Varsity Woman
Alexander Central 36
Freedom 34…Overtime
Hallie Jarrett’s put-back at the buzzer gave Alexander Central a share of the Regular Season Northwestern Conference Championship Friday night in Taylorsville. Alexander Central and Watauga will share the top spot in the league with 8-2 records, both are 20-3 overall.
The Lady Cougars rallied from down 5 to begin the final quarter and forced the extra period. Chesney Stikeleather led AC with 15 but left the game in regulation after fouling out. Julianna Walter added 10 points. The Cougars were only 1-13 from behind the three-point line compared to Freedom going 7-17. Freedom was guilty of 20 turnovers. The Lady Patriots were led by Stevee McGee with 13. Freedom did not score a basket from the field in the 4th quarter nor in overtime.
After a tie-breaking procedure that compared ACHS and Watauga’s records against the third-place team in the league (Freedom), Watauga will get the top seed in the conference and Alexander Central will draw the #2 seed due to Watauga sweeping two games and AC splitting two with the Lady Patriots.
Varsity Men
Freedom 80
Alexander Central 62
Freedom’s quickness, smothering defense and rebounding earned them a tie with Alexander Central for the conference regular season title. Amore Connelly led the Patriots with 30 points as the visitors from Morganton never trailed. Freedom out-rebounded the Cougars 31-20. Avery Cook led AC with 16 and Grove Lowrance added 13. Evan Presnell who scored his 1,000 career point earlier in the week, was the target of the Freedom defensive effort and was held to only 10 including 0-5 from behind the arc.
AC finishes the regular season at 8-2 in NWC play and 20-4 overall. Freedom is 8-2 and 16-6.
Junior Varsity
JV Gilrs: No Game..AC finishes the season at 14-4
JV Boys: ACHS 52 Freedom 49…ACHS finishes season at 11-8