Pioneers seek

to avenge losses to Ashe
By Steve Behr
sports@wataugademocrat.com

It’s never a good idea to get swept by anybody. When it’s a border rival, the idea gets even worse.

Both Watauga basketball teams face that possibility Friday night when they host Ashe County at Lentz-Eggers Gym. The girls’ game begins around 6:30 p.m., while the boys’ game, theoretically, starts around 8 p.m.

It’s the final game before Christmas, so a loss would stick with the Pioneers until Dec. 27 when they play the first round of the Watauga holiday tournament. It’s a loss that boys’ coach Rob Sanders would like to avoid.

“We don’t want to go over the long break with a loss,” Sanders said. “Ashe is a big rivalry game. We split with them last year and we don’t want to get swept this year.”

Both teams face that Friday. The boys’ team lost 63-59 in the first meeting, while the girls’ team fell 41-28.
In both games, cold shooting, particularly in the first half, haunted the Pioneers. Watauga’s boys were held to five points in the second quarter and fell behind 22-17. The Pioneers struggled with Ashe County center Tommy Spagnolo, who hit eight baskets from the field and all nine of his foul shots. He finished with 25 points.

Guard Tatum Lemly scored 20 points, helped by 12-of-14 shooting from the foul line.

Overall, the Huskies connected for 27-of-33 from the foul line.

Zach Greene led Watauga with 14, while Chad Eppley and Ian Dale each added 13 in that game.

“The main thing is that we have to play with more discipline on both sides of the ball,” Sanders said. “We fouled way too much on defense and didn’t execute enough offensively.”

The Watauga girls struggled offensively against the Huskies, but Ashe didn’t exactly score in bunches, either. Watauga eventually scored just three points in the fourth quarter to fall behind for good.

However, the Pioneers (4-4) have played better lately, despite losing their last two games. They fell behind by 24 points to Mitchell early in the second half, only to rally to within one point before finally losing.

Watauga coach Klay Anderson was also happy with how the Pioneers played in their loss to South Caldwell last Friday.

“We did some good things against South Caldwell and Mitchell,” Anderson said. “We dug a hold at Mitchell, but then had a chance to win. I say South Caldwell was our best game because we outrebounded them 51-24, but we also had 10 more turnovers. While our rebounding was outstanding, turnovers can kill you in close games.”

Anderson likes the improvement defensively his team has shown so far this year. Working hard as a team defensively has been key.

“Their work ethic has been really good,” Anderson said. “They come to practice and work hard every day. it’s all about getting all 11 to work together and believe that it can happen.”