Watauga goes 5-0

in tournament
From staff reports

The Watauga Storm 18-under team went 5-0, winning three pool play games and two bracket games in the YBOA Waynesville Shootout.

In the first pool game the Storm beat the Carolina Flash from Asheville 57-23. Will Watson led the Storm with 18 points while Chad Eppley had 13. Jeff Newell and Watson both got a dunk against the Flash.

In the next game Watauga beat the Gym Ratz which they eventually faced in the championship, 57-30.

Newell led the team with 13 points and Eppley had 12. Alan Herndon got a dunk in traffic against the Gym Ratz.

In its last pool game, the Storm beat Western Buncombe County 76-47 to sweep their pool. Adam Chiarolanzio led the team with 19 points and a dunk in this game while Watson had 16.

On Sunday the Storm had a bye and played its first game of the bracket in the semi-finals against the Swain County Panthers. This game started out slow for the Storm but in the end Watauga won 60-23. Watson led with 14 while Newell scored 13 points.

In the championship game the Storm faced the Gym Ratz again and had a tougher game on its hands. The Gym Ratz played the Storm to their closest game of the tournament but Watauga still won the game 64-56.

Eppley led the team with 15 points and Herndon followed with 12. Watson had a break away dunk in this game and led the team with two dunks for the tournament.

The Storm was missing two players, David Isaacs and Murphy Fancher from their second-place finish a couple weeks ago in Morganton. Brandon Calhoun, Dylan Eppley, and Will Kopenha made the trip in their place.

The Watauga Storm consisted of Chad Eppley, Will Watson, Alan Herndon, Adam Chiarolanzio, Jeff Newell, Dylan Eppley, Brandon Calhoun, and Will Kopenhaver. The team is coached by West Eppley.