Alexander Central Women Claim Tournament Crown !!! Cougar Men Place Third

Women’s Championship
Dick’s Sporting Goods Holiday Tournamnet
Tarlton Complex
Catawba Valley Community College, Hickory

Newton-Conover 43
Alexander Central 49

For the first time in school history, the Alexander Central Women’s Basketball Team has won the Dick’s Sporting Goods Holiday Tournament !

The #1 seeded Lady Cougars held off the 2 seed Newton-Conover on Thursday in Hickory. The two teams were tied after three quarters at 34. The final period belonged coach John Presnell’s scrappy squad. Sydney Hayes and Kirstyn Herman paced Cougars with 14 points each. Hayes was 4-6 from beyond the arc. Herman pulled down 11 rebounds. Freshman Meredith Wike contributed 11 points including a pair of clutch late free-thows. Wike picked up 10 boards. Lizzie Sain led Newton Conover with 18 points and 15 rebounds.

The rebounds were even at 40 and both teams committed 12 turnovers. Perhaps the edge was the Lady Cougars going 7-13 from behind the three-point line compared to 5-28 for the She Devils.

Alexander Central is now 12-0. Newton-Conover drops to 10-2.

Women’s All-Tournament Team
Vanessa Morales (Bunker Hill)
Kennedie Noble (Maiden)
Molli Harris (St. Stephens)
Samaria Tipps (Fred T Foard)
Lillie Bumgarner (South Caldwell)
Laken Powe (Hickory)
Lea Boyens (Hickory)
Lizzie Sain (Newton-Conover)
Cassidy Geddes (Newton-Conover)
Meredith Wike (Alexander Central)
Kirstyn Herman (Alexander Central)
Sydney Hayes (Alexander Central)  Tournament MVP

Men’s 3rd Place Game

Newton-Conover 32
Alexander Central 47

The Cougars led wire to wire in capturing third place in the event. The Blue and Gold jumped out to a 14-4 lead after the opening period and were able to keep the Red Devils at bay.

Chad Lasher and Grayson Presnell led AC with 14 each. Javier Lineberger topped the Red Devils with 15. Alexander Central out-shot the Devils 54 percent to 29 percent. The win improves the Blue and Gold to 8-4 while Newton-Conover falls to 6-6.

Hickory won the Men’s title with a 63-36 rout over Maiden.

Men’s All-Tournament Team
Preston Neel (Fred T Foard)
Charles Murray (Bunker Hill)
Tyler Eggers (South Caldwell)
Peyton Young (St. Stephens)
Javier Lineberger (Newton-Conover)
Grayson Presnell (Alexander Central)
Avery Cook (Alexander Central)
Chris Culliver (Maiden)
Raheem Misher (Maiden)
Jay Powell (Hickory)
John Holbrook (Hickory)
Jamien Little (Hickory)   Tournament MVP