Vikings junior varsity hoops roundup
Jamie Shell / (sports@averyjournal.com)
Avery High School junior varsity basketball took to the road for a pair of conference matchups last week.
The junior varsity Lady Vikings was victorious in a pair of nail-biters at Madison on Tuesday, Jan. 31, and at Mountain Heritage on Friday, Feb. 3, picking up a pair of two-point triumphs.
A 16-4 run in the first quarter spurred the Big Red to a double-digit lead after one quarter, and the Lady Vikings extended its lead to 14 points at 25-11 entering intermission.
Madison showed signs of life in the third period, yet trailed 40-28 with seven minutes remaining in the contest. A 14-point fourth period, combined with its defense allowing only two Avery field goals, was enough for the Lady Patriots to force overtime. The teams remained knotted after the traditional overtime period, and the new junior varsity rule of ‘sudden victory’ was enacted, where the first team to score a point is declared the winner. Avery’s Karmen Gragg found a way to score the session’s first basket, securing a 52-50 win.
Bethany Burleson led Avery with 13 points and four assists, with 11 points and three rebounds from Jodi Poore. Kylie Polsgrove added nine points, 10 rebounds, five assists and three steals, with six points and 13 rebounds from Juanita Guzman.
Avery continued its win streak with a 27-25 win at Mountain Heritage. Neither team could find the basket in the first quarter, as Heritage led 2-1 after seven minutes of play. Both teams heated up in the second quarter, as the game was knotted at 10-10 at intermission.
A 10-5 scoring run by the Lady Vikings, with Burleson and Polsgrove providing the offense, pushed AHS to a 20-15 advantage. From that point Avery relied on its defense to help preserve the win, while the offense made enough free throws in the closing seconds to secure the victory.
Burleson netted 13 points for the second straight contest, with 10 points from Polsgrove.
Avery’s JV boys enjoyed a win against Madison early last week before experiencing a setback at Mountain Heritage. The Vikings and Patriots played evenly in the first period, with Avery holding a narrow 10-8 advantage after one stanza and maintained a narrow one-point lead at halftime.
Madison mounted a rally in the third quarter to take the lead at 28-25 entering the final stanza. AHS showed its resilience, however, as the offense clicked for 18 points to regain the lead and hold off the Patriots for a 43-38 win.
Kobe Pittman led the scoring with 11 points, with 10 points from Payton Lowery and eight points from Zach Guy.
AHS returned to the hardwood in Burnsville to tangle with conference leader Mountain Heritage. The Vikings lost a heartbreaker by two points at Avery earlier in the season, but Heritage was strong from the opening tip, handing the Vikings a 60-38 loss.
Heritage opened an 18-8 lead after one period and led by a baker’s dozen at 30-17 at intermission. The squads played even basketball through the third quarter, but Avery was unable to dent the Cougars’ lead, trailing by 14 at 43-29. Mountain Heritage slammed the door in the final period with a 17-9 scoring advantage to seal the win and the conference JV boys championship.
Pittman was the closest player to scoring double figures with nine points, while teammate Dalton Tennant added eight points and 11 rebounds.
Avery completed its regular season schedule earlier this week when it hosted Mitchell, and will compete next week in the WHC JV basketball tournament at Polk County.
The junior varsity Lady Vikings was victorious in a pair of nail-biters at Madison on Tuesday, Jan. 31, and at Mountain Heritage on Friday, Feb. 3, picking up a pair of two-point triumphs.
A 16-4 run in the first quarter spurred the Big Red to a double-digit lead after one quarter, and the Lady Vikings extended its lead to 14 points at 25-11 entering intermission.
Madison showed signs of life in the third period, yet trailed 40-28 with seven minutes remaining in the contest. A 14-point fourth period, combined with its defense allowing only two Avery field goals, was enough for the Lady Patriots to force overtime. The teams remained knotted after the traditional overtime period, and the new junior varsity rule of ‘sudden victory’ was enacted, where the first team to score a point is declared the winner. Avery’s Karmen Gragg found a way to score the session’s first basket, securing a 52-50 win.
Bethany Burleson led Avery with 13 points and four assists, with 11 points and three rebounds from Jodi Poore. Kylie Polsgrove added nine points, 10 rebounds, five assists and three steals, with six points and 13 rebounds from Juanita Guzman.
Avery continued its win streak with a 27-25 win at Mountain Heritage. Neither team could find the basket in the first quarter, as Heritage led 2-1 after seven minutes of play. Both teams heated up in the second quarter, as the game was knotted at 10-10 at intermission.
A 10-5 scoring run by the Lady Vikings, with Burleson and Polsgrove providing the offense, pushed AHS to a 20-15 advantage. From that point Avery relied on its defense to help preserve the win, while the offense made enough free throws in the closing seconds to secure the victory.
Burleson netted 13 points for the second straight contest, with 10 points from Polsgrove.
Avery’s JV boys enjoyed a win against Madison early last week before experiencing a setback at Mountain Heritage. The Vikings and Patriots played evenly in the first period, with Avery holding a narrow 10-8 advantage after one stanza and maintained a narrow one-point lead at halftime.
Madison mounted a rally in the third quarter to take the lead at 28-25 entering the final stanza. AHS showed its resilience, however, as the offense clicked for 18 points to regain the lead and hold off the Patriots for a 43-38 win.
Kobe Pittman led the scoring with 11 points, with 10 points from Payton Lowery and eight points from Zach Guy.
AHS returned to the hardwood in Burnsville to tangle with conference leader Mountain Heritage. The Vikings lost a heartbreaker by two points at Avery earlier in the season, but Heritage was strong from the opening tip, handing the Vikings a 60-38 loss.
Heritage opened an 18-8 lead after one period and led by a baker’s dozen at 30-17 at intermission. The squads played even basketball through the third quarter, but Avery was unable to dent the Cougars’ lead, trailing by 14 at 43-29. Mountain Heritage slammed the door in the final period with a 17-9 scoring advantage to seal the win and the conference JV boys championship.
Pittman was the closest player to scoring double figures with nine points, while teammate Dalton Tennant added eight points and 11 rebounds.
Avery completed its regular season schedule earlier this week when it hosted Mitchell, and will compete next week in the WHC JV basketball tournament at Polk County.