Titans trip up WHS
By Daniel Clark
Special to the Democrat

MARION — The Watauga boy’s basketball team felt that since they switched to the new run and gun offense, they could challenge the best teams in the Northwestern 4-A Conference. The McDowell Titans had other plans and sent the Pioneers to 0-2 on their current road swing with an 85-70 loss Saturday.

The Titans (18-2, 7-1) were able to pick the Pioneer’s (8-12, 3-6) press apart in the second quarter after playing the first quarter without post player Petey Hausley and point guard Brian Twitty, who both received two quick fouls. Watauga was tied 15-15 with the Titans before a 34-13 McDowell run allowed the Titans go in front 49-28 and put the game away by halftime.

“There were many times that we just let them dribble baseline to baseline a shoot and uncontested lay-up,” Watauga coach Rob Sanders said. “It seemed like we weren’t there and we just didn’t show up to play.”

Watauga never got closer than 11 points in the final half. Hausley who has signed to play at Appalachian State next season, made up for a sub-par game against the Pioneers in the first meeting with them in Boone.

Hausley had 21 points, 17 rebounds and four blocks last Saturday.

“They had a good game plan in going with the zone and keep us from attacking the basket, Sanders said. “We played too much of the game on our heels instead of being the aggressor.”

Terrence Kincaid who was named Associated Press all-state this season on the gridiron, scored 17 for McDowell, while Jordan Dalton added 14. Chavis Hamilton scored 12 points in the first half off the bench.

Zach Greene led Watauga with 13 points. Will Watson added 11, Chad Eppley posted 12 and David Isaacs added 10.

The Pioneers shot an abysmal 5-for-35 from 3-point range in the game. The 35 three’s attempted were a season high for Watauga.

“We were afraid of a game like this since we went to this type of play,” said Sanders. “When you have a terrible night shooting and you don’t get enough offensive boards, your not going to put up enough points.

We did not do a good enough job of crashing the boards to get those garbage baskets.”

Watauga returns home to face AC Reynolds Tuesday night at Lentz-Eggers gym.

“It’s really important for us to shrug these two losses off and go back to playing. It will be nice to be back at home and for us to have any shot at the playoffs we have to win out,” Sanders said.