Ashe Mountain Times

After securing a slim halftime advantage, the Ashe County Lady Huskies would let victory slip through their paws, as they fell 45-36 to the Forbush Falcons Tuesday night at home. 

Ashe trailed after the first quarter, 10-6, but got meaningful contributions by Victoria Reed and Ashton Lee, who both knocked home long three-point attempts. 

The Huskies’ lead would grow to as many as seven in the second quarter after Chealsea Reavis drained a three-point basket to make the score 17-12. 

Although Forbush would soon tie the game, Ashe would regain control when Paige Spell added three points before the half to take a 21-18 lead into the locker rooms. 

The third quarter was low scoring, as both teams found trouble unhinging the lid that formed over the basket. A jumper by Morgan Hudler gave Ashe the 23-20 lead early in the second half, but a Falcons’ three-pointer and another free-throw restored the Falcons’ advantage. 

Both teams exchanged the lead several times during the fourth quarter before the Falcons finally pulled away.

Spell knocked down a jump and Ashe briefly recaptured the lead. 

About midway through the quarter, Emily Flanagan tied the game at 31 before the Falcons used a 14-6 run to close out the game. 

Spell added another jumper and three-pointer, but the end it would be the Falcons who held on. 

Boys thwart Falcons in rematch 

Looking for a little bit of redemption, Ashe High’s boys team avenged an earlier loss this season by defeating the Forbush Falcons 59-52 Tuesday night.  

Ashe relied on a promising first half performance to help carry the team to the pivotal conference win. 

Three-point baskets by Jordan Spell, and an ‘And One’ by Seth Sheets lifted the Huskies to an early 15-6 lead. 

Ashe extended the lead to double digits late in the second quarter when Spell was fouled on the tree-point attempt.

 Spell calmly walked up to the charity stripe and sunk three straight free-throws to give Ashe a 25-15 advantage moments before the half. Sheets also added four points before the break. 

Forbush appeared to be poised to mount a comeback against the Huskies, as the Falcons trimmed the deficit to three points. Justin Funk, who had eight points in the quarter to bring the Falcons within striking distance, led Forbush in its quest to even the score.

Three straight Falcons’ turnovers in the closing minutes of the quarter sparked an 8-1 run by the Huskies, including a buzzer beating three-pointer by Jordan Spell to make the score 59-52 heading into the fourth quarter. 

Matthew Lee and Jonathan Cox, who found himself on the receiving side of two of those turnovers, added baskets of their own in the quarter and Ashe reasserted its advantage. 

Mental frustrations plagued the Falcons during the game’s closing stretch and prevented Forbush from capitalizing on a fourth quarter comeback. 

A technical foul sent Spell to the free-throw, as the Huskies nursed a 47-40 lead midway through the fourth quarter. 

Gambill later added two free throws to stretch the Huskies’ lead to 49-42. 

While a basket by Barrett Jennings would soon cut the Huskies lead to only three points, the Huskies would prevail thanks to some skillful shooting at the free-throw line. 

Both teams returned to action Wednesday night at home against Wilkes Central. Ashe will then take to the road for a conference showdown at East Wilkes on Friday.