By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — With career highs recorded by Kate Sears (43 points) and Blair Haines (23 points) complimented by a punishing team defense, the Watauga varsity women ran away from Freedom on Jan. 22, 83-63, in front of a packed house at Lentz Eggers Gym.
Wednesday night’s contest had been rescheduled from Tuesday (Jan. 21) because of extreme cold, ice and snow making travel more dangerous, but the changes had no ill effects on Sears and Haines, whose impact was immediate. The duo combined for 22 points in just the first quarter and added 15 more in the second period en route to a 14-point Pioneer lead at intermission, 48-34. Senior guard Julie Matheson contributed six points before halftime to aid the cause, finishing the game with 10 points.
Freedom had four players in double figures, scoring, including a tie for team-high at 15 points by sisters Cynica and Peyton Caldwell. Junior guard Ava Cooke and senior guard Haven Gladden added 12 and 11, respectively.
The breadth of the Patriots’ scoring could not overcome the one-two punch of Sears and Haines, however. The Pioneers’ senior and sophomore guards combined for 12 made shots from behind the 3-point arc to account for nearly half (43.4 percent) of the team’s total offensive production on the night…