Close, but no cigar
Jamie Shell / (sports@averyjournal.com)
Avery’s boys varsity basketball team simply could not catch a break as it hoped to build momentum in the final full week of conference action with trips to Madison and Mountain Heritage. Although the team played competitively in both contests, the Patriots escaped with a 36-34 win in a low-scoring affair and Mountain Heritage used a strong fourth quarter to pull out a 63-49 victory.
The contest on Tuesday, Jan. 31, with the Patriots was an unusual contest in which neither team could put together a legitimate scoring spurt to seize control. Madison held a narrow 9-8 lead after one quarter and extended its lead to 21-16 at halftime.
Play was physical throughout the contest, and AHS rose to the challenge in the second half. The Big Red outscored Madison 14-8 in the third quarter to claim a one-point lead entering the final stanza. Points were hard to come by in the final eight minutes. The teams traded the lead throughout most of the period, with Avery holding a narrow 34-33 lead in the final minute. A questionable no-call on an apparent traveling violation against Madison and subsequent jump ball allowed the Patriots to maintain possession. The Patriots took advantage when guard Josh McCurry netted a three-pointer with six seconds remaining. Avery’s last-gasp shot attempt fell short and the Patriots claimed a Senior Night win.
Alex Villanueva led Avery with eight points to go with five blocked shots and a pair of steals. Austin Lyons and Ty Polsgrove added six points apiece.
AHS concluded its week with a trip to Burnsville to face conference contender Mountain Heritage. The Cougars pounced on Avery early and built a 13-5 lead after one quarter. Undaunted, Avery rode the comeback trail, using a pair of three-point baskets from Hunter Shields and six points from Villanueva to claw within a point at halftime at 30-29.
Unlike the team’s previous meeting in Newland, Heritage was unable to pull away from Avery in the early going, allowing the Vikings to build confidence as the second half wore on. Lyons scored four of his seven points for the game in the third period, helping AHS remain within striking distance at 46-42 with eight minutes to play.
As the final period unfolded, it was apparent that the pressure and pace of Heritage began to weigh on the Vikings, which suited up only seven players for the trip and was missing Bryce Pittman due to injury. Heritage built a working margin behind the tandem of Eli Buckner and Austin Taylor, who tallied 11 of Heritage’s 17 points in the frame. AHS managed only a pair of field goals as the Cougars came out on top.
Timmy Stewart led Avery with 11 points and four assists. Shields scored 10 points, while Villanueva added eight points, four rebounds and four blocked shots before fouling out of the contest. Lyons scored eight points, with five rebounds and two steals.
AHS hosted Mitchell earlier this week for Senior Night and will begin WHC tournament play next week at Polk County High School.
The contest on Tuesday, Jan. 31, with the Patriots was an unusual contest in which neither team could put together a legitimate scoring spurt to seize control. Madison held a narrow 9-8 lead after one quarter and extended its lead to 21-16 at halftime.
Play was physical throughout the contest, and AHS rose to the challenge in the second half. The Big Red outscored Madison 14-8 in the third quarter to claim a one-point lead entering the final stanza. Points were hard to come by in the final eight minutes. The teams traded the lead throughout most of the period, with Avery holding a narrow 34-33 lead in the final minute. A questionable no-call on an apparent traveling violation against Madison and subsequent jump ball allowed the Patriots to maintain possession. The Patriots took advantage when guard Josh McCurry netted a three-pointer with six seconds remaining. Avery’s last-gasp shot attempt fell short and the Patriots claimed a Senior Night win.
Alex Villanueva led Avery with eight points to go with five blocked shots and a pair of steals. Austin Lyons and Ty Polsgrove added six points apiece.
AHS concluded its week with a trip to Burnsville to face conference contender Mountain Heritage. The Cougars pounced on Avery early and built a 13-5 lead after one quarter. Undaunted, Avery rode the comeback trail, using a pair of three-point baskets from Hunter Shields and six points from Villanueva to claw within a point at halftime at 30-29.
Unlike the team’s previous meeting in Newland, Heritage was unable to pull away from Avery in the early going, allowing the Vikings to build confidence as the second half wore on. Lyons scored four of his seven points for the game in the third period, helping AHS remain within striking distance at 46-42 with eight minutes to play.
As the final period unfolded, it was apparent that the pressure and pace of Heritage began to weigh on the Vikings, which suited up only seven players for the trip and was missing Bryce Pittman due to injury. Heritage built a working margin behind the tandem of Eli Buckner and Austin Taylor, who tallied 11 of Heritage’s 17 points in the frame. AHS managed only a pair of field goals as the Cougars came out on top.
Timmy Stewart led Avery with 11 points and four assists. Shields scored 10 points, while Villanueva added eight points, four rebounds and four blocked shots before fouling out of the contest. Lyons scored eight points, with five rebounds and two steals.
AHS hosted Mitchell earlier this week for Senior Night and will begin WHC tournament play next week at Polk County High School.