Cougars open WHC against defending champion Bearcats Friday
Having played three straight road games this past week, the Cougars return home for their final non-conference game with Enka on Tuesday night before opening up Western Highlands Conference play at the Pit on Friday night against defending champ Hendersonville.The Cougars faced off against three more Mountain Athletic Conference teams, winning two of three on the road test. Heritage opened up the road trip at North Buncombe were they had to claw their way to a 62-54 win with a strong second half.
Only five points separated the two rivals at halftime but it was the Cougars owned the third quarter and were able to spread the lead out to 15 points going in to the final stanza behind the outside-inside duo of Tim Hensley and Bob Taylor.
Hensley scored 13 points, grabbed 9 rebounds and dealt 4 assists from his guard position while Taylor had 10 points, 9 Rebounds and 2 blocked shots from the wing.
The Cougar’s 5-10 guard Grant Buckner also added 10 points and 4 assists in the win while Brandon Brown chipped in 8 points and the team’s leading rebounder on the season, Kaleb McCurry, collected 5 caroms.
On Wednesday night in Enka the Cougars battled the Jets to a near standstill in the first half, leading 30-29 at the break before pulling away in the second half for a 62-50 win.
Brandon Brown was 2-4 from 3 point range and led the team in scoring with 15 points. Tim Hensley connected on 2-3 from 3 point land and 6-8 from the foul line to score 14 points while also pulling down 6 rebounds while Will Buckner also had a big game, nailing 6-7 from the floor and grabbing 7 rebounds in a 14 point performance.
Bob Taylor controlled the inside and led the team with 10 rebounds and 3 blocked shots while Lucas King contributed 7 points, which included a three pointer, and 5 assists. Sophomore guard Avery Austin also hit one of the Cougar’s six three pointers while grabbing 4 rebounds against the Jets.
Heritage (3-3) held a four point lead over WNC’s third rated team, the Asheville Cougars, at the half of Friday night’s game. But the Cougars from Yancey County had no answer for a 35 point 4th quarter by the home team.
Grant Buckner scored 15 points to lead Heritage while Bob Taylor added 10, Kaleb McCurry notched 9 and Tim Hensley netted 7.
Come out and show your support as the Cougars return home to the Pit after a week on the road.
By David Grindstaff
david@wkyk.com/ yanceysports.com
E-Mail
Print