Huskies edge

Pioneers by one
By Steve Behr
sports@wataugademocrat.com

Ashe County had just enough foul shooting to hold off Watauga 51-50 Friday night at Lentz-Eggers Gym.

The Pioneers looked ready to win the game after posting a 46-35 lead in the fourth quarter. Watauga got there by leading 39-35 at the end of the third quarter, and then by getting baskets from Emily Pineda, Rebekah Pineda and Christina Rees, the last one coming with over five minutes left in the game.

But the Pioneers’ offense went stone cold the rest of the game. Watauga would get a basket by Emily Pineda, off an assist by Ryann Jones, with 1:21 left. That basket gave the Pioneers a 48-47 lead.

But Ashe County, which got back into the game with a 12-0 run, got two foul shots from Kim McNeil to take a 49-48 lead with 59.1 seconds left. After Watauga missed two shots on the other end, McNeil was fouled and made one out of two free throws, giving the Huskies a 50-48 lead with 20.5 seconds left.

Watauga struck back with a Rebekah Pineda basket with 13.1 seconds left to tie the game at 50-50, but Ashe County’s Shelly Barker was fouled with 2.9 seconds to go. She calmly hit her first foul shot, missed her second, and time ran out when Watauga rebounded the ball.

Emily Pineda led the Pioneers with 11 points. Rebekah Pineda was the only other Pioneer scoring in double figures with 10. Nicole Tesh and Sarah Miller each scored six.

Ashe County 51, Watauga 50
Ashe County
Clay 0 1-2 1, Smith 2 0-2 5, Hudler 4 0-1 8, Mikeal 1 0-0 2, McNeil 3 5-8 11, Barker 3 4-7 14, Elliott 3 1-7 7, Wagoner 0 0-0 0, McVey 0 3-4 3. Totals 18 14-31 51.
Watauga
Butler 1 0-0 3, Caldwell 2 0-0 5, Baired 0 0-0 0, R. Pineda 4 2-3 10, Creed 1 0-0 2, Tesh 3 0-0 6, Jones 2 0-0 5, E. Pineda 5 1-2 11, Mayhew 1 0-0 2, Miller 2 2-2 6, Rees 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 5-7 50.
Ashe County 10 11 14 16 — 51
Watauga 8 18 12 11 — 50
3-point goals—Ashe County 1 (Smith), Watauga 3 (Butler, Caldwell, Jones). Rebound—Ashe County 29 (McNeil 5), Watauga 33 (E. Pineda 7). Turnovers—Ashe County 18, Watauga 20. Total fouls—Ashe County 10, Watauga 22.