Two dominant guards in Cade Keller and Jayon Connor are getting ready to go toe-to-toe. The Watauga Pioneers will take on the Alexander Central Cougars at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Watauga knows how to get points on the board -- the squad has finished with 55 points or more in their past 23 matchups -- so hopefully Alexander Central likes a good challenge.
Watauga had to skate by with only a three-point margin when they last took the court, which might have inspired the 27-point drubbing they dealt Ashe County on Friday. Watauga simply couldn't be stopped as they easily beat Ashe County 70-43. The Pioneers have made a habit of sweeping their opponents off the court, having now won 11 games by 22 points or more this season.
Cade Keller
| 02/14/25 vs Ashe County | 75% |
| 02/12/25 @ Freedom | 33% |
| 02/07/25 @ Hibriten | 43% |
| 02/04/25 vs Alexander Central | 44% |
| 01/31/25 vs South Caldwell | 50% |
| + 18 more games |
Keller continued his habit of posting crazy stat lines, going 9-for-12 to rack up 21 points and three steals. Thanks to that strong game, he now owns an excellent 45.6% shooting accuracy. Another player making a difference was Josiah Railey, who went 7-for-14 on his way to 15 points and three steals.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Alexander Central, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Friday. They were the clear victor by a 57-34 margin over Ashe County on Monday. With the Cougars ahead 31-10 at the half, the contest was all but over already.
Watauga better keep an eye on Connor. He was instrumental in Alexander Central's win, dropping a double-double with 37 points and 15 rebounds. Connor's evening made it 15 games in a row in which he has scored at least 18 points. Jaheim Redmond was another key player, putting up six points along with seven assists and three steals.
Alexander Central smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 15 offensive boards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least eight offensive rebounds in four consecutive matchups.
The win got Alexander Central back to even at 12-12. As for Watauga, they have been performing incredibly well recently as they've won nine of their last ten games, which provided a nice bump to their 17-6 record this season.
Rebounding is likely to be a big factor in this contest: Watauga has been crashing the boards this season, having averaged 30.3 boards per game. However, it's not like Alexander Central struggles in that department as they've been averaging 27.3 rebounds. With both teams battling to corral missed shots, we'll see if one team can grab an edge.
Watauga was able to grind out a solid victory over Alexander Central when the teams last played two weeks ago, winning 55-43. One of the biggest obstacles the team faced in that game was Connor, who posted 24 points and four steals. Now that he's got a second chance to win this matchup, will Watauga still be able to contain Connor? Check MaxPreps.com after the match to find out.
