NW4A schools begin play this week...

[bigdan]

Well, the time for waiting is over for some teams, regular season play begins this week. Here is the schedule of games for this week. I don't have all the NW4A teams schedules so if I am missing anybody please let us know...

Tue. Nov 16:
AC Reynolds @ Asheville

Thur. Nov 18:
AC Reynolds @ Owen

Fri Nov 19:
Freedom @ Burns


Thoughts, predictions and other comments for these games...?

[homerun]

11-19 Wilkes Central at ACHS
Game may be rescheduled due to Football playoff

[jnwta]

11-19 Wilkes Central at ACHS
Game may be rescheduled due to Football playoff

When I find out I will let you know. We are hoping that it get rescheduled to the next week, only one game.

[reynoldsrocks23]

Well, the time for waiting is over for some teams, regular season play begins this week. Here is the schedule of games for this week. I don't have all the NW4A teams schedules so if I am missing anybody please let us know...

Tue. Nov 16:
AC Reynolds @ Asheville

Thur. Nov 18:
AC Reynolds @ Owen


Thoughts, predictions and other comments for these games...?

I predict we have a tough time with Asheville. We are minus one starter (Brianna Worley) for at least two more weeks, and even with her we would have our hands full, so tomorrow might not be too pretty. However, I think we will be able to get by Owen, although they are still a very good team, and will be a very formitable foe. I think Alex Thompson, Katie Rybacki, and Michelle Bennett will have to carry the load against Owen and Asheville along with our defense. Rebounding might be a problem, so we better shoot well, and hit our free throws which we did in our scrimmage. I am predicting a 1-1 week for us, I just hope we play a good game against Asheville and keep it respectable, and our young girls play well and gain some confidence.

[ebhs1977]

East Burke is at home Tuesday night against Hibriten

[bigdan]

First off, I wanna thank EB77 and homerun for the info on their respective teams. I should have everybody's schedule tomorrow when the Observer does their hoops preview. I will post it on the schedules thread...

As far as the games go...I think Reynolds needs to make the pace of the game as fast as possible. A lot of full court basketball needs to be played to have a chance against Asheville. What that does is that Danielle Burgin can become less of a factor and McCants will be touching the ball at 60 feet from the basket instead of 15-20 feet from the basket. In a half court setting, McCants is gonna likely play a high post and wing instead of being down on the block. I think Reynolds can keep it pretty close most of the way, playing @ Asheville is brutal.

No clue what Hibriten brings to the table, hopefully for East Burke they can start the season on a good note. Freedom should beat Burns easily.

[reynoldsrocks23]

I have no doubt Reynolds will play a full court game with Asheville, it appears looking at our scrimmage that is all we know. We love the pressure defense, just like last year, and will run up and down the floor after missed shots. Regardless who gets the rebound on our team, we are running! We do have a lot of depth it's just very young and not very experienced, and limited in our size without Worley. That is what concerns me, their size advantage over us. So I am sure we will try to make it a full court game.

[ladiesbballfan]

If Owen still has all those tall girls back from last year, that game will be a challenge. When they beat McDowell last year, even though it was early in the season, they looked as good as any team I saw all year. I was very surprised that they didn't cruise through the 2A season. Maybe they just played over their heads that day, but they looked really good!

[jnwta]

The ACHS vs Wilkes Central game scheduled for Friday the 19th had been moved up to Thurday the 18th. Just for information.

[reynoldsrocks23]

If Owen still has all those tall girls back from last year, that game will be a challenge. When they beat McDowell last year, even though it was early in the season, they looked as good as any team I saw all year. I was very surprised that they didn't cruise through the 2A season. Maybe they just played over their heads that day, but they looked really good!

I could be mistaken but I think they only return 1 of those tall girls and also lost both guards. Again I am not 100% sure, but I think this to be the case. They were very good last year, as we played them as well and only won by 6 or 8 points and had to come from behind in the 4th to do that.

[reynoldsrocks23]

Asheville High 58
AC Reynolds 49

AC Reynolds played fairly well at times and looked like a young team at times, which they really are. Asheville played without Burgin their second leading scorer, and Reynolds played without Worley our second leading scorer. All in all I think Reynolds missed Worley more as they only really had a couple of scorers in Thompson and Rybacki after that. The Rockets were in foul trouble ALL night as 4 of the 5 starters fouled out, the last coming with 3:37 left on the clock and the Rocket down 7. Rybacki the only other starter not to foul out ended with 4. Defensively the Lady Rockets looked pretty good, although the defensive rebounding needs improvment. All things considered, Worley being out, all the foul trouble, the Lady Rockets were only down 6 with 1:35 on the clock. Not a bad showing, but we need to knock down a few more of those open looks, but maybe that was first game nerves, and playing on the road.

On a positive the Rockets Boys team looks much improved under our new coach destroying the cougars 93-66 leading by 30+ for much of the 4th quarter.

[tonync55]

Hello Reynoldsrockets23, I read about the game in the asheville paper today. They said Asheville played very rusty,they didn't give the lady rockets a lot of credit for playing close. As for the boys,Asheville must still be a team in disaray,I remember many of the players quite last year during the season. Reynolds only had 1 way to go this year and that was up after last years poor preformance. They sure didn't look like the powerhouse team of the past. Good luck and we'll see you at the McDowell games.

[reynoldsrocks23]

I know what you mean about the paper today. Several of our players and coach weren't too thrilled about the article, but were overall pleased with their performance, so that is really all that matters. I guess if the Asheville girls have a close game, it's because they didn't play well, it's NEVER because the other team had ANYTHING to do with it! Oh well, life goes on, as for the boys, you are right we had no where to go but up, but it looks like we did go up a little. I am not saying we will beat the upper tier of the conference but we should beat the teams we are suppose to beat which we didn't do last year. Our guys lost a lot of games last year to teams with less talent. I don't think that will happen this year.

[reynoldsrocks23]

AC Reynolds 68
Owen 66

Well, the Lady Rockets played much better tonight, however the size of Owen gave them fits as I am sure the inside girl for Owen scored 35 to 40 points. Our press was ineffective, but we remained in it and she continued to get lob passes for layups! Offensively the Lady Rockets looked more in tune with what they should be doing, and shot the ball MUCH better, and more relaxed. Did all the right things down the stretch and hit KEY free throws to seal the win. ACR had a 5 point lead, but Owen hit a three at the buzzer for the final margin. The Lady Rockets really need Worley back as they still need her inside scoring, and rebounding. Overall can't complain too much about a win over a very good Owen team on the road, without our second leading scorer. Nice to see us pull out a win on a hostle court by doing the right thing and hitting key free throws, and making some key shots in the 4th in a tight game. Nice job, but when the press is not working need to look to something else, that about cost us!

[jnwta]

Wilkes Central 70
Alexander Central 61

The first game for ACHS was played Thursday night against the Eagles of Wilkes Central with Wilkes winning 70-61. The game was close and physical for the entire time. ACHS pulled out to an early lead but a run by Wilkes in the last minute cut it down to 16-15 after one. The momentum continued in the second as Wilkes took the lead and battled to a 35-30 halftime score. The third and fourth continued close with Wilkes ahead 49-46 at the end of the third and building to a double digit lead in the fourth quarter. AC cut the lead down but the game ended with a 70-61 Wilkes win.
I talked with several players and Coach Whittington after the game and even though they were disappointed with the loss, they were encouraged about the game and the season. This program from the outside looks like it has been struggling, and has at times, but the hard work and dedication by the girls lead by the seniors and the entire athletic department is beginning to show.
The Cougars were led by senior guard Kenya Miller with 16 points with senior post Miranda Horne and sophomore point guard Megan Huffman each tossing in 9 points. Megan did well in her first varsity game against a lot of pressure from Wilkes and leading an offense that still has some hiccups.
The next game for ACHS is Tuesday November 23 at home against Hickory High.

[bigdan]

Freedom @ Burns has been called off due to Burns in the football playoffs. From what I hear, they will not makeup this game, instead Freedom is playing @ Providence on Monday. Somehow Freedom got a last minute arrangement to play Providence so they won't be a game short.