AHS Junior Varsity Roundup

The Avery junior varsity teams (AHS) finished another busy week of basketball action in the final week of the regular season. The teams hosted three foes in Madison on Tuesday, Feb. 1, West Wilkes on Wednesday, Feb. 2 and finished the week with Mountain Heritage coming to town on Friday, Feb. 4.

Lady Vikings One Win from Another Perfect Conference SeasonThe Lady Vikings rolled to victory over all three of its opponents last week. On Tuesday, Feb. 1, the Big Red destroyed the Madison Lady Patriots 84-15. AHS led 24-6 after one period, held a 46-8 lead at halftime and rolled to the victory.

Every Lady Viking player scored at least three points and eight different players recorded at least three rebounds in the win. The squad was led with 16 points from Taylor Hobbs and 15 from Bre Heaton.

“We were on and they were off through the game. Each player was hitting on all cylinders, shooting, rebounding. The girls played awesome,” Lady Vikings head coach Pat Daniels said following the win.

The next night the Lady Vikings met a tougher foe in West Wilkes, rallying for a 65-32 win.

Daniels shook up the lineup, starting a group consisting primarily of players who have served in a reserve role for most of the season. West shot well in the opening period and seized advantage, leading 15-7 after one stanza. AHS rallied in the second quarter, bouncing back to tie the game at 23-23 at halftime.

In the third period AHS took charge, outscoring West 27-7 in the period to take a 50-30 lead into the final six minutes and cruised to a 33-point win.

“West is a much improved team than the first time we played them,” Daniels said after the game. “At halftime I told the girls that evidently West Wilkes were a better team than earlier in the year, and that if they wanted to win they’d have to go out there and earn it. We stepped it up in the third quarter and took over.”

Heaton scored 22 points with three assists in the win, while Katie Rigdon netted 12 points, seven rebounds, three blocks, two steals and a pair of assists. Jessie Ramsey scored seven points with six rebounds, while Sela Pittman and Hobbs dropped in six points apiece.

In the final contest of the week the Big Red was seeking a 10th straight conference win against the league’s second best team, the Mountain Heritage Lady Cougars. AHS finished the home schedule in style with a 54-41 triumph.

The Lady Vikings trailed 21-15 after one quarter but rallied to lead 30-26 at intermission before pulling away in the second half. Hobbs poured in 17 points, 15 in the first half with the help of four three-point baskets, to go with nine rebounds to lead the Big Red, with 15 from Heaton. Pittman scored seven points with five rebounds, while Rigdon scored all six of her points on free throws in the final quarter to go with six rebounds, four assists and two steals.

“Taylor stepped up big for us tonight. Kenzie Thomas had a number of steals and played great defense, and Sela played a big game inside,” Daniels said after the win. “I’m pretty sure we’ll see either this team and/or Polk County in the tournament coming up.”

Vikings Fall to Patriots, Defeat Blackhawks, Lose Nail-Biter to Cougars

A wide gamut of emotions was experienced by the AHS JV boys team this past week. On Tuesday, Feb. 1, the Vikings fell 45-26 to the Madison Patriots. The following evening AHS roared back with a strong showing, beating West Wilkes soundly by a 68-37 final score. In the team’s closest contest of the week, AHS was narrowly defeated by the Mountain Heritage Cougars 57-56 last Friday, Feb. 4.

With AHS trailing by only six points at 18-12 at halftime, a 16-5 third quarter run by the Patriots sealed the Vikings’ fate in the conference matchup. Only five AHS players registered points in the defeat, led by nine points from Luke Wotell.

“The biggest thing against Madison was that we didn’t come to play,” AHS head coach Reggie Oakes said following the loss. “Coach Gregory had his kids ready and we didn’t match their intensity the whole game.”

The Vikings showed its resilience and ability to respond to adversity in thumping the Blackhawks from West Wilkes. A 15-0 scoring run to open the game got the Vikings off to a strong start, while a 20-9 scoring edge in the third quarter from AHS put the contest far out of reach.

In the rout Bryce Pittman paced the Big Red with 11 points, while Daniel Childress added 10 points. Ty Polsgrove and Lane Smith chipped in eight points each.

“At their place we spotted them a 9-0 run and we were down 16 at one point and came back to force overtime. Even though we lost that game, we built off that with the defensive pressure and press that we used, so we basically used that again in the rematch. We used pressure, forced steals and turnovers and converted those into layups,” Oakes said of the win. “We did a much better job getting the ball inside with Luke Wotell and Payton Lowery. Lane played well and Bryce stepped up huge and showed great leadership. Coming off the loss to Madison, the players took it upon themselves to rally.”

Heritage raced out to a 15-6 lead after one quarter in the conference matchup to close out the week. A 20-point second period drew the Vikings back within single digits at 33-26 at halftime.

The Cougars again raced out to a double-figure advantage to open the second half, but an AHS scoring run to close the quarter, paced by six points from Polsgrove and four from Smith, drew the Big Red to 43-40 with one quarter to play.

AHS regained the lead early in the fourth quarter before the teams exchanged baskets down the stretch. A key steal and two converted Heritage free throws with less than 10 seconds to play proved to be the game-winner as a last-ditch shot from AHS’s Smith missed its mark.

Smith was one of three Vikings in double-figures, scoring 19 points. Wotell added 12 points, with 10 from Polsgrove.

“I felt we didn’t match their intensity early. At halftime my friend Gordon Polsgrove who coached almost every one of our players came to the locker room,” Oakes said. “He spoke to the team asking if they wanted the win more than the other team, and he told them he was disappointed in their lack of effort. I agreed with him 100 percent and reiterated what he said. We made some adjustments in the second half and pressed more. Unlike the first meeting, the press actually got us back into this game. If we play with the intensity in the first half that we played with at the end, we win that game.”

AHS concluded the regular season Tuesday, Feb. 8, with the short trip to Ledger to face Mitchell. Both JV teams compete next week in the Western Highlands Conference JV tournament held at Madison Middle School.

LMC Sports Roundup

Men’s Basketball: Falcons Hold Off Bobcats, LMC Upends Johnson and Wales

The Pfeiffer University men's basketball team shot 64 percent in the second half en route to a 105-89 shootout victory over Lees-McRae College (LMC) last Wednesday, Feb. 2,  in Conference Carolinas play.

Pfeiffer (8-10, 6-4 CC) posted a 55.4 percent field goal percentage, including a 63.6 (21-for-33) percent clip in the second half, while knocking down 11-of-26 attempts from three-point range. The Falcons edged the Bobcats (4-13, 1-9 CC) by a 34-31 margin on the boards, including an 11-9 advantage on the offensive glass, while converting 15 LMC miscues into 25 points. LMC shot 59.6 percent for the game, including a 68.8 percent clip in the second half.

Sam Youse paced the Bobcats with 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting, including a 3-for-7 night from downtown, to lead four LMC players in double figures. Adam McFerran poured in 19 markers on 7-of-10 shooting, recording the 1,000th point of his collegiate career, while pulling down a team-high eight rebounds. Daniel Sepokas and Tevin Friday chipped in 17 and 11 points, respectively, as Sepokas dished out a game-high five assists.

Five players scored in double figures for Pfeiffer, led by Jeff Pettiway's game-high 26 points on 8-of-14 shooting. Reggie Hollinger poured in 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting, while Chris Woods and Josh Humphrey chipped in 17 and 16 markers, respectively. Humphrey also posted a game-high nine rebounds for Pfeiffer, as Elijah Matthews added 11 points.

Sepokas  and Dairl Scott, Jr. each tallied 12 points to pace the Lees-McRae College men’s basketball team to a 79-44 victory over Johnson and Wales University last Saturday, Feb. 5.

Youse added 10 points for the Bobcats (5-13) as he connected on two of three attempts from beyond the arc. Leading the Wildcats (0-23) was Rodrick Latimer with a game-high 13 points.

LMC traveled back to Charlotte last Monday, Feb. 7, to take on Queens University of Charlotte in a Conference Carolinas matchup.

This Thursday, Feb. 10, both women’s head coach Sebastian Wild and men’s head coach Scott Polsgrove will coach barefoot in support of Samaritan’s Feet when the Bobcats host Erskine. The doubleheader tips off at 5:30 p.m. with the women’s contest, with the men’s game to follow.

Softball: LMC Sweeps Fayetteville State to Open Season

The LMC softball team opened the 2011 season in impressive fashion, sweeping a doubleheader against Fayetteville State University on Sunday, Feb. 6, by scores of 4-0 and 8-2.

LMC (2-0) posted a .250 batting average on the day, scoring a combined 12 runs on 13 hits while holding the Broncos (0-2) to two tallies on 10 base knocks. The Bobcat pitching staff also struck out a combined 13 batters on the day.

Lindsey Huntsinger paced the Bobcats with a 4-for-6 day, including three base hits in the night cap, while tying Paige Coleman, Kim Coley and Anna Carter for the team-high with two runs batted in. Coleman, Coley and Kierstie Moon each tallied a pair of base knocks on the day, as Huntsinger recorded a trio of stolen bases.

Laurel Gregg tossed a two-hit shutout in game one, fanning eight batters in six innings of work to notch her first career win at LMC. Magen West followed in the night cap, allowing one run on four hits in five innings of work to earn the victory. Freshman Hollie Crickenberger pitched a total of three frames on the day in relief, allowing one run on four hits and striking out three Broncos.

LMC got on the board early in game one, pushing across the season’s first run when Moon drew a leadoff walk, advanced to second on a sacrifice, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice by Huntsinger.

The Bobcats doubled the lead on a Coley RBI single in the fourth that scored Coleman from second. Meagan Knowles scampered home on a passed ball in the fifth to push the lead to 3-0 before Huntsinger scored on a sacrifice fly by Coleman in the sixth to cap the scoring.

In game two, the Bobcats took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning when Moon scored on a wild pitch, and Huntsinger stole third and scored on a Bronco error. Fayetteville State answered in the bottom of the inning, cutting the margin in half when Quristeen Brown doubled home April Branch to cut the lead to 2-1.

LMC responded in the third, pushing across two runs when Coleman reached on a Bronco error, allowing Huntsinger and Karli Robb to score and widen the margin to 4-1. The Bobcats then broke the game open in the fifth, scoring four runs on three hits and a Bronco error to push the lead to 8-1. An RBI double by Huntsinger and a two-run two-bagger by Carter highlighted the inning for the Bobcats.

Fayetteville State showed some fight in the late innings, stranding a runner in scoring position in the sixth before Ashley Wlezen singled home Olivia Peavey after Peavey stroked a lead-off double in the frame. Crickenberger then shut the door, recording a pair of strikeouts with runners in scoring position to quell the rally.

LMC returned to the diamond last Monday, Feb. 7, when the Bobcats traveled to Raleigh to take on Shaw University in a non-conference doubleheader.

ASU Mountaineers Hoops Roundup

Omar Carter sank two free throws with 25 seconds remaining in overtime to break a tie and propel Appalachian State University men’s basketball to an 80-78 win at UNC Greensboro last Wednesday, Feb. 2, at Greensboro Coliseum.

Carter accomplished the same feat in regulation as ASU (9-13, 5-7 SoCon) trailed by two with around a minute left. The pair of shots knotted the game at 68-68 as each team missed shots on their final possessions. The contest was back-and-forth all night with 16 lead changes and 17 ties. Including the extra period, neither team led by more than three points for the game’s final 18 minutes.

The overtime period was a thriller in itself with three lead changes and four ties. The Spartans (4-17, 4-7 SoCon) opened the extra frame with a layup resulting from an errant jump ball. Marcus Wright then sank a three-pointer for his only basket of the night and followed with a free throw to knot the game at 72-72.

Donald Sims then gave the visitors a 78-76 edge on a layup with 1:50 to play. Kyle Randall then tied up the game with a layup on the other end with 44 ticks left on the clock. Carter then drew a foul while driving to the basket on the other end and sank both fateful free throws. The junior then blocked a Randall shot attempt at the other end with 10 seconds left, knocking the rebound to Andre Williamson, who was immediately

fouled.

After both free throws rimmed out, the rebound was tipped out of bounds in UNCG’s favor for one final possession. Jeremi Booth defended Brandon Evans for the final eight seconds, whose jumper from the right side fell short at the buzzer.

Carter anchored the ASU offense with 26 points on 10-of-18 shooting. The junior recorded his second double-double of the season with 12 of ASU’s 46 rebounds.

Sims chipped in 23 points on 9-of-22 shooting to boost his career point total to 1,998. He added six rebounds and dished out a team-best five assists. Booth also reached double figures with 13 points on 4-of-10 shooting and a 4-of-5 mark from the charity stripe.

Evans finished with a double-double for UNCG, notching 17 points and 11 rebounds. Aloysius Henry came off the bench to lead the home team with 26 points on 11-of-17 shooting to accompany eight boards. His output accounted for the bulk of UNCG’s 36 bench points.

Randall added 10 points, six of UNCG’s 13 assists and five of the team’s 38 rebounds on the night.

Sims scored a team-high 17 points, including the final three of the game to ice a 68-62 win at Elon last Saturday, Feb. 5, at Alumni Gym. His first two points of the game pushed him over the 2,000-point mark for his career as ASU won its second-straight game.

A relatively tame first half gave way to a wild back-and-forth second period as the Mountaineers (10-13, 6-7 SoCon) clawed back from an eight-point deficit early in the second half to tie the game with six minutes remaining, 52-52.

Mitch Woods then gave ASU the lead for good with just his second three-pointer of the season with 3:07 remaining, 61-59. Following an Elon foul shot, Andre Williamson added to a one-point advantage with a layup off of a spin move in the paint for a 63-60 lead.

Elon’s (10-14, 4-9) Chris Long responded with a jumper to pull within 63-63 with around a minute remaining before ASU ran the clock down on the other end to 30 seconds. With a few ticks left on the shot clock, Omar Carter pulled up on the left baseline and sank a jumper to give ASU a safer 65-62 advantage.

Long then missed a three-pointer 20 seconds later, with Williamson winning the rebound. He passed to Sims, who was fouled with 10.3 seconds on the clock. Sims knocked down both free throws to increase the lead to two possessions. Following a quick Phoenix miss, Sims grabbed a rebound and sank one more free throw to provide the final margin.

Sims was 4-of-16 from the floor but sank 9-of-10 free throws and hauled in six rebounds with four assists on the night. He became only the 479th player in NCAA Division I history to reach the 2,000-point mark and the ninth player to accomplish the feat this season.

Carter also finished with 17 points on 8-of-14 shooting and notched his third double-double of the season with a game-high 10 rebounds.

Jeremi Booth reached double figures for a second-straight game with 14 points on 4-of-10 shooting with two of ASU’s three treys on the night. Williamson scored 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting and added six rebounds in the victory. The junior also swatted two of ASU’s four blocks on the night. In addition to Woods' three points, he hauled in four rebounds and dished out a pair of assists.

ASU returns home from the three-game road trip to host five of its final six games at home, beginning with the tilt against Samford this Thursday, Feb. 10. The game has been designated “Celebrate Watauga Night.”

Blackburn Inks with Coastal Carolina

Avery High School senior football player Colton Blackburn signed a National Letter of Intent last Wednesday, Feb. 2, to play football for Coastal Carolina University in Conway, S.C

“He is coached by Darrell Brewer, who played for me at Catawba and is someone I trust,” Coastal Carolina head football coach David Bennett said of his recruit at the team’s signing day press conference. “He and (fellow h-back/fullback signee) John Masley just bring so much to the table with their skill and versatility. They will push each other and it will be neat to watch them develop. He likes blocking, he can run ball and catch the ball. That’s what you want in a player. When you have a guy like that who can play either side of the ball that’s what you want when you sign athletes, and we’re real excited about having Cole.”

Blackburn’s signing took place with his parents, John and Kim Blackburn of Newland, on hand, as well as Avery County Schools Athletic Director David Wright, Viking football head coach Darrell Brewer and Principal Mark Garrett alongside.

“It’s pretty much a dream come true for me. Ever since I started football in seventh grade I fell in love with it. When I played I realized I wanted to take the next step and play in high school. Playing here I decided that I’d like to play in college, so this day means a whole lot to me as a player and a student,” Blackburn said following his press conference. “To succeed in Avery County and do what I love and follow my dream is great.”

Blackburn gave credit to the Avery football players and coaches for giving him the confidence to succeed on the gridiron. “The team’s made a great impact on me, as we’ve grown as a family. My teammates encouraged me every day, continuing to tell me that they believed I could play in college,” Blackburn said. “The coaches, since I was a freshman, they were on my back helping me and pushing me forward to succeed in what I wanted to do. They were a huge help. I couldn’t have done it without them.”

For the Blackburn family, the day was a culmination of years of love and nurturing, and the fruition of a long-time dream.

“I’m very proud of Colton. As a freshman he told us this was one of his goals and he has worked very hard for it,” Blackburn’s mother Kim said. “He really took ownership of his goal in his junior year and he spent time working out and improving, whether with teammates or on his own, and he even researched schools to play in college. It has been really special to see how he has grown and matured not just as a son, but as a young man. It’s been a pleasure as his mom to see him reaching his goals, and it’s both sad and exciting to see him move further with them.”

“Coastal is a great school and great football program. From the coaches to the facilities, the coaching staff has been great through the whole process,” Blackburn’s father Rick said. “They take care of the students. They make sure they keep their grade point average up and are academically accountable with a 95 percent graduation rate of student-athletes, so we know they will take care of Colton and do a great job working with him.”

Blackburn is the ninth Avery player to sign to play college football since Brewer took over as head coach prior to the 2004 season, and the latest commitment holds a special place in the heart of the coach.

“It’s one of the most gratifying days as a coach, but it’s also one of the saddest to see a player advance from the high school program to play in college, especially with a kid like Colton and the relationships you build with him. It’s tough to say goodbye to him, but he’s meant the world to our program,” Brewer said of his senior running back and defensive end. “He’s a hard worker and I’ve never coached a finer young man. He’s a heck of a football player. If you could ever clone a football player, Cole’s the kind of player you’d want to clone. Coastal Carolina will be extremely proud to have him because he’s such a versatile player. Cole can play tight end, you can split him out or put him in the backfield. Coach Bennett saw the versatility in Cole and he sees many places that he could be used. They’re truly excited about adding him to their program.”

The Chanticleers are members of the Big South Conference and have won three conference championships. Four former Chanticleers currently play professionally in the National Football League, including San Diego Chargers running back Mike Tolbert and Miami Dolphins quarterback Tyler Thigpen.

Robbins Signs with Sandhills Community College

Avery Lady Vikings senior volleyball player Megan Robbins signed a National Letter of Intent to play volleyball for Sandhills Community College in Pinehurst this fall. Robbins impressed the Sandhills coaches and staff, attending a tryout and outperforming 20 other prospects to earn the offer to play for the Flyers team.

“I first heard about Megan through Mr. Thomas Dellinger, III. His son is currently on our men’s basketball team. After contacting Megan’s coach Mrs. Kim Hayes and Megan, I invited her to come down for open tryouts on January 22,” Sandhills head volleyball coach Alicia Hill said of her newest Lady Flyer. “She along with 20 other individuals were at tryouts. The first thing I noticed about Megan was how energetic and polite she was. The entire tryout she was upbeat and very involved. She was willing to play any position, and I see her as a huge impact on the outside for us next season. She has great hops and for her size will fool a lot of opponents. We are extremely excited to add Megan to our roster for the fall.”

Robbins signed with Sandhills during a ceremony held last Wednesday, Feb. 2, at Avery County High School. Robbins was joined by coach Hayes, Megan’s father Curtis and by ounty Director of Athletics David Wright.

“I want to extend congratulations to Megan. We’re proud of Megan’s accomplishments while she has been a student at Avery High School. She’s been a vital player in our volleyball program and a key contributor in the Lady Viking soccer program who finished last year as state runner-up,” Wright said during the ceremony.

“We’re proud of what she’s done for Avery and we wish her well in the future, which we know is bright and that you will do well in whatever you choose to do.”

Robbins, who starred on the hardcourt for the Lady Vikings and hopes to pursue an academic degree in pediatric nursing, expressed gratitude to the Avery program and is excited about playing for the Flyers this fall.

“The coaches are really nice and welcomed me right off the bat. They have a really nice campus and the program was impressive. The team was encouraging of everybody and tried to push each other to work hard. They made me fit right in,” Robbins said of Sandhills. “To impress Coach Hayes here at Avery you have to work hard to finish first, not last. I’m really competitive and I hate losing, and Coach Hayes has helped a lot with helping me build character, work hard and improve as a player. She has done a lot to help me to hustle and never give up.”

It was a special day for Robbins’ father Curtis, who was extremely proud of his daughter and everything she has accomplished as a student and prep player.

“I’m proud of Megan. She’s excelled in soccer and volleyball and has always stepped up to her competition. She’s very competitive. Her mother and I both played sports in college and we’ve always encouraged her to play,” Curtis Robbins said of his daughter. “We went to Sandhills and were impressed with the coaches and program. The coach is top-notch and emphasizes the girls working hard and becoming all they can be. They have a good team, ranked seventh in the nation, and she will be playing some of the best players and teams in the country.”

The Lady Vikings are losing a great player in Robbins, but Hayes commented on how Avery’s loss of a special volleyball player and strong competitor will be a great gain for the Flyers.

“Megan has been one of our strongest leaders. I’m excited for her because she possesses a fiery instinct in her that she wants to be surrounded at a higher level with kids better than her that really pushes her to improve. She has huge aspirations, she wants to be challenged and pushed, and I think Sandhills is going to be the perfect fit for her,” Hayes said. “I’m excited about where she can possibly go after community college, because Division 1 schools look at players out of community college. I’m really excited for her to be at this school. The coach just loved her, and I’m excited to see how she performs this year and to see what’s going to happen for her after two years. I’m thrilled and excited for Megan.”

Sandhills Community College Lady Flyers volleyball is a member of Region X of the National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association.

Vikings Sweep Blackhawks in Non-Conference Hoops Action

Avery swept all four games at home vs. West Wilkes last night. The JV girls started off a bit slow as they were tied at 23 with West at halftime. The Lady Vikings found the hot hand in the second half, however, to pull away for a 65-32 win.

Bre Heaton scored 22 to lead Avery, with 12 from Katie Rigdon and 7 from Jesse Ramsey.

The JV boys also took care of West Wilkes, using a 15-0 run to start the game en route to a 20-point win.

Avery Lady Vikings basketball wore pink socks Wednesday night
as part of its "Pink Zone" fund raiser for Breast Cancer Awareness

The Avery Lady Viking varsity team won 58-46 over West Wilkes to move to 17-5 for the season. Avery's players wore pink socks for the "Pink Zone" and money was collected in honor of breast cancer awareness. The Lady Vikings led 16-14 after one quarter, and held a 32-26 lead at halftime.

The Lady Vikings exploded for a 20-7 run in the third period to build a 52-33 lead after three quarters which proved to be the difference in the game.

Mercedes Bentley led the way with 15 points, while Megan Tennant added 12 and Lauren Burleson chipped in with 10 points off the bench. West was led by Caitlyn Kilby with 12 points, with 10 from Leah Bishop.

In the boys contest, the Big Red came out sporting retro jerseys from the 1995-1996 season. Early on, it looked like the offense was left in the past, as both teams struggled to find offensive consistency. Avery had a hard time deciphering the West 2-1-2 zone defense, but the Vikings led 17-12 after one period, and held a 32-22 lead at halftime.

Much like the girls contest, the varsity boys blew up for 22 third-quarter points to propel Avery to a 54-35 advantage, and poured it on in the fourth quarter for a decisive 80-47 win. The victory improves Avery to 13-6 for the season.

Dustin Clarke led Avery with 18 points, with ten points each from Joey Potter, Timmy Stewart and Benji Stewart. Austin Lyons added eight points, with seven from Kody Hughes.

The Vikings host Mountain Heritage on Friday for Senior Night. A Lady Vikings win will clinch the regular season Western Highlands Conference championship.

Lady Vikings Remain Unbeaten in Conference with Three WHC Wins

The Avery (AHS) Lady Vikings capped a busy week of roundball action with a trio of triumphs. On Tuesday, Jan. 24, the Big Red blasted the Lady Bearcats from Hendersonville 80-26. AHS played its most competitive conference game of the season to date last Thursday, Jan. 26, as it took overtime for AHS to defeat Mountain Heritage 67-63 in Burnsville. The Lady Vikings followed up the emotional win the next evening with a 70-46 win in Columbus against Polk County.

Hendersonville was overmatched from the outset as AHS raced out to a 20-2 lead after one period and a whopping 42-5 margin at halftime en route to a lopsided win. All 11 players on the Lady Viking roster scored in the game, led by Megan Tennant’s 16 points. Mercedes Bentley scored 14, with 12 from Katelynn Eudy and 11 from Kelsie Clarke.

“We had starters play together at the first, then mixed things up and had different players playing together in the game. We worked on cutting down on turnovers and bettering our shooting percentage,” Lady Vikings head coach Missy Lyons said after the win. “It gave us the chance to work on some zones and different things.”

The week’s second game against Mountain Heritage two days later was the best ladies contest in the Western Highlands Conference this season, as the top two teams in the conference standings squared off.

AHS struggled a bit from the field in the first eight minutes, missing on 11 of its 17 shots from the floor. Bentley helped buoy the Lady Viking offense, however, with a pair of three-pointers, while Eudy posted six points in the frame as well. Nonetheless, the tall Heritage frontline was extremely physical and effective in the paint, helping the Lady Cougars to a 17-16 advantage after one quarter.

In the second quarter the Lady Cougars heated up from outside the arc, converting 3-of-5 shots from long distance. AHS continued to work hard offensively, but shots were not falling with consistency. A 10-2 Mountain Heritage scoring spurt over the final three minutes of the half pulled the Lady Cougars to a 36-27 lead at halftime.

Midway through the third quarter Heritage held an eight-point lead, but rebounding and defense keyed a 9-0 Lady Viking scoring run to erase the deficit and give the Big Red its first lead of the half at 41-40 with three minutes left in the period. Heritage responded with its own 6-0 run to regain control, settling for a 48-45 lead after three quarters.

A Clarke steal and layup early in the fourth quarter tied the game at 50-50, and neither team led by more than two points for the remainder of the period. Two Clarke free throws, and one made free throw each from Tennant and Eudy gave the Lady Vikings a tenuous 58-56 lead with 10 seconds left in regulation.

On its last offensive possession of the quarter Heritage forward Breanna Woody rebounded a shot and scored while Clarke collected a fifth personal foul. A mere 2.5 seconds remained on the clock as the basket tied the score at 58-58 with the opportunity for the Lady Cougars to shoot the potential game-winning free throw. Following a Heritage timeout, Woody went to the line and missed the free throw. AHS secured the rebound to send the game to overtime.

In the extra session, the Lady Vikings received a boost from an unsung heroine in junior guard Savannah Dellinger. The junior guard hit a jump shot in the lane in the overtime while also converting a perfect 5-for-5 shots from the free throw line, including two clutch shots with less than 10 seconds on the clock after a Lady Cougar three-pointer had cut the Big Red lead to only a pair. Avery’s defense clamped down when needed most to secure the win and preserve the team’s unblemished record in WHC games this season.

“Heritage shot the ball well. They were aggressive and they out-rebounded us for a stretch. We had a colorful halftime talk and decided to play a little better defense in the second half,” Lyons said. “Kelsie did a good job using her hands and getting steals. We did a good job getting out on the press and especially improved our rebounding in the second half. It was a physical game and Heritage played as rough as the referees let them. We felt once we toughened up a bit and adjusted to the style of the game and rebounded the ball, we could get back into the game.”

Eudy paced the Lady Vikings with a double-double of 24 points and 16 rebounds. Tennant added 19 points and 10 rebounds, with eight points from Bentley. Dellinger scored all seven of her points for the contest during the four-minute overtime period.

“Savannah had the little basket inside and was perfect on the free throws. She and the girls stepped up as leaders. Lauren’s [Burleson] height gave us a further advantage inside against their taller players,” Lyons added. “It was a good game for us to have and I was glad for us to come out on the winning side. After having two easier games and not having a lot of close games, to have a game like that really helped us quite a bit.”

The final game of the week against Polk was a tight contest in the early going as the battle from the previous evening appeared to have a lingering effect. The Lady Wolverines defended its home floor as AHS could only build a 20-15 margin after one stanza.

Polk outscored the Lady Vikings 7-4 over the first 2:29 of the second period to draw within a pair at 24-22. AHS committed to scoring inside in the period, however, pounding the basketball in the paint. Tennant scored four baskets in the period from short range with two additional hoops from Eudy, increasing the Lady Viking lead to 36-29 at intermission.

As the second half ensued, the AHS defensive pressure began to wilt the Wolverines. The Big Red coaxed 10 turnovers in the quarter from Polk while putting up 20 points of its own in the period, racing to a commanding 56-39 lead after three quarters. In the final stanza Polk found the going tougher, as AHS held the club to only seven points in the frame. Monica Estep scored six points in the second half, four in the final quarter, as the Lady Vikings earned the win.

Polk had no answer for the Avery offense from the interior. Tennant scored 22 points, with 10 from Eudy and 9 from Estep and Bentley. Clarke posted eight points, with five apiece from Dellinger and Burleson.

“Katelynn and Megan were beaten up pretty good in the Heritage game and they weren’t hitting their shots early on at Polk. It was an emotional game and the girls were a little tired as a result,” Lyons said after the win. “Megan got in some foul trouble, but once we got a little rotation going she was able to get a lot of rest in the first half, and was fresh and effective in the second half. Polk played a good game. They were aggressive and played hard. They hit the boards and the post players played a good first half. In the second half we came out defensively and gave a much better defensive effort. They play well at home and we’ve struggled there in the past. We didn’t shoot well, but the half-court trap was key and Kelsie was active with several steals out of it.”

The Lady Vikings host three opponents during this week and end regular season play on the road. AHS hosted Madison on Tuesday, and makes up a rescheduled game with West Wilkes this Wednesday, Feb. 2. The team hosts Mountain Heritage this Friday, Feb. 4, for Senior Night, and will make the short trip to Ledger to take on the Mitchell Lady Mountaineers this Monday, Feb. 7.

JV Hoops Roundup

The Viking junior varsity basketball teams were busy with hoops action last week, hosting Hendersonville on Tuesday, Jan. 25, before hitting the road for two road games at Mountain Heritage on Jan. 27, and at Polk County last Friday, Jan. 28.

JV Girls Remain Unbeaten in Conference Play
The Avery Lady Vikings (AHS) junior varsity continued its streak of impressive victories, cruising to a 60-9 win against the Hendersonville Lady Bearcats.

AHS led 9-2 after one quarter, but jumped to a 24-6 halftime advantage. The Big Red defense held the Lady Bearcats to only three points over the final two periods en route to the impressive win.

A total of 10 Lady Vikings scored points in the win, led by 10 points and four steals from Bre Heaton. Katie Rigdon and Taylor Hobbs chipped in with eight points apiece, while Shannon Smith added six points and nine rebounds.

“We knew it should be an easy game, so we tweaked our lineup, which worked really well, giving everybody a chance to play and everybody did a really good job,” head coach Pat Daniels said after the win. “The team played really well together and everybody stepped in and never missed a beat. Everybody played good team ball.”
The contest at Mountain Heritage proved to be one of the toughest games of the season to date for the Big Red. The Lady Vikings persevered, however, behind a 28-point effort from Heaton to earn a 52-44 road win.

AHS led 11-8 after one quarter thanks to three three-point baskets from Heaton, and doubled its lead by halftime to 20-14 as Jessie Ramsey chipped in with four points in the second stanza.

Heritage hung around in the contest using its physical play and tall frontline. Avery countered by using its press defense and pushing the basketball up the floor with every offensive opportunity. The Lady Vikings forced several Lady Cougar turnovers in the third quarter in taking a 33-24 lead going into the final period. Heaton heated up with several layups off steals in the final quarter, while teammate Hobbs scored five of her seven points for the game in the last period to propel the Big Red to the win.

Heaton added four steals and three assists to her point total. Haley Woody scored two points, but pulled down six rebounds, blocked five shots, dished four assists and grabbed two steals in the win.

“It was a physical game. A couple of girls were elbowed hard and there were no calls by the official,” Daniels said. “Taylor played a good game for us and she has picked up her game. She seems to like playing at power forward and has rebounded the ball well. Sela [Pittman] also played a great game and picked up several rebounds, giving a strong effort when we had some foul trouble. Mountain Heritage is a good team, and our defense picked it up in the second half.”

In the Polk contest the Lady Vikings was victorious by only three points, and the Big Red set out to make a statement on the home floor of the Lady Wolverines. AHS did just that, hammering the Lady Wolverines by a 49-33 final score.
AHS jumped out to an early lead, taking a 16-4 advantage after one period and a commanding 37-11 lead at halftime.

The Lady Vikings took the foot off the gas pedal in the third period and the Lady Wolverines cut the AHS lead to 41-24 after three periods. The contest was never in doubt however, as AHS scored at the free throw line to salt away the game and another Viking victory.

Heaton continued her torrid scoring pace with 26 points in the win, in addition to five assists and four rebounds. Rigdon added nine points and five steals, with five points and six rebounds from Woody.

“The referees had only had us play six minute quarters when we played Polk at home the first time, and with us only beating them by three points, the Polk coach convinced herself that they would have beaten us had the game had seven minute quarters. I told our girls that we need to go out and show them the kind of team we have. They came out with fire in the first quarter and took it to them early,” Daniels said. “We played a full game this time and the girls have been playing great defense the past couple of games.”

JV Boys Evens Score with Hendersonville, Falls Short in Road Contests
Last week the AHS junior varsity boys squad made a statement at home with its 59-54 win over Hendersonville. The Vikings could not carry the momentum into the week’s remaining games, however, dropping a 51-33 loss at Mountain Heritage and a heartbreaking 57-55 defeat on a buzzer-beater at Polk County.

Avery grabbed a 13-11 lead over the Bearcats after one quarter of action, but a strong second quarter led by seven points off the bench from Zack Guy and a stifling team defensive effort pushed the Big Red to a 32-19 halftime lead.
The Vikings carried the momentum of the first half into the third period, extending the lead to 45-30 after three quarters. Hendersonville made things interesting with a late scoring spurt, outscoring AHS 24-14 in the final seven minutes, but it was too little too late as the home team celebrated the win.

Guy finished the game with a season-high 13 points, while teammate Lane Smith also netted 13 points. Luke Wotell chipped in with 10 points off the bench. Bryce Pittman added eight points, with seven from Chance Watson.

The Vikings were unable to experience the same success in its matchup with the Mountain Heritage Cougars. Avery fell behind 14-2 after one period and was never able to catch up against a tall and athletic Cougars club. Smith led the Vikings with eight points in the contest, with seven from Wotell and five points from Pittman.

AHS bounced back in its final game against the Wolverines. The teams were tied at nine points apiece after one period, but the Vikings seized control in the second stanza, leading by as many as 12 points in the period before taking a 25-20 advantage into halftime.

Typical of the closeness of the contest, Polk stormed back in the third quarter to regain the lead at 37-35. For the remainder of the contest, the teams played nip and tuck as neither club could gain more than a one possession lead on the scoreboard.

Late in the game, Avery’s Smith hit a pair of clutch free throws, which tied the contest at 55 apiece. With its final possession, however, Polk held for the final shot. The attempt was missed, but an offensive rebound and layup at the buzzer proved the difference between overtime and a Polk County win.

“Heritage came out early and knocked us back on our heels and just couldn’t recover. The kids were just overmatched that night and the home court advantage definitely helped Heritage. Polk was a back-and-forth game of scoring runs. If we had been a little smarter with a 12-point lead maybe we could have sealed it and put the game away. The kids fought hard to get back into the game. I saw some good things,” boys JV coach Reggie Oakes said after the week’s games. “The game really came down to who had the ball last. Unfortunately they made the play with their last possession to win the game. I thought Luke played well for us inside and Payton [Lowery] played well before fouling out. We need to work to get the ball inside more, and is something we will focus on for the rest of the season.”

The Vikings host three opponents during this week and end regular season play on the road. AHS hosted Madison on Tuesday, and makes up a rescheduled game with West Wilkes this Wednesday, Feb. 2. The team hosts Mountain Heritage this Friday, Feb. 4, and will make the short trip to Ledger to take on the Mitchell Mountaineers this Monday, Feb. 7.

Avery High School sports schedule for Jan. 27

Thursday's ACHS sports schedule:

Avery basketball at Mountain Heritage will be played this afternoon in Burnsville. Game times have been moved ahead a half-hour, however, with the JV girls game starting at 3:30 p.m. today.

If you can't make this evening's games, they will be broadcast live by Burnsville radio station WKYK 940 AM. where they will be having streaming audio of the varsity games. Click the "sports" tab, then the "Listen Live" link to hear the action.

Avery wrestling will be facing Madison in a home dual meet at the Viking Octagon this evening at 6:30 p.m.


Also of note, Friday night's Avery at Polk County basketball games will be broadcast live via streaming audio from Columbus radio station WJFJ-AM. You can listen live for the varsity games beginning around 6:30 pm. by clicking here.

(Special Note: I (Jamie) have been invited by Wolverines radio voice Ray Henderson and his broadcast crew to assist with their radio call of Friday's games from Columbus, If you can't make Friday's games, you're invited to listen online for what's sure to be an entertaining broadcast.)

It's Official! Chappell Trots the Globe in a Labor of Love

For over five decades, Banner Elk resident Terry Chappell has been a fixture on athletic fields and gymnasiums, both locally and around the world. Chappell has served as an official for 51 years. He worked football games from the high school and small college levels up to the Atlantic Coast Conference for 40 years, spent 46 years officiating small college and Old Dominion Athletic Conference basketball, and for the past 30 years has been officiating volleyball matches.

During his career, Chappell has seen about everything there is to see in competition. During the fall, Avery High School volleyball players, coaches and fans still see him multiple times in the gymnasium at home volleyball matches calling during the regular season and the state playoffs.

“I’ve always had an interest in athletics. My first two years in high school I was too small to participate, so the coach had me refereeing scrimmage games at practice,” Chappell said in an interview last week. “The year after I graduated from school, which was in 1959, I started officiating football and basketball. I had a great love of the game and enjoyed being involved with the youth, and hoped to inspire one or two of them along the way.”

As with most individuals, there are always people who provide inspiration and influence what they are passionate about. When it comes to officiating, Chappell is no exception.

“I had two great influences early on. Ralph Stout from Mountain City and John Hollers from Boone were two people who really got behind me and helped me along. They really carried me the first two or three years until I got my feet wet and realized that I was going to get hollered at,” Chappell said.

Officiating has taken Chappell around the state of North Carolina, but it has also opened doors for him to travel around the world. Chappell worked as a referee for the world famous Harlem Globetrotters from 1987 until a knee injury forced him to leave the group in 1991. His work with the internationally-renowned group took him to locales that many only dream of visiting.

“We went all over the world. We went to Tokyo and Hong Kong on tour, to China and seen the Forbidden City. The streets were narrow and everyone there, probably over 90 percent of the people, rode bicycles with tags on them,” Chappell said. “We also toured in Guam and stayed there a week and traveled all over Europe. We worked once at the Boston Garden, where the officials dressed in the Celtics locker room, and we were able to see Larry Bird’s locker there.”

Chappell had no problem describing his favorite location that the tour visited.
“My favorite place we went was when we traveled and spent seven weeks in Australia. We played only three nights a week there rather than playing every night as we did in most places,” Chappell said. “The promoter who had us there felt if we played three or four nights a week and had more rest instead of playing every night, we’d put on a better show. We had a lot of time to golf and I enjoyed the time we were there.”

Not only did Chappell’s time with the Globetrotters take him around the world, he had experiences that few people get the chance to enjoy, such as a visit to see the home of the nation’s Chief Executive.

“We once were in Washington, D.C. and we had a private tour of the White House,” Chappell said. “I tell folks I went to see President Bush and tell him what he needed to do to straighten out the economy. We visited the White House Press Room where the press conferences are held that are seen on television. We went through all kinds of places that average people who take the tour don’t get to see.”

Many would be surprised to know that not only did Chappell’s work with the Globetrotters mean an opportunity to see the world, but it also afforded him the chance to meet a number of famous athletes and individuals. One particular story Chappell shared involved the time he starred opposite comedian and actor Bill Cosby on the popular sitcom “The Cosby Show.”

“When Teresa Edwards won the 1988 Olympic gold medal in women’s basketball, she was on the show. Cosby contacted me and another official to come do the show and film a basketball scene,” Chappell said. “So we go up to New York to film an episode where Edwards and some of the best women’s players in the nation played against some of the retired NBA basketball players like Bobby Jones, Bill Bradley, Walt Hazzard and lots of other players.”

The Harlem Globetrotters are best remembered for their antics and family entertainment provided to millions around the world. Chappell was able to get to know many of the players and built lasting relationships with a number of people associated with the group.

“Twiggy Sanders, Sweet Lou Dunbar and ‘Showbiz’ Jackson were the three showmen. We had two teams. Sweet Lou was with one of the teams and Twiggy and Showbiz were with the other team. We had one team that traveled to the bigger cities and the other that traveled around to the smaller towns,” Chappell said. “I still stay in touch with Sweet Lou as well as Clyde Sinclair. They are both still involved with the group as coaches, and anytime they are in the vicinity and the Globetrotters have games, they’ll provide me with tickets for myself and my family.”

One of the greatest satisfactions Chappell received from his years on tour centered on the audiences the group entertained from town to town.

“The adults and older people were always as active and involved as the children were,” Chappell recalled. “When Twiggy or one of the players held something up, you’d see adults holding up their hands standing and begging for it as much as the kids. I remember the first time I took my father to an event. During the show Twiggy had a tutu on under his shorts, and when he pulled down his shorts and waved them around asking who wanted them, I look on the front row and I see my dad standing up hollering as loud if not louder than the kids.”

Chappell received his break with the Globetrotters after receiving a call from former Atlantic Coast Conference Director of Officials Fred Barakat, who knew Chappell from observing Chappell’s work as an ACC football official.

“Fred was the one who recommended me for the job. He called me up and told me the Globetrotters were looking for an official. Well actually, he started by kidding me, asking me if I wanted to come officiate a North Carolina-N.C. State basketball game. I first thought it was Wayne Otto joking with me, as we went on all the time like that,” Chappell said. “Fred then apologized and told me the Globetrotters were looking for someone. Knowing me and my personality and especially my size at five feet, six inches compared to the seven-foot tall players they had, he felt that I would be perfect for the show.”

After the call, Chappell traveled to Greensboro and spent two weeks touring with the Globetrotters auditioning for the referee position with six other officials before winning out and receiving his job offer.

“After that period they told me they really wanted me to stay with them for the rest of the tour, but I told them I had to go back to my old job and give my notice to them,” he stated. “From that point I spent the next four years with the group.”

Through the years Chappell as a Globetrotter referee was often the victim of more than one player prank on the court. Yet through it all, Chappell feels blessed to have been part of such a special group.

“Of course as officials we had water thrown on us every night. Every time there was a TV camera players would come over and pull my shirt up and ask me “Who’s afraid of cholesterol?” Chappell said. “The whole show, seeing the kids and everybody smile always made it worthwhile.”

Lady Vikings Overwhelms Warlassies, Throttles TJCA

Last Tuesday, Jan. 18, the Avery High School (AHS) Lady Vikings battled a physical Owen Warlassies club in Swannanoa. Turnover hampered both teams for much of the game, but Avery’s talent and size, primarily its frontline strength, proved too much for Owen as the Big Red pulled away in the second half for a 53-39 Western Highlands Conference win.

On Friday, Jan. 21, the Lady Vikings welcomed the Thomas Jefferson (TJCA) Gryphons to the Viking Octagon. If it had been an option, TJCA might have tapped out in submission to the superior Big Red. However, the team played the contest to its duration, with the Lady Vikings earning its fifth straight win and 11th win in its last 12 games with a 74-20 triumph.

In its contest with the Warlassies, both teams had trouble holding on to the basketball, turning it over in unusually high numbers. Piled onto its inability to consistently possess the ball, the Lady Vikings connected on only 4-of-18 shots in the first period. Owen fared little better, hitting 4-of-14 shots, as the teams were knotted at 9-9 after eight minutes of play.

The AHS press defense continued to do its work in the second period of turning the Warlassies over, while the offense improved both its ball protection and shooting. Lady Viking senior forward Katelynn Eudy heated up from the floor, making 3-of-4 shots in the stanza for six points, while junior teammate Megan Tennant continued her recent torrid offensive production, netting six points in the half herself to bolster.

Defensively, AHS forced 15 Owen turnovers for the half, while a 10-1 scoring run in the second stanza boosted the Lady Vikings to a 21-12 halftime lead.

Throughout the second half, the Warlassies continued to employ a physical brand of basketball, but the Lady Vikings continued to persevere, finding space inside with crisp passing and accurate touch inside the paint. Sophomore Kelsie Clarke netted a pair of layups in the third period, with five points from Eudy, four points from Tennant and three from Savannah Dellinger to help AHS take a 39-24 lead after three periods.

The pair of Eudy and Tennant combined for all six Lady Viking field goals in the final eight minutes, as the Big Red earned a hard-fought 14-point win.

Eudy led all scorers with 19 points on 9-of-14 shooting, with 11 rebounds, three steals and a pair of blocks. Tennant added a double-double of her own with 14 points and 10 rebounds, in addition to three rebounds and two blocked shots. Dellinger scored five points, with four apiece from Clarke and Lauren Burleson.
Shae Frizsell led the Warlassies with 14 points, with nine points from Tori Falls. The Lady Vikings forced 31 Owen turnovers in the win.

“I felt we didn’t play well, but they didn’t either. I thought we rebounded well, and Eudy really got going in the second half, as she hasn’t had a big game in a while,” Avery head coach Missy Lyons said after the win. “We did have a lot of turnovers but our defense stepped it up at times. Owen is always a hard team to play over there, so I thought we pulled it out and played maybe a bit better than I thought we would.”

The Lady Vikings dominated the TJCA Gryphons as Lyons mixed up her lineup, with Clarke, Monica Estep and Danielle Byrd getting the starting nod. The starters may have been altered, but the team achieved a similar result to the beating inflicted in the teams’ earlier meeting this season in Rutherford County

Clarke tallied seven points in the first period with a pair of baskets by Eudy, as Dellinger and Shayna Vance each came off the Viking bench to net a three-pointer giving the Big Red a 19-7 lead after one period.

From there, the defense stood tall, holding TJCA without a field goal for the remainder of the half. Only a Victoria Bennett free throw prevented the Gryphons from a scoreless quarter. AHS’s offense, meanwhile, continued to roll. Eight different players scored in the half as the Lady Vikings outscored TJCA 16-1 in route to a 35-8 halftime edge.

The second half was a formality as Lyons played each player extensive minutes in the game. AHS led 52-15 after three periods and put its foot on the pedal in the final eight minutes en route to the 54-point win.

Clarke led the Lady Vikings with 18 points, with 12 from Dellinger, nine from Mercedes Bentley, eight each from Eudy and Burleson, seven from Tennant and six from Vance.

“What we tried to do tonight was try to mix it up to give all the girls a chance to play and have girls play some different spots, which could help us later in the season,” Lyons said. “We wanted to have a better shooting percentage tonight and less turnovers as goals and we feel good about being able to do that. We wanted to do a good job communicating better on defense, and be able to switch up and substitute and rotate, and all the girls did a great job.”

The Lady Vikings were scheduled to host Hendersonville in Western Highlands Conference action on Tuesday, Jan. 25, and will travel to Mountain Heritage this Thursday, Jan. 27, to make up an earlier postponed game, and will finish the week with a trip to Polk County this Friday, Jan. 28.

Vikings Rally to Oust Owen, Grounds Gryphons

The Avery High School (AHS) varsity boys basketball team mounted a comeback from a double-digit first half deficit to down the Owen Warhorses 61-52 in hoops action last Tuesday, Jan. 18, in Swannanoa. On Friday, Jan. 21, the Vikings held off a pesky Thomas Jefferson club to earn a 88-74 win and maintain its undefeated mark all-time against the Gryphons.

AHS got off to a remarkably slow start in its rematch of a December game won 72-70 by the Vikings in Newland last month. Owen seized a 14-6 lead after one period as the Big Red connected on only two of its 10 shots in the period and committed nine turnovers that helped push the Warhorses out in front.

In the second frame, however, the Vikings protected the basketball offensively and stepped up the defensive pressure to get back into the game. Following a basket by Ben Marett which gave the Warhorses a 23-10 lead at the 5:22 mark of the stanza,

AHS held Owen scoreless for the remainder of the period and mounted a 9-0 scoring run of its own to draw within four points at intermission.

As in last year’s matchup in Swannanoa, AHS senior Dustin Clarke shouldered the offensive scoring burden for the Vikings, as he netted 11 points in the second period and 15 of the 19 Viking markers for the half.

In the third period the Big Red continued to make its push toward the lead. Senior Kody Hughes asserted himself and was a factor on both ends of the floor. Hughes connected on 3-of-4 shots from the field and scored nine points in the period.

Jordan Brown countered for Owen with seven points of his own which helped the Warhorses preserve a narrow 37-35 advantage heading into the final eight minutes of play.

A Hughes steal and bucket at the 6:36 mark of the final stanza staked the Vikings its first lead of the contest at 39-37, while a three-point play from Alex Villanueva boosted the AHS club to a five-point margin.

The plays appeared to swing the game’s momentum for good in favor of the visitors from AHS. Clarke connected on three field goals in the period and scored 11 points in the final quarter. Hughes scored six over the same span, while Villanueva finished with five points in the period.

The Vikings did everything it needed to do over the final eight minutes to close out the victory. AHS shot 9-of-15 from the field in the frame and connected on 7-of-9 shots from the free throw line. The team committed just two turnovers in the period and gave the ball up just six times over the entire second half to quell all hopes for an Owen win.

Clarke led all scorers with 30 points on 10-of-23 shooting from the field, and made good on 10-of-12 free throws. The University of Hartford commitment added five assists, eight rebounds and four steals.

Hughes hit both of AHS’s three-point shots for the contest and finished with 14 points, to go with seven rebounds and three steals. Villanueva chipped in with nine points, with six points, five rebounds and two steals from Joey Potter.

The contest with Thomas Jefferson was a closer matchup than most suspected, but the Vikings emerged victorious with an 88-74 win on its home floor.

AHS played the game without the services of head coach Bo Manis, who was absent due to a death in the family. Assistant coach Reggie Oakes took the reins for the game, and will lead the Big Red through next week’s games also in the coach’s absence.

Behind the touch of the state’s leading scorer, Travis Waldrop-Rodriguez, the Gryphons and Vikings played evenly through one period, as the squads were knotted at 20-20 after one period.

The Vikings shot more than 50 percent from the field in the first half, as the senior duo of Dustin Clarke and Kody Hughes paced the AHS offense with a combined for 32 points to pace the Big Red to a 44-38 halftime lead.

TJCA’s own dynamic tandem of Waldrop-Rodriguez and Richard Petty attempted to keep pace with AHS with 26 points of their own by intermission.

AHS began the second half at a torrid pace with a 27-point third period. Clarke continued a white-hot shooting display with 12 points in the stanza, with nine from Hughes, stretching the Viking advantage to 71-54 after three quarters.

Throughout the final period the Vikings answered virtually every basket the Gryphons scored. The AHS bench got into the act in the second half, as Benji Stewart scored a pair of baskets, with buckets from Dyllon Greene, Austin Lyons and Andy Gonzalez bolstering the Viking margin.

Waldrop-Rodriguez, much like his 34-point effort in the first meeting between the schools, showed why he is one of the best scorers in recent history in the Western Highlands Conference. The freshman tallied a game-high 33 points that included a 75-foot heave for his final three points as time expired to end the game.

Clarke ended the night with 32 points in his own right to lead the Vikings to go with 10 assists, six rebounds and four steals. Hughes was also a major factor in the triumph with a season-high 26 points. Colton Blackburn added eight points and four rebounds, with seven points from Benji Stewart.

“They played a lot of man defense on us last game, but we just happened to work on offense against a zone defense the last five minutes of our last practice. They showed a 3-2 zone, and our work really paid off with some open looks and buckets tonight,” Oakes said after the Viking victory. “All of us are keeping Bo in our prayers, and he has done such a great job with the kids this year. I don’t think people realize how good a job he has done with these kids. He left some words of wisdom with the kids about being a band of brothers, and tonight it seemed like everybody was into the game and supporting each other with strong camaraderie. I credit this whole win to Coach Manis.”

AHS improves to 10-4 for the season, with a 7-1 mark in conference contests. The Vikings was scheduled to take on conference leader Hendersonville on Tuesday, Jan. 25, in the Viking Octagon, and will travel to Mountain Heritage this Thursday, Jan. 27, and journey to Polk County on Friday, Jan. 28.

Yackey Named to NCSCA 1A All-State Soccer Team

Avery High School senior defender Brock Yackey was named to the 1A All-State Soccer Team, as selected by the North Carolina Soccer Coaches Association.

Yackey helped the Vikings to a 15-win season and its first state playoff victory in more than a dozen years.

“Brock was our defensive leader and soul of the team. Without taking away anything from anybody else on the team, Brock was the anchor of the team,” Avery head soccer coach Tom Evaul said of his senior standout when he was recognized with his fellow seniors at the conclusion of the regular season. “When he had a bad game, or was not on the field, we struggled. He has had a fantastic senior year, and he will be sorely missed next year.”

Yackey was recognized, in addition to his fellow All-State selections, at a banquet held in Greensboro last Sunday, Jan. 23.

Wrestling Splits Duals with Owen, TJCA

The Avery High School (AHS) wrestling team started its week with a tough loss in a home match Tuesday, Jan. 18, against the Owen Warhorses. The Big Red bounced back, however, to take a 48-24 road victory against Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy (TJCA).

The match kicked off at 152 pounds, where Luke Price fell to Owen’s Paul Redmon by pinfall.

Following a Warhorse win by forfeit, AHS earned its first points of the match at 171 pounds when senior C.J. Vance won by a 5-3 decision in the third period of overtime. Vance won the match when he earned an escape and a penalty point for the final bout margin.

At 189 pounds, Logan Corrai continued the Viking momentum as he earned a 12-5 decision win over Taylor Early to narrow the point differential to 12-6. Senior Lucas Lecka captured another six points with a pinfall victory at 215 pounds over Owen’s Jake Stewart. Unsportsmanlike conduct by the Owen wrestler resulted in a deduction of one team point, which gave the Vikings the overall team lead at 12-11.

The deduction served to motivate the Warhorses, who seized control of the dual. Owen won consecutive bouts in the heavyweight (pin), 103-pound (pin), 112-pound (forfeit), 119-pound (major decision), 125-pound (decision) and 130-pound (pin) weight classes. The Vikings finally broke the string when senior Brock Yackey earned a 14-0 major decision victory over Owen’s Derrick Holt. The Warhorses captured the final two bouts by pin to provide for the final margin.

Two evenings later, the Vikings traveled to Rutherford County and earned a key momentum-building dual meet victory.

The match opened with a double forfeit at the 112-pound weight class. At 119 pounds, Viking grappler Harley Rash earned a first period pinfall to put the Big Red out in front. Justin Gragg made it two straight bout wins with a third period pin at 125 pounds, giving AHS a 12-0 lead.

TJCA bounced back to cut the lead in half with a pinfall win at 130 pounds, but a forfeit win by Yackey at 135 pounds gave the Big Red an 18-6 lead.

Avery surrendered a forfeit at 140 pounds, TJCA earned a victory by pinfall at 145 pounds and won the 152-pound bout by forfeit which gave the Gryphons the lead for the first time at 24-18.

Following a double forfeit at 160 pounds, Vance put the Vikings back in the win column with a first period pin at 171 pounds to tie the match.

Nathaniel Buchanan’s victory by pin at 1:26 in the 189-pound bout put the Vikings ahead in the dual for good. Lecka won the final contested match of the evening by pin at 1:07 for a 36-24 lead, and Greene (heavyweight) and Wesley Hobbs (103 pounds) each won by forfeit to provide for the final 48-24 winning margin.

The Big Red traveled to Hendersonville on Tuesday, Jan. 25, to take on the Bearcats, and return home this Friday, Jan. 28, to host the Polk County Wolverines.

Musings and Ramblings: Super Bowl Matchup Celebrates History of Sport

I’m pretty sure after last weekend that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is smiling…all the way to the bank.

Last Sunday, Jan. 23, participants in the 45th installation of the world championship of professional football, also known as the Super Bowl, were determined. This year’s big contest pits arguably the two most tradition-rich franchises in the National Football League, when the AFC champion Pittsburgh Steelers and the NFC champion Green Bay Packers square off on Feb. 6, at Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The Packers, one of football’s oldest franchises with the moniker of “Titletown,” was the dominant team in the 1960s, winning five NFL championships in the pre-Super Bowl era and the first two Super Bowl titles. Green Bay relived those glory days with its win over New England in Super Bowl 31.

Pittsburgh was the winningest championship team in the 1970s, capturing four Super Bowls in a six-year span, culminating with back-to-back wins in Super Bowls 13 and 14. The Steelers have enjoyed resurgence in the past six seasons with wins in Super Bowls 40 and 43.

This year’s championship has all the trappings of a classic showdown. Both teams have saved their best football for the postseason and are battle-tested. The Packers had to win three road games to get to the big game. The Steelers, in the meantime, had to win a pair of slugfests at home against Baltimore and the New York Jets to punch its ticket to Texas.

For the next two weeks, there will be endless chatter and stories about how the teams match up and which team has the edge. With that in mind, I’ve decided to put on my analyst hat, make a shade tree assessment of which team has the edge in several categories and pick a winner.

Offense: Green Bay has shown the proclivity to pass the pigskin, and has shown quick-strike ability during the regular season and playoffs. After waiting in the wings for a couple of seasons behind legendary quarterback Brett Favre, current Packer signal-caller Aaron Rodgers is one of the league’s most exciting young players, as he amassed more than 4,000 yards passing and 28 touchdown passes this season.

Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger (pictured left) & Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers

 

Aside from the quarterback, the Packers has a talented corps of receivers, from veterans Donald Driver and Greg Jennings to younger players like James Jones and Jordi Nelson. What has emerged as a surprise in the postseason has been the emergence of a running game, primarily the work of running back James Starks, who continued a great playoff season with 74 rushing yards and a touchdown in Sunday’s NFC championship game win over the Chicago Bears. He and fullback John Kuhn have brought energy to a running game decimated early this season by the injury to starting running back Ryan Grant.

Pittsburgh is a hard-nosed football team that uses its physicality to gain success. The toughness begins at the quarterback position with Ben Roethlisberger, who is a strong-armed passer whose large frame makes him tough for defenders to bring down. Rashard Mendenhall has emerged as the team’s top running back, cementing his status as a big-time player with more than 100 yards rushing in its AFC title win over the Jets. The Steelers have a pair of talented young receivers in Mike Wallace and Emmanuel Sanders, with veteran complementary receivers in Hines Ward, Heath Miller and Antwaan Randel-El.

Offensive Edge: Packers

Defense: Pittsburgh’s defense kept the team afloat during the first four weeks of the regular season when Roethlisberger was suspended by the league for violation of the personal conduct policy. Right outside linebacker James Harrison (100 tackles and 11 sacks) is a leading candidate for the NFL Most Valuable Defensive Player award this season, despite being fined more than $100,000 this season for at least four instances of helmet-to-helmet contact on players, a point-of-emphasis preached by the league office for officials to crack down on after a rash of hits around the league put the issue in the spotlight. Harrison plays all-out, and punishes opponents with bone-crushing hits and has a nose for the football.

Teammates James Farrior (109 tackles, six sacks) and LaMarr Woodley (10 sacks) help Harrison in the middle of the new Steel Curtain defense.

Anchoring the Pittsburgh secondary is safety Troy Polamalu (63 tackles and seven interceptions). Polamalu’s presence on the field makes the Steelers a better team defensively. The team’s turnover ratio and points per game surrendered is vastly different, emphasizing his importance to the club. As important, his presence gives the remaining secondary starters of Ike Taylor, Ryan Clark and Bryant McFadden the freedom to play more aggressively on receivers, knowing the All-Pro is in the backfield to back them up.

Green Bay has had one of the most consistent defenses in all of football during the 2010 season. The team has a number of emerging young stars, like linebackers A.J. Hawk (111 tackles) and Clay Matthews (60 tackles and 14 sacks) and nose tackle B.J. Raji (39 tackles and seven sacks), along with veterans like former league defensive Most Valuable Player Charles Woodson (92 tackles) and Nick Collins (70 tackles and four interceptions).

The Packers have greater young talent across the board defensively than the Steelers, but the veteran experience of the Steelers, with several players now making a third Super Bowl appearance, gives them the slight advantage.

Defensive Edge: Steelers

Special Teams: The Packers have one of the best kickers in the NFL in Mason Crosby. The fourth year pro out of Colorado has converted all 46 of his extra points successfully this season and has a 78.1 percent field goal conversion rate for his career (107 of 137). He has converted 22-of-28 field goal attempts this season, with a long of 56 yards.

Punter Tim Masthay averages 44 yards per punt, and has placed 25 punts inside the opponents’ 20-yard line this season.

Traman Williams is Green Bay’s leading punt returner. Williams had a breakout season, starting all 16 games and leading the team with a career-high six interceptions and a career-best 23 passes defensed, but has been a valuable asset in the return game with speed to break a touchdown each time he touches the football.

Kickoff return duties are handled by Nelson and Sam Shields, who each have kickoff returns of approximately 50 yards on their stat sheet this season.

Pittsburgh’s kicking game has been a bit shakier this season. The Steelers cut long-time kicker Jeff Reed after nine games and brought in Shawn Suisham to finish the season. Since his resurfacing in Pittsburgh Suisham has been solid, converting all of his extra point attempts and successfully kicking 14-of-15 field goal attempts.

Pittsburgh lost punter Daniel Sepulveda for the season with a torn right anterior cruciate ligament in the team’s 12th game. Replacing Sepulveda was Jeremy Kapinos, who was signed by the team after a tryout and has averaged 41.9 yards per punt in 18 attempts this season.

In the return game Steelers wideout Antonio Brown is the only player from either team with a return for a touchdown, and has close to 400 kick return yards in 2010. Veteran Randel El also returns punts, while Sanders is the team’s primary kickoff returner who averages more than 25 yards per kickoff return for the year.

Neither team has a glaring advantage in the kicking nor return game based on season statistics. The edge here goes to neither Pittsburgh nor Green Bay, so call it a push.

Special Teams Edge: EVEN

Coaching: Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin replaced a legendary coach in Bill Cowher, and has taken his squad to two Super Bowls in three seasons. He is a player’s coach who has the respect and admiration of his players. It also helps Tomlin to have one of the best defensive minds in the game calling the defensive plays in coordinator and NFL Hall of Famer Dick LeBeau.

Green Bay head coach Mike McCarthy led the Packers to the NFC title game in 2007 with Brett Favre calling the signals, but he agreed to the unpopular move at the time of trading the heralded quarterback in favor of giving the reins of the team to an upstart quarterback in Aaron Rodgers. The move has proven wise as he has taken a team that had to win its final two regular season games to simply make the postseason and led them to the cusp of the game’s ultimate prize.

McCarthy has his own talented defensive coordinator in former Panthers head coach and Steelers defensive coordinator Dom Capers.

The chess match between the coaches should be intriguing, but the edge has to go to Tomlin and his staff who have proven on two occasions already that they can get the job done when the most pressure is on them.

Coaching Edge: Steelers

After weighing all the data, one thing is clear: Super Bowl XLV has the potential to be one of the most competitive and exciting championship games of all time. The teams last met in December 2009 in a classic confrontation. If the teams can match the drama of that game, which featured a last-second Roethlisberger touchdown pass for a thrilling victory, fans are in for a treat.

As a lifelong Dallas Cowboys fan, I will be rooting against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who cost the Cowboys a pair of Super Bowl titles in the 1970s before Dallas earned a small measure of revenge in Super Bowl 30. However, in an unbiased analysis, I have to give the AFC champions a slight overall edge to win the big game.

PREDICTION: Pittsburgh 31, Green Bay 26