Watauga High men's basketball coach Rob Sanders isn't wasting any time. Sanders, who's about to begin his ninth year at the helm, has released his schedule for the upcoming season. The Pioneers (10-15), who suffered their first losing season in four years (2007-08) last winter,

will officially open the season at home Tuesday, November 20 against Avery. Wilkes Central comes to town November 27, and the Pioneers hit the road for the first time November 30 as they take on Ashe County in West Jefferson. The Huskies, led by Sanders' mentor, Marc Payne, were 25-4 last season.
The Pioneers will also play a home-and-away series with McDowell, renewing that rivalry for the first time in three years. They were scheduled to play each other last season at Lentz-Eggers Gym, but the game was snowed out. The teams last played each other in 2009-10. The Titans will also make their first appearance in Boone since the 2008-09 season, when they invade Lentz-Eggers Gym on
December 11.
The Pioneers will play in the Alleghany Christmas Tournament for the second year in a row, December 27-28. WHS will open Northwestern 3A/4A Conference play at Fred T. Foard December 18. The Pioneers will celebrate Senior Night against Hibriten February 12.

2012-13 WHS BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

NOVEMBER 20 AVERY
NOVEMBER 27 WILKES CENTRAL
NOVEMBER 30 @ Ashe County
DECEMBER  4 @ McDowell
DECEMBER  7 @ Avery
DECEMBER 11 McDOWELL
DECEMBER 18 @ Fred T. Foard*
DECEMBER 21 WEST CALDWELL
DECEMBER 27-28 @ Alleghany Christmas Tournament
JANUARY   4 HICKORY*
JANUARY   8 @ Wilkes Central
JANUARY   9 ASHE COUNTY
JANUARY  11 @ Alexander Central*
JANUARY  15 @ South Caldwell*
JANUARY  18 @ Hibriten*
JANUARY  22 ST. STEPHENS*
JANUARY  25 FRED T. FOARD*
JANUARY  29 @ Hickory*
FEBRUARY  5 ALEXANDER CENTRAL*
FEBRUARY  8 SOUTH CALDWELL*
FEBRUARY 12 HIBRITEN*#
FEBRUARY 15 @ St. Stephens*

HOME GAMES IN CAPS
* - Denotes Northwestern 3A/4A Conference games
# - Senior Night