WHS girls close regular season with win
by Steve Behr Sports Editor
Watauga's girls' basketball team wasted little time in building
a big lead in its 48-31 victory over St. Stephens on Senior Night at Lentz-Eggers Gym Friday
night.
Watauga honored its lone senior, Kalie Eppley, who started and finished with four points, all on foul shots. She was officially honored at halftime of the boys' game.
Watauga honored the five seniors from the boys' team and seniors from the cheerleading team and the Pacers dance team. The Pioneers were able to move on from the distraction and take an early lead.
“I talked to Kalie before the game and said, ‘Look, just play and you'll remember the night.'” Watauga coach Klay Anderson said. “She didn't score from the floor, but she hit some clutch free throws in the end and that was nice. She played outstanding off the ball offensively and defensively. It was nice for her to get a win on her last time on the floor.”
The Pioneers took a 20-5 lead by the second quarter and never looked back in their victory. Watauga improved to 7-15, 5-7 in the NWC, and plays at Fred T. Foard in the first round of the Northwestern Conference Tournament at 7 p.m. Monday night.
Watauga got a combined 30 points from its top two scorers. Hannah Margolis scored 17 points before fouling out late in the fourth quarter, while Savanna Wood scored 13 points on the strength of making 6-of-7 foul shots.
Both teams got off to a slow start before Watauga went on a brief 6-2 run to take a 9-4 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Pioneers pulled away from St. Stephens with an 11-1 run at the stat of the second quarter. Margolis scored six straight points to five Watauga a 20-5 lead. Watauga stopped scoring the rest of the quarter, but still held a 20-10 lead by halftime.
“The game was very monotones in the first half and the end of the second half,” Anderson said. “In between, especially in the third quarter, we played as well as we've played all year. I was really pleased with what we did defensively. It led to some transition baskets and we got some production from a lot of different players.
Watauga buried the Indians in the third quarter with a 15-4 run that gave the Pioneers a 35-14 lead.
Whs girls 48, St. Stephens 31
st. stephens
Keary 1 3-6 5, Starnes 0 1-2 1, Thornburg 1 0-0 2, Hicks 1 6-8 8, Menard 1 0-0 3, McMahan 2 6-6 8, Singleton 0 2-4 2, Fisher 0 0-0 0, Jones 0 0-0 0. Totals 6 18-28 31.
Watauga
Woods 1 0-0 2, Wood 3 6-7 13, Dunnigan 1 0-1 2, Wallace 0 1-2 1, Eppley 0 4-4 4, Seamone 0 1-2 1, Margolis 6 5-8 17, Wilson 0 2-2 2, McNeill 3 0-2 6, Welsh 0 0-0 0, Derrick 0 0-0 0, Makarova 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 19-28 48.
St. Stephens 4 6 7 14 — 31
Watauga 9 11 18 10 — 48
3-point goals—St. Stephens 1 (Menard), Watauga 1 (Wood). Rebounds—St. Stephens 22 (McMahan 6), Watauga 20 (Margolis 6). Turnovers—St. Stephens 16, Watauga 13. Total fouls—St. Stephens 21, Watauga 18. Fouled out—St. Stephens, Menard, McMahan; Watauga, Margolis. Technical fouls—None.
Watauga honored its lone senior, Kalie Eppley, who started and finished with four points, all on foul shots. She was officially honored at halftime of the boys' game.
Watauga honored the five seniors from the boys' team and seniors from the cheerleading team and the Pacers dance team. The Pioneers were able to move on from the distraction and take an early lead.
“I talked to Kalie before the game and said, ‘Look, just play and you'll remember the night.'” Watauga coach Klay Anderson said. “She didn't score from the floor, but she hit some clutch free throws in the end and that was nice. She played outstanding off the ball offensively and defensively. It was nice for her to get a win on her last time on the floor.”
The Pioneers took a 20-5 lead by the second quarter and never looked back in their victory. Watauga improved to 7-15, 5-7 in the NWC, and plays at Fred T. Foard in the first round of the Northwestern Conference Tournament at 7 p.m. Monday night.
Watauga got a combined 30 points from its top two scorers. Hannah Margolis scored 17 points before fouling out late in the fourth quarter, while Savanna Wood scored 13 points on the strength of making 6-of-7 foul shots.
Both teams got off to a slow start before Watauga went on a brief 6-2 run to take a 9-4 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Pioneers pulled away from St. Stephens with an 11-1 run at the stat of the second quarter. Margolis scored six straight points to five Watauga a 20-5 lead. Watauga stopped scoring the rest of the quarter, but still held a 20-10 lead by halftime.
“The game was very monotones in the first half and the end of the second half,” Anderson said. “In between, especially in the third quarter, we played as well as we've played all year. I was really pleased with what we did defensively. It led to some transition baskets and we got some production from a lot of different players.
Watauga buried the Indians in the third quarter with a 15-4 run that gave the Pioneers a 35-14 lead.
Whs girls 48, St. Stephens 31
st. stephens
Keary 1 3-6 5, Starnes 0 1-2 1, Thornburg 1 0-0 2, Hicks 1 6-8 8, Menard 1 0-0 3, McMahan 2 6-6 8, Singleton 0 2-4 2, Fisher 0 0-0 0, Jones 0 0-0 0. Totals 6 18-28 31.
Watauga
Woods 1 0-0 2, Wood 3 6-7 13, Dunnigan 1 0-1 2, Wallace 0 1-2 1, Eppley 0 4-4 4, Seamone 0 1-2 1, Margolis 6 5-8 17, Wilson 0 2-2 2, McNeill 3 0-2 6, Welsh 0 0-0 0, Derrick 0 0-0 0, Makarova 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 19-28 48.
St. Stephens 4 6 7 14 — 31
Watauga 9 11 18 10 — 48
3-point goals—St. Stephens 1 (Menard), Watauga 1 (Wood). Rebounds—St. Stephens 22 (McMahan 6), Watauga 20 (Margolis 6). Turnovers—St. Stephens 16, Watauga 13. Total fouls—St. Stephens 21, Watauga 18. Fouled out—St. Stephens, Menard, McMahan; Watauga, Margolis. Technical fouls—None.