The McDowell Titans entered their tilt with the Avery County Vikings with six consecutive wins but they'll enter their next game with seven. McDowell really took it to Avery County for the full four quarters, racking up a 71-35 win at home. The result was nothing new for McDowell, who have now won seven games by 33 points or more so far this season.
McDowell's victory was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Kensly Stewart, who scored 15 points. Khloe Joyner was another key contributor, scoring 13 points.
When it comes to explaining why Avery County lost on Thursday, one person who can't be blamed is Hannah Mace. Despite the final result, she scored five points. Mace also grabbed two steals for the first time this season.
Avery County struggled to get the ball back on offense and finished the game with only four offensive rebounds. That's the fewest offensive rebounds they've managed all season.
McDowell pushed their record up to 8-1 with that win, which was their fourth straight at home. Those victories were due in large part to their offensive dominance across that stretch, as they averaged 69.3 points per game. As for Avery County, their defeat ended a three-game streak of away wins and brought them to 4-6.
McDowell won't have much time to rest: their next contest is against East Burke at 5:00 p.m. on December 29th. East Burke knows how to get points on the board -- the team has finished with flashy point totals in its past nine contests -- so hopefully McDowell likes a good challenge. Avery County won't have much time to rest: their next match is against Patton at 2:00 p.m. on December 29th. Patton has now lost seven straight, and the team is hunting for their first win since November 30.