Owen falls to Mitchell on Senior Night

Warhorses and Warlassies come up short in regular season finale

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
February 12, 2022

The celebrations were big, but short-lived in the Owen High School gymnasium, Feb. 11, as the Warlassies and Warhorses closed out their regular season basketball schedule.

Each team recognized three seniors before tip-off, and a pre-game prom proposal drew congratulatory cheers from the home fans. Owen, however, would drop both of the games that followed.

The Warhorses were represented on Senior Night by Briggs Barker, Cadyn Cook and Will Lance. while the Warlassies showed their appreciation for Bailee Worley, McKenna Mumpower and Mattie Lehman. The Owen Cheerleading team celebrated four seniors: Jenna Travis, Chloe Hall, Hendley Haws and Jadyn Hensley. The wrestling team, which was competing in the NCHSAA 1A/2A Western Regional Tournament, was represented by banners featuring Zeke Grabowski, Luke Ogle, Aiden Noonan, Landon Robinson and David Orr.

The evening included a surprise for Warlassies senior starter Mumpower, who completed daylong scavenger hunt that concluded with fellow senior Brett Gaynor asking her to prom at center court. Mumpower accepted the invitation, and the scene set an energetic tone for the game.

The visiting Mountaineers entered the contest with a 10-9 record, while the Warlassies came in with a 10-10 mark. The Western Highlands Conference matchup was tightly contested in the first quarter, with Mitchell holding a 14-12 advantage.

The high-pressure defense of the Mountaineers forced multiple Owen turnovers in the second quarter, as Mitchell extended its lead to 26-19 at the half. The Warlassies would cut the deficit to 5 points in the third quarter, but the visiting team prevailed, 46-34, after holding its host to 6 points in the fourth.

The 3-17 Warhorses entered their contest against the 10-7 Mountaineers with a two-game winning streak. Mitchell pulled ahead, 22-17, in the first quarter, widening the gap to 19 before halftime. That lead would continue to grow in the second half, with the visiting Mountaineers cruising to the 89-55 victory.

The Warlassies will travel to Avery County, Monday, Feb. 14, to open the WHC tournament against Mitchell, while the Warhorses will begin conference tournament play, Tuesday, Feb. 15.

Photos of the of the Senior Night matchup between Owen and Mitchell can be found in the gallery at the top of the page.