest, as the West2-1-2 zone defense made it difficult for the slashing guards of the Viking offense to penetrate into the paint or the base line. AHS held a 17-12 lead after one period and increased its margin to double digits at 32-22.
The coaching staff made a number of successful adjustments in the locker room that helped Avery gain control.
“We worked on getting our players in better rebounding position. When we executed that in the second half, that’s when the momentum changed,” Manis said after the win. “I think they were a better team than what we saw last time. They’re well coached and they always improve, but we were just more talented than his roster.
Last Friday, Feb. 4, the Vikings honored assistant coach and senior Ethan Buchanan and the seven AHS senior basketball players prior to its game with Mountain Heritage. Unfortunately for the Big Red, it was the Cougars from
The Vikings led 26-16 after one period and exploded for 33 points in the second quarter alone to put the game out of reach, leading 59-34 at halftime. Avery built its lead to as many as 30 points early in the third period, but
Five different Vikings reached double-figures, led by Dustin Clarke who scored 21. Colton Blackburn followed closely behind with 20 points, with 17 from Timmy Stewart, 11 from Joey Potter and 10 from Alex Villanueva.
The victory came in the first game back coaching for Avery head coach Bo Manis, as he and his family had been out of town for the previous four games due to the passing of the coach’s mother-in-law.
“The first thing that stood out and impressed me most was seeing my beautiful wife and daughter,” Vikings head coach Bo Manis said after the win. “I am proud of family and what we’re building with these young student-athletes.”
The next evening the Vikings took the court for a make-up game against non-conference foe West Wilkes. It was a retro night for the Vikings, as the boys varsity team wore the uniforms worn by the 1995-96 team, the jerseys the team’s head coach wore when he was a standout for the Big Red.
AHS started slow in the contest, as the West
The coaching staff made a number of successful adjustments in the locker room that helped Avery gain control.
“We worked on getting our players in better rebounding position. When we executed that in the second half, that’s when the momentum changed,” Manis said after the win. “I think they were a better team than what we saw last time. They’re well coached and they always improve, but we were just more talented than his roster.
The adjustments proved to be the perfect elixir, as the Vikings took a 54-35 advantage into the final eight minutes. Potter helped spark the Big Red offense with 10 points in the frame. The athleticism of the AHS club proved too much for West to overcome as Avery took an 80-47 win.
Four players scored double-figures again for the Vikings in the win, led by Clarke with 18. Potter, Timmy Stewart and Benji Stewart scored 10 points apiece.
Last Friday, Feb. 4, AHS honored senior basketball players Colton Blackburn, Dustin Clarke, Kody Hughes, Mark Polsgrove, Joey Potter, Benji Stewart and Timmy Stewart prior to the boys game. In addition to the players, the Vikings honored one senior who serves as an assistant coach in Ethan Buchanan. The team also welcomed special guests from the fifth and sixth grade recreation league basketball program coached by head coach Stephanie Pritchard.
Despite the great emotion, AHS could not come away victorious in its Senior Night matchup, as visiting first-place Mountain Heritage came to town, and led early and often en route to a 90-73 win.
Heritage fired on all cylinders early on, hitting on 8-of-14 shots in the first period, including four three-point baskets to take an early 22-6 lead. AHS scored the final four points of the quarter but still stared at a deficit of 12 points at 22-10.
AHS relied on its own long distance shooting to stay in the game. Clarke drained a pair of three-pointers as the Vikings shot 50 percent from the field (9-for-18) in the second period. The Cougars continued to shoot the ball well themselves, as nine points in the quarter from college prospect John Cannon helped maintain Heritage’s edge and give the visitors a 43-30 lead.
The Cougars put the game away for good with a 25-point third quarter, hitting on 5-of-7 shots from three-point range during the stretch. The Vikings scored a respectable 18 points in the frame, but Heritage still extended its lead to 68-48 with eight minutes to play.
Several Viking reserves saw playing time in the final stanza as the outcome of the game was no longer in doubt.
Dustin Clarke led all scorers, tallying 34 with 11 rebounds and four steals in his last regular season game at the Viking Octagon. Colton Blackburn and Kody Hughes scored seven each in the defeat.
“This group of seniors has meant a lot to me, as they are one of the reasons I enjoy coaching. Individually, I’ve grown to have a bond with each of the players that separates them from other athletes. I hope we can continue to share a friendship after they leave high school. For the most part they are good role models for the younger guys as well,” Manis said. “They’re a special group of young men that I’ll cherish for the rest of my life.”
AHS traveled to Mitchell on Tuesday, Feb. 8, to close the regular season, and will begin Western Highlands Conference tournament play atMadison High School
Four players scored double-figures again for the Vikings in the win, led by Clarke with 18. Potter, Timmy Stewart and Benji Stewart scored 10 points apiece.
Last Friday, Feb. 4, AHS honored senior basketball players Colton Blackburn, Dustin Clarke, Kody Hughes, Mark Polsgrove, Joey Potter, Benji Stewart and Timmy Stewart prior to the boys game. In addition to the players, the Vikings honored one senior who serves as an assistant coach in Ethan Buchanan. The team also welcomed special guests from the fifth and sixth grade recreation league basketball program coached by head coach Stephanie Pritchard.
Despite the great emotion, AHS could not come away victorious in its Senior Night matchup, as visiting first-place Mountain Heritage came to town, and led early and often en route to a 90-73 win.
Heritage fired on all cylinders early on, hitting on 8-of-14 shots in the first period, including four three-point baskets to take an early 22-6 lead. AHS scored the final four points of the quarter but still stared at a deficit of 12 points at 22-10.
AHS relied on its own long distance shooting to stay in the game. Clarke drained a pair of three-pointers as the Vikings shot 50 percent from the field (9-for-18) in the second period. The Cougars continued to shoot the ball well themselves, as nine points in the quarter from college prospect John Cannon helped maintain Heritage’s edge and give the visitors a 43-30 lead.
The Cougars put the game away for good with a 25-point third quarter, hitting on 5-of-7 shots from three-point range during the stretch. The Vikings scored a respectable 18 points in the frame, but Heritage still extended its lead to 68-48 with eight minutes to play.
Several Viking reserves saw playing time in the final stanza as the outcome of the game was no longer in doubt.
Dustin Clarke led all scorers, tallying 34 with 11 rebounds and four steals in his last regular season game at the Viking Octagon. Colton Blackburn and Kody Hughes scored seven each in the defeat.
“This group of seniors has meant a lot to me, as they are one of the reasons I enjoy coaching. Individually, I’ve grown to have a bond with each of the players that separates them from other athletes. I hope we can continue to share a friendship after they leave high school. For the most part they are good role models for the younger guys as well,” Manis said. “They’re a special group of young men that I’ll cherish for the rest of my life.”
AHS traveled to Mitchell on Tuesday, Feb. 8, to close the regular season, and will begin Western Highlands Conference tournament play at
