The Watauga High boys and  girls basketball teams advanced to the championship round of the Ashe County Thanksgiving Tournament on Friday. The WHS JV girls (2-0) defeated

Hampton, Va., 34-27 Friday afternoon. Ryan Loflin led the Pioneers in scoring for the second game in a row. The WHS sophomore, who poured in 19 points in a season-opening win agianst Avery, led the Pioneers with 14 points. Loflin is avearging 16.5 points through her first two games. Rachel Foutz chipped in with five points. Madi Brown, Sydney Farthing Brooklin Carrol each had four points apience.
The JV boys (2-0) won their match by knocking off Hampton 60-42 in their first-round game on Friday. And the Pioneers also lost their starting point guard T.J. Poulos, who was suffered a badly sprained ankle in the third quarter.
"Our players showed a lot of poise and composure and fought through a lot of adversity against a talented Hapmton team," said WHS coach Jerry Moretz. " made the correct adjustments and put the game out of reach in the 3rd quarter."
Leading 33-24 to start the second half, the Pioneers broke the game open as they outscored Hampton 18-9 in the third quarter as they took a commanding 51-33 lead. Aaron Dobbins led the Pioneers with 17 points, ten rebounds and four assists. Poulos had eight points and four assists before he was injuried. Utah Jones had seven points; Caleb Bryson had five points and three steals; Matt Tyndall had five points; Harrison Cobb had seven rebounds.
The JV boys will be going for back-to-back Championships in this Thanksgiving tournament and their 27th consecutive win dating back to last season.
The JV girls play the winner of Avery-Ashe at 5:30 p.m. for the championship; the JV boys play the winner of Ashe-Cloudland at 7:00 p.m. for the championship.