Lady Cougars edge Ashe in Winkler’s debut
Miller scores 23 in opening night win
By D.N. PENNELL, Jr.
The Alexander Central Varsity Women’s Basketball Team made a winner out of first-year coach Jonathan Winkler in his first game on the Lady Cougar bench on Tuesday night, November 21, at Ashe County.
Key Key Miller led ACHS with 23 points in the season-opening win at Ashe County.
Behind a game-high 23 points from Key Key Miller, the Lady Cougars edged Ashe County 46-44 in the season opener for both teams in West Jefferson.
Miller connected on 10 of 21 shots to lead the Alexander offensive effort. Sydney Sharpe hit three of five three point attempts to tally nine points, while freshman Nikki Hagy scored seven points and grabbed eight rebounds in her high school debut.
The Lady Cougars (1-0) shot 40 percent from the floor but struggled to take care of the ball, committing 30 turnovers in the game.
Lady Cougar Coach Jonathan Winkler
In Tuesday’s men’s game, Ashe County outscored the Varsity Cougars 14-8 in the fourth period to snap a 27-27 tie at the start of the frame. The Cougars trailed 25-17 at the half before outscoring the home team 10-2 in the third to forge a 27-27 tie entering the fourth.
The Cougars shot 41 percent from the floor but struggled at the foul line, converting just two of eight shots for 25 percent.
Junior Dawson Elder led the Alexander scoring with 11 points on five of nine shooting. Jackson Barr added five points for the Cougars in the loss. Ashe’s Grant Thompson led all scorers with 17 points.
ASHE COUNTY SWEEPS JV COUGARS
Earlier Tuesday, Ashe County claimed a two-game sweep over Alexander Central in junior varsity hoops action.
In the first game of the day, the JV Lady Huskies built a 21-13 lead through three periods and held on to post a 29-26 win over ACHS.
Gracie Rhoney and Morgan Jenkins led the young Lady Cougars with eight points each in the loss.
In game two, the JV Huskies took a 19-5 halftime advantage and claimed a 38-32 win over the Alexander JV Cougars. ACHS outscored the Huskies 27-19 in the second half but could not recover from the halftime deficit.
Aiden Hager and Zach Herman led Alexander with eight points each.
