Freedom Teams picked to win NWC

 Members of the Unifour media recently cast votes in the NW 3A/4A Basketball Conference Preseason Poll. The Freedom Patriots Men’s and Women’s Teams were chosen as preseason favorites to capture the NWC crowns. The Freedom men earned six first-place votes, while Hickory was picked to finish second with four first-place votes. Alexander Central is picked to place third in the men’s conference. Freedom’s James Freeman is the top pick as Preseason Player of the Year. In women’s basketball, Freedom claimed all 10 first place votes and is picked as the preseason favorite. Watauga is picked to place second, while the ACHS Lady Cougars are picked for the league’s seventh spot.  Lady Patriot Blaikley Crooks is the media’s Preseason Women’s Player of the Year.
MEN
(First-place votes in parentheses)
1. Freedom     (6), 66
2. Hickory      (4), 63
3. Alexander Central 45
4. Watauga     33
5. McDowell     27
6. St. Stephen     s22
7. South Caldwell     21
Player of the Year votes: James Freeman (Freedom) 5, Cody Young (Hickory) 2, Davis Amos (Hickory) 1, Jem Lowrance (Alexander Central) 1.

 WOMEN
1. Freedom (10), 70
2. Watauga     54
3. Hickory      53
4. McDowell     38
5. South Caldwell     27
6. St. Stephens     20
7. Alexander Centra     l18
Player of the Year votes: Blaikley Crooks (Freedom) 6, Brooke Byrd (Watauga) 1, Adair Garrison (Freedom) 1, Makenna Parkins (McDowell) 1.