A strong second half was the difference in the game Tuesday night with Ashe coming out on top, 40-35.
The Vikings took a 9-7 lead after the first eight minutes of play.
Ashe took its first lead on the first shot of the second half. Sam Bowers drilled a long three-pointer to put Ashe in front 10-9. Avery answered back with a three-pointer from Tre Jackson, and a pair of baskets from Luke Wotell. A late basket from Daniel Childress gave the Vikings a 22-17 lead at the halftime break.
The Huskies began the third quarter with two quick baskets to pull to within one point. Seth Sheets and Anderson Moore got to the hoop for a pair of layups. Payton Lowery answered back with a layup of his own to keep Avery up by three.
Ashe closed the quarter strong with a jump shot and a free throw from Moore, a free throw from Cullen Ashley and a buzzer beating shot from Ashley again to give the Huskies a 27-24 advantage after three quarters.
Avery played the opening of the fourth similar to how Ashe did in the third, scoring two quick buckets to retake the lead. Lowery and Chance Watson hit floaters in the lane to take a 28-27 lead.
The Huskies got it right back with two huge three-pointers. Bowers drilled the first one, then Jordan Spell nailed his second three-point shot of the evening.
The turning point of the game took place late in the fourth when Jackson drew a charge against Bowers, but was then handed a technical foul for taunting. So instead of Avery getting the ball back with a chance to tie it, trailing by just three, Ashe would get two free throws, then the ball. Eli Gambill calmly knocked down both free throws, then Spell got fouled on the ensuing inbound play and hit a pair as well, putting Ashe up 37-30.
Three late free throws from Bowers sealed the victory, giving head coach Scott Grubb his first win as the varsity coach at Ashe County High School.
Spell led all Ashe players with 12 points. Bowers chipped in with nine, followed by Moore with seven, Ashley with five, Lawrence with three, Sheets with two and Gambill with two.
For Avery, Wotell led all scorers with 13 points. Jackson finished with six, Lowery had four, Watson had four and Childress added four.
Up next, the Huskies (1-1) will face rival Watauga on Friday night in Boone.
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