Pioneer Holiday Invitational: Girls stifle losing streak
By Bill Cain

Hard work and gradual improvement finally amounted to another win for Watauga’s girls’ basketball team, which beat West Stokes 58-46 Wednesday night to advance to the championship game of the Pioneer Holiday Invitational.

Watauga (2-8) snapped an eight-game losing streak, in which the Pioneers have improved daily but have not pulled off a win since their season opener.

“They needed it badly,” Watauga coach Todd Dixon said. “It’s nice to have moral victories and it’s nice to tell the girls that they’re improving, but there’s nothing that makes you smile more than a win. I’m so glad that this team, which has been improving every game and against obstacles like injuries and absent players, that they can go into the locker room and celebrate.”

The Pioneers jumped out on West Stokes early with a 14-4 first quarter and maintained a balanced scoring attack throughout the game. Watauga scored 14 points in each of the first three quarters and 16 in the final quarter.

Anna Romano returned early from her holiday vacation to lead all scorers with 16 points. She also handed out four assists and swiped five steals. Emily Pineda scored 10 points and grabbed nine rebounds.

For West Stokes, Candace Schnellenberg was the only scorer in double digits with 11 points. She also led the Wildcats with eight rebounds. Kayla Mitchell dished out six assists.

Another spark for the Pioneers was provided by freshman Chandler Butler, who scored eight points, six of which came at the free throw line. Though she has a definite size disadvantage in the lane, Butler was able to draw contact and cut the Wildcats two ways, by going to the line and getting their players in foul trouble.

The one part of their game that still needs a little work is shutting the door on a team. Dixon said they have to work harder to put teams away in the closing minutes when they have a lead, but that he liked their effort Wednesday night. More than that, he liked the final.

“You can’t start a streak without that first win and that’s what we got tonight,” Dixon said.

Watauga 58, West Stokes 46

West Stokes (46)

Schnellenberg 5-13 0-0 11, Mitchell 1-6 5-10 7, Sisk 2-12 0-2 6, Holmes 3-8 0-1 6, Cox 2-3 2-8 6, Dickenson 1-2 3-4 5, Travis 2-6 1-7 5, Hawks 0-1 0-0 0.

Watauga (58)

Romano 4-12 8-10 16, E. Pineda 2-6 6-10 10, Butler 1-6 6-8 8, Baird 1-3 3-4 6, Cherry-Leigh 2-4 2-4 6, Rainey 3-7 0-0 6, Caldwell 2-4 0-0 4, Sturgill 0-0 1-2 1, Stamey 0-1 1-2 1.

West Stokes  4  15              15     12 — 46

Watauga                   14     14       14     16 — 58

3-pointers — West Stokes 3 (Sisk 2, Schnellenberg 1); Watauga 1 (Baird 1). Rebounds — West Stokes 33 (Schnellenberg 8); Watauga 29 (E. Pineda 9). Turnovers — West Stokes 24; Watauga 14.