Watauga’s girls’ basketball is known to upset a Northwestern Conference team on occasion.

The Pioneers looked ready to surprise Alexander Central at Lentz-Eggers Gym Tuesday. They took a first-half lead, but could not maintain it and fell 56-49. Watauga led 16-11 at the end of the first quarter, but a handful of scoring droughts allowed the Cougars to catch up.

Turnovers hurt the Pioneers, particularly in the second quarter. Watauga gave the ball away 10 times in the quarter, but still managed to take a 30-29 lead into halftime. Clare Harris drained a 3-point basket with 57 seconds left in the half to leave the Pioneers in front.

Alexander Central pulled away late in the third quarter with a 9-5 mini-run and claimed a 43-39 lead going into the fourth quarter. A 3-pointer by the Cougars’ Maty Setzer, one of three made by her, sparked a 7-2 run and gave Alexander Central a 50-40 lead that Watauga could not recover.

Alexander Central’s Marie Ritchie led all scorers with 18 points. Madi Suddreth scored 13 points, while Kelsie Rhyne scored 12.

Watauga got 14 points from Hannah Margolis and 11 from Savanna Wood. Harris and Danielle Welsh each scored seven points for the Pioneers.

Watauga hosts Fred T. Foard tonight in a makeup game. It is the second of three home games for the Pioneers. Watauga also hosts South Caldwell on Friday.

 

Alexander Central girls 56, Watauga 47

Alexander Central

Rhyne 2 6-7 12, Setzer 3 0-0 9, Ritchie 6 5-7 18, Sharpe 2 2-7 6, Suddreth 5 3-5 13, Allen 0 0-0 0, Ferguson 0 0-0 0, Wike 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 16-26 56.

Watauga

Wood 5 0-0 11, Derrick 1 0-0 2, Margolis 5 3-3 14, Harris 3 0-0 7, McNeill 2 0-0 4, Loflin 1 1-1 3, Welsh 3 1-2 7, Makarova 0 0-0 0, Westphal 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 5-6 49.

Alexander Central       11 18 14 13 — 56

Watauga          16 14 9 10 — 49

3-point goals—Alexander Central 6 (Setzer 3, Rhyne 2, Ritchie), Watauga 4 (Harris 2, Wood, Margolis). Total fouls—Alexander Central 9, Watauga 18. Fouled out—Watauga, Loflin. Technical fouls—None.