Vikings cram nonconference win between pair of conference defeats
Jamie Shell / (sports@averyjournal.com)
Avery men's basketball completed a three-game week of hoops action, dropping conference games to Owen and Thomas Jefferson last week, but sandwiching a victory over West Wilkes between the two WHC contests.
Avery played a low-scoring defensive struggle against Owen at Viking Gym on Tuesday, Jan. 17. The squads played nip-and-tuck through most of the contest before Owen escaped with a 57-52 win.
Owen jumped out to a 27-13 lead after eight minutes of play and held a dozen-point lead at 38-26 at halftime.
As the second half ensued, the Vikings defensive pressure increased, forcing a number of Warhorse turnovers that were converted into Avery points. Despite playing without the services of starting point guard Timmy Stewart for the contest, the Vikings held Owen to two field goals in the third period and cut the Warhorse margin to 44-40 after three quarters.
The teams played even the rest of the way, as Owen began stalling on offense and slowing the pace of the game. Avery pulled within one point on two separate occasions, the final time coming in the game's final minute. Owen was 6-for-8 shooting free throws in the final quarter, which proved enough to stave off the Viking victory.
Alex Villanueva and Austin Lyons scored 18 points each for the Vikings, with nine points from Hunter Shields.
"We had opportunities against Owen, but there were times we didn't follow our shots," said Avery head coach Bo Manis. "We had a great third quarter, but we needed to start the game better and not fall behind so early in the game. We fought and scrapped to get back into the game and gave ourselves a chance to win."
Avery returned to its home court two nights later to host West Wilkes in nonconference action. Avery was looking for a sweep against the Blackhawks, as the Vikings had won earlier this season in Miller's Creek. The Vikings were unable to pull away from West until the fourth quarter, but Avery built a working margin and earned a 75-63 win.
Similar to its previous contest with Owen, Avery got off to a slow start, as West built a 20-12 lead after on period. Avery stormed back with a 27-point second quarter to seize the lead at 39-33 at halftime.
West's combination of guard Jose Moran (24 points) and Garrett Hamby (22 points) helped the Blackhawks remaining within shouting distance, while 10 points by Stewart allowed Avery to maintain a 57-53 lead entering the final stanza.
West's shooting touch cooled in the final eight minutes, connecting on four field goals to Avery's six. The Vikings also connected on three free throws in the quarter and Villanueva scored 10 points in the final frame to secure victory.
Villanueva tallied a game-high 29 points, with 17 points from Lyons and 16 from Stewart.
"We basically pressured their guard and did a better job in our zone defense of finding him on the floor. Our goal was to make it tougher for him to get open looks in the second half," Manis said. "I felt confident enough that we could stop their shooting guard that we could play a zone defense and let the other players shoot outside. They came out hot on us, but as the game wore on, it was to our advantage as they cooled off."
Avery ventured to Forest City the following evening for a Friday night tussle with Thomas Jefferson Academy. Avery managed to keep the contest close through the first half, but a scoring run by TJ midway through the third period and early in the final stanza doomed the Viking upset bid, as TJ earned the 62-45 win.
The Viking defense played well against TJ star player Travis Waldroup Rodriguez, holding the sophomore under his scoring average for the season. Nevertheless, Rodriguez tallied 27 points to lead all scorers. Four players total scored for the Gryphons in the game, but 20 points from Justus Freeland proved to be a difference-maker.
After one quarter of play, Avery trailed 16-12, but the Big Red cut the lead in half to 27-25 by the intermission as Villanueva scored 12 points in the first two periods.
The game was tied 30-30 midway through the third quarter, but a 14-4 TJ scoring run to close the quarter built the Gryphons a 44-34 lead after three periods. From there the Vikings never posed a serious threat, drawing only as close as eight points for the remainder of the contest.
Villanueva again led the Vikings with 15 points, with 13 from Lyons and 11 from Shields. Stewart scored five points, but secured four rebounds and doled out nine assists.
"We did a great job of hanging close in the game, but every time it seemed we were building momentum and getting within two or three points, there would be a call go against us," Manis added. "Timmy did a heck of a job playing Rodriguez and the team as a whole played excellent defensively."
Avery traveled to Hendersonville earlier this week, and returns home for conference action this Friday, Jan. 27, against Polk County.
Avery played a low-scoring defensive struggle against Owen at Viking Gym on Tuesday, Jan. 17. The squads played nip-and-tuck through most of the contest before Owen escaped with a 57-52 win.
Owen jumped out to a 27-13 lead after eight minutes of play and held a dozen-point lead at 38-26 at halftime.
As the second half ensued, the Vikings defensive pressure increased, forcing a number of Warhorse turnovers that were converted into Avery points. Despite playing without the services of starting point guard Timmy Stewart for the contest, the Vikings held Owen to two field goals in the third period and cut the Warhorse margin to 44-40 after three quarters.
The teams played even the rest of the way, as Owen began stalling on offense and slowing the pace of the game. Avery pulled within one point on two separate occasions, the final time coming in the game's final minute. Owen was 6-for-8 shooting free throws in the final quarter, which proved enough to stave off the Viking victory.
Alex Villanueva and Austin Lyons scored 18 points each for the Vikings, with nine points from Hunter Shields.
"We had opportunities against Owen, but there were times we didn't follow our shots," said Avery head coach Bo Manis. "We had a great third quarter, but we needed to start the game better and not fall behind so early in the game. We fought and scrapped to get back into the game and gave ourselves a chance to win."
Avery returned to its home court two nights later to host West Wilkes in nonconference action. Avery was looking for a sweep against the Blackhawks, as the Vikings had won earlier this season in Miller's Creek. The Vikings were unable to pull away from West until the fourth quarter, but Avery built a working margin and earned a 75-63 win.
Similar to its previous contest with Owen, Avery got off to a slow start, as West built a 20-12 lead after on period. Avery stormed back with a 27-point second quarter to seize the lead at 39-33 at halftime.
West's combination of guard Jose Moran (24 points) and Garrett Hamby (22 points) helped the Blackhawks remaining within shouting distance, while 10 points by Stewart allowed Avery to maintain a 57-53 lead entering the final stanza.
West's shooting touch cooled in the final eight minutes, connecting on four field goals to Avery's six. The Vikings also connected on three free throws in the quarter and Villanueva scored 10 points in the final frame to secure victory.
Villanueva tallied a game-high 29 points, with 17 points from Lyons and 16 from Stewart.
"We basically pressured their guard and did a better job in our zone defense of finding him on the floor. Our goal was to make it tougher for him to get open looks in the second half," Manis said. "I felt confident enough that we could stop their shooting guard that we could play a zone defense and let the other players shoot outside. They came out hot on us, but as the game wore on, it was to our advantage as they cooled off."
Avery ventured to Forest City the following evening for a Friday night tussle with Thomas Jefferson Academy. Avery managed to keep the contest close through the first half, but a scoring run by TJ midway through the third period and early in the final stanza doomed the Viking upset bid, as TJ earned the 62-45 win.
The Viking defense played well against TJ star player Travis Waldroup Rodriguez, holding the sophomore under his scoring average for the season. Nevertheless, Rodriguez tallied 27 points to lead all scorers. Four players total scored for the Gryphons in the game, but 20 points from Justus Freeland proved to be a difference-maker.
After one quarter of play, Avery trailed 16-12, but the Big Red cut the lead in half to 27-25 by the intermission as Villanueva scored 12 points in the first two periods.
The game was tied 30-30 midway through the third quarter, but a 14-4 TJ scoring run to close the quarter built the Gryphons a 44-34 lead after three periods. From there the Vikings never posed a serious threat, drawing only as close as eight points for the remainder of the contest.
Villanueva again led the Vikings with 15 points, with 13 from Lyons and 11 from Shields. Stewart scored five points, but secured four rebounds and doled out nine assists.
"We did a great job of hanging close in the game, but every time it seemed we were building momentum and getting within two or three points, there would be a call go against us," Manis added. "Timmy did a heck of a job playing Rodriguez and the team as a whole played excellent defensively."
Avery traveled to Hendersonville earlier this week, and returns home for conference action this Friday, Jan. 27, against Polk County.
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