Alexander Central Basketball swept four games against Ashe County Wednesday in Taylorsville
Varsity Woman
Alexander Central 46
Ashe County 44…overtime
“That’s about as ugly as I’ve ever seen but we won!” The words of Alexander Central Coach Jon Presnell after his Lady Cougars beat the visitors from West Jefferson Wednesday evening. The game was in fact a struggle for both teams getting the lid off the basket. Alexander Central, favoring some late-season physcial dinks and dings, shot only 25.9 percent and Ashe County slightly better at 30 percent. The much taller Lady Huskies won the rebound stat 47-35 but the scrappy Lady Cougars forced them into 20 turnovers. Chesney Stikeleather led AC with 18 and Julianna Walter had 15. Walter in many ways took the game over late in regulation and particularly in overtime. Alexander Central improves to 19-3 overall and 7-2 in Northwestern Conference play. They are now tied with Watauga at the top of the league standings. Ashe County drops to 4-5 and 15-7. The visitors were led by Paige Overcash with 17.
Varsity Men
Alexander Central 66
Ashe County 47
The Cougars clinched at least a tie for the NWC Conference Regular Season Championship with a win in Taylorsville. Senior Evan Presenell poured in 27 including his 1,000th career point in the 1st quarter. The first period ended with the Cougars on top 22-6. Leading the entire game, the Blue and Gold outshot the Huskies 52.9 percent to 40 and led by as many as 28 in the 3rd quarter. Grove Lowrance had 13, Avery Cook had 10. With the big regular season finale looming Friday night, the Cougars are 20-3 and lead the league at 8-1. They can clinch the regular season outright with a win Friday when Freedom visits the Den. Ashe County was led by Jake Grubb with 21. The Huskies are 10-12 and 2-7.
Junior Varsity
Girls: Alexander Central 38 Ashe County 33…Jaden Curtis 9pts, Taylor Roseman 8 pts…Anton Chapman 8 pts
Boys: Alexander Central 62 Ashe County 52…Lukson Greene 14, Brayden Rowe 12, Willie Parks 11, Caleb Patterson 10.