Quickness kills Big Red
Jamie Shell / (sports@averyjournal.com)
Avery’s varsity boys basketball team dropped a pair of Western Highlands Conference contests last week, losing at undefeated Hendersonville 101-64 on Tuesday, Jan. 24, and returning home for an emotional contest on Friday, Jan. 27, only to fall 76-68 in its third meeting this season with Polk County.
Hendersonville quickly raced out of the gate for 27 first-quarter points, building an early double-digit lead at 27-14 after eight minutes of play.
The Bearcats outscored the Big Red 23-13 in the second period to open up a 50-27 advantage at halftime.
Avery worked to claw back into the contest, but Hendersonville’s smothering defensive pressure and quickness was a difficult obstacle to overcome. The teams played virtually even in the third period, but the Vikings could not cut into Hendersonville’s lead. Avery saved its best offensive period for last with 20 points, but the Bearcats poured in 32 points in the final eight minutes to break the century mark and earn the win and remain unbeaten.
Alex Villanueva led the Vikings with 19 points and 10 rebounds, with a season-high 13 points from Chance Watson and 12 points by Bryce Pittman. Austin Lyons added 11 points and four rebounds. Timmy Stewart added seven assists. Shawn Rogers led the seven Bearcats in double-figures with 22 points. Hendersonville had 28 team assists on 44 made field goals, with eight dishes coming from junior guard Rishad Felton and six from six-foot, four-inch senior Sam Wilkins.
The Vikings returned home on Friday, Jan. 27, with heavy hearts, as prior to the game, the school honored public address announcer Jim Greene, who unexpectedly passed away the previous weekend. Avery started the game strong with a 25-point first quarter, but Polk County withstood the Vikings onslaught and came back to secure the win.
Polk led 47-38 at halftime, as Avery’s tandem of Villanueva and Lyons combined to tally 30 of the club’s points in the half. The clubs played an even third period, with Polk maintaining a comfortable lead. Avery tried to narrow the deficit in the final eight minutes, getting the score to within 63-59 with 2:53 to play in the game, but Polk’s Alec Philpott scored 11 points in the final frame to prevent the Big Red from getting any closer and securing the win.
Lyons finished the game with a game-high 21 points, with 20 points from Villanueva. Stewart added 13 points in the contest.
AHS returned to the court earlier this week with a game at Madison. The Vikings takes to the road this Friday, Feb. 3, with a Western Highlands Conference showdown at Mountain Heritage.
Hendersonville quickly raced out of the gate for 27 first-quarter points, building an early double-digit lead at 27-14 after eight minutes of play.
The Bearcats outscored the Big Red 23-13 in the second period to open up a 50-27 advantage at halftime.
Avery worked to claw back into the contest, but Hendersonville’s smothering defensive pressure and quickness was a difficult obstacle to overcome. The teams played virtually even in the third period, but the Vikings could not cut into Hendersonville’s lead. Avery saved its best offensive period for last with 20 points, but the Bearcats poured in 32 points in the final eight minutes to break the century mark and earn the win and remain unbeaten.
Alex Villanueva led the Vikings with 19 points and 10 rebounds, with a season-high 13 points from Chance Watson and 12 points by Bryce Pittman. Austin Lyons added 11 points and four rebounds. Timmy Stewart added seven assists. Shawn Rogers led the seven Bearcats in double-figures with 22 points. Hendersonville had 28 team assists on 44 made field goals, with eight dishes coming from junior guard Rishad Felton and six from six-foot, four-inch senior Sam Wilkins.
The Vikings returned home on Friday, Jan. 27, with heavy hearts, as prior to the game, the school honored public address announcer Jim Greene, who unexpectedly passed away the previous weekend. Avery started the game strong with a 25-point first quarter, but Polk County withstood the Vikings onslaught and came back to secure the win.
Polk led 47-38 at halftime, as Avery’s tandem of Villanueva and Lyons combined to tally 30 of the club’s points in the half. The clubs played an even third period, with Polk maintaining a comfortable lead. Avery tried to narrow the deficit in the final eight minutes, getting the score to within 63-59 with 2:53 to play in the game, but Polk’s Alec Philpott scored 11 points in the final frame to prevent the Big Red from getting any closer and securing the win.
Lyons finished the game with a game-high 21 points, with 20 points from Villanueva. Stewart added 13 points in the contest.
AHS returned to the court earlier this week with a game at Madison. The Vikings takes to the road this Friday, Feb. 3, with a Western Highlands Conference showdown at Mountain Heritage.