Ashe Mountain Times

LOST AND FOUND

LOST: Strong voiced, high-numbered student section at Ashe County High basketball games. Affectionately known as the “Dog Pound.” Feed at your own risk. Only bites at striped objects and strange whistles. Craves high intensity basketball games, cheers with gusto and pride all things Husky. Bleeds purple. Spotted only occasionally in small groups since Jan. 20. If and when found, slip them the date for a state playoff game and tell them to bring two friends.

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Hear that whistle echoing across the Ashe County High gym? As if calling Huskies?

The echo is unusual. Many a game night have seen those end zone bleachers jammed with students.

But lately? Not so much. Less than two dozen for Tuesday night's Mountain Valley Conference Tournament quarterfinal.

“We want our Dog Pound back!” senior Sam Gammons said a couple of weeks ago, emerging from the locker room after yet another lopsided victory.

Truth is, the Huskies have spoiled their Pound. Six of the other eight teams in the MVC have been little or no competition this season.

The Ashe boys are poised to be rewarded with a high seed this weekend when the N.C. High School Athletic Association, for the first time, announces seeding for the state basketball playoffs. The Huskies are 24-2 after Wednesday's MVC Tournament semifinal against Alleghany.

In close home victories over Wilkes Central and Watauga, and a tight season-opening loss to East Surry plus a regular season loss to Starmount, the Dog Pound was fervent and effective. The rest of the home slate hasn't created, or arguably needed, much of a whimper.

“Our kids appreciate those who lead the Dog Pound,” head coach Marc Payne said. “It's important for the atmosphere of our games. They don't know how much we appreciate their effort when they're out in force.”

Ashe's gym is unique with end zone bleachers. Few high schools in North Carolina have such a luxury, allowing for more overall attendance in addition to any advantages fans want to strategically create.

The fun begins early and reaches a crescendo when tension builds and the Dog Pound rises and offers a throaty “Stand up parents!”

Parents and friends behind the teams' benches always oblige. Typically, it leads to the favorite cheer as the clock winds to 15 seconds: “Who's going to win this game? Huskies are going to win this game!”

“It's always great to have our friends behind us,” senior Zeb Richardson said. “It pumps us up a lot more. They said in the state playoffs they'll come back. I hope they come back.”

And he and his teammates believe they will.

“We definitely love for them to come out,” senior Andrew Lopp said. “We haven't really needed them the last few games, but we would love for them to be there.”

For junior point guard Nehemiah Stafford, these aren't even his final games of enjoying their respectable but rowdy behavior.

“It's a sixth man for sure,” Stafford said. “They give us energy through our games, for the seniors and all of our team.

“When we need to get out of a hole, they give us a spark. They're an invaluable asset.”

It's the kind of asset visitors don't fancy, but Huskies prefer.

“Regardless of who we play in the playoffs,” Lopp said, “if we get the Dog Pound out, it'll be a huge advantage for us.”