TAYLORSVILLE — Watauga had to face a solid Alexander Central team minus one of the Pioneers' top players. Another top player got into foul trouble early in the first quarter.

It was enough of a recipe for disaster. Watauga was down 16-4 by the end of the first quarter and was never in the game afterward.

The Pioneers went into the game without starting forward Whitney Dunnigan, who was out with a head injury. Things got worse when leading scorer Hannah Margolis picked up her third foul in the first quarter and had to head to the bench.

Alexander Central took full advantage, particularly from the outside where the Cougars made seven 3-point shots. Kelsie Rhyne led the Cougars with 19 points, Madi Suddreth scored 12, and Maty Setzer scored 11.

Watauga got 13 points from Savanna Wood and 11 from Margolis. No other player scored more than two points. Watauga could have helped itself by making more free throws, but made just 3-of-15 from the foul line.

 

Alexander Central 57, Watauga 30

Watauga

Wood 4 2-6 13, Seamone 1 9-0 2, Margolis 5 1-4 11, Derrick 1 0-0 2, Wilson 1 0-0 2, Woods 0 0-0 0, Wallace 0 0-0 0, Eppley 0 0-2 0, Makarova 0 0-0 0, McNeill 0 0-0 0, Welsh 0 0-0 0. Totals 12 3-15 30.

Alexander Central

Rhyne 7 1-1 19, Wike 2 0-0 4, Setzer 3 2-2 11, Sharpe 1 0-0 2, Ferguson 1 0-1 2, Ritchie 2 1-2 5, Dettor 0 2-2 2, Suddreth 6 0-2 12, Pennell 0 0-0 0, Harris 0 0-0 0, Cockerell 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 6-10 57.

Watauga          4 9 10 7 — 30

Alexander Central       16 22 11 8 — 57

3-point goals—Watauga 3 (Wood 3), Alexander Central 7 (Ryhne 4, Setzer 3). Total fouls—Watauga 13, Alexander Central 17. Technical fouls—None.