Vikings boys hoops fall in tourney quarterfinal to Hendersonville
Jamie Shell / (sports@averyjournal.com)
Avery men's varsity basketball hung close with top-seeded and undefeated Hendersonville through most of the first period, but the Bearcats built a double-figure lead at halftime and pulled away in the second half for an 83-59 win at Polk County in the opening round of the Western Highlands Conference Basketball Tournament.
Alex Villanueva poured in seven first-quarter points to counter eight points in the period from HHS's Sam Wilkins. Austin Lyons added five points in the stanza as the Vikings fell behind 22-14 after one period.
Six Bearcats tallied points in the second quarter, led by seven additional points from Wilkins. Villanueva and Luke Wotell scored five points each in the frame. Avery cut the Bearcats lead to 24-19 with 5:30 to play in the half, but a 16-5 scoring run by HHS to close the half boosted Hendersonville's bulge to 44-28 at intermission.
Wilkins, who scored a game-high 31 points for the Bearcats, continued to knock down three-point baskets from the corners to pace the unbeaten Bearcats. Avery also found the mark, as Timmy Stewart scored seven points in the period. However, the Vikings trailed 64-46 entering the final eight minutes of play.
Hendersonville pulled further away in the final stanza featuring a pair of slam dunks each by HHS junior and state high-jump champion Grant Rivers and from Villanueva. The offensive firepower of the Bearcats proved too difficult to overcome as the Vikings was eliminated by a 24-point margin.
Villanueva paced AHS with 20 points and four rebounds, with 11 points, four rebounds and three assists from Stewart. Lyons scored seven points with a team-high eight rebounds, with seven points each from Hunter Shields, Wotell and Ty Polsgrove.
Avery's JV girls was victorious in its tournament opener against Hendersonville to advance to the tournament semifinals. The No. 2 seeded Avery Lady Vikings varsity girls take the floor this afternoon at Polk County against No. 7 seed Hendersonville, while Avery's JV boys open tournament play at Polk County Middle School against Owen.
Alex Villanueva poured in seven first-quarter points to counter eight points in the period from HHS's Sam Wilkins. Austin Lyons added five points in the stanza as the Vikings fell behind 22-14 after one period.
Six Bearcats tallied points in the second quarter, led by seven additional points from Wilkins. Villanueva and Luke Wotell scored five points each in the frame. Avery cut the Bearcats lead to 24-19 with 5:30 to play in the half, but a 16-5 scoring run by HHS to close the half boosted Hendersonville's bulge to 44-28 at intermission.
Wilkins, who scored a game-high 31 points for the Bearcats, continued to knock down three-point baskets from the corners to pace the unbeaten Bearcats. Avery also found the mark, as Timmy Stewart scored seven points in the period. However, the Vikings trailed 64-46 entering the final eight minutes of play.
Hendersonville pulled further away in the final stanza featuring a pair of slam dunks each by HHS junior and state high-jump champion Grant Rivers and from Villanueva. The offensive firepower of the Bearcats proved too difficult to overcome as the Vikings was eliminated by a 24-point margin.
Villanueva paced AHS with 20 points and four rebounds, with 11 points, four rebounds and three assists from Stewart. Lyons scored seven points with a team-high eight rebounds, with seven points each from Hunter Shields, Wotell and Ty Polsgrove.
Avery's JV girls was victorious in its tournament opener against Hendersonville to advance to the tournament semifinals. The No. 2 seeded Avery Lady Vikings varsity girls take the floor this afternoon at Polk County against No. 7 seed Hendersonville, while Avery's JV boys open tournament play at Polk County Middle School against Owen.