Warhorses and Warlassies wow fans on Youth Night

Owen basketball squads sweep Polk in packed house

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
January 7, 2023

The Warhorses and Warlassies put on a show in front of a packed gym, Jan. 6, as Owen High School hosted dozens of the Swannanoa Valley’s youngest basketball players on Youth Night.

The home fans were treated to a pair of Owen wins, with both teams turning in decisive performances against Polk.

The Warlassies opened their 57-46 win with a strong start against the Wolverines, who came into the contest with a 7-5 mark. Led by senior Maesyn Gardner, who finished with a team-high 20 points, the Owen offense jumped out to an early 14-4 advantage.

Polk battled back in the second quarter, cutting the Owen lead to 22-20. The Warlassies answered with a 13-2 run to close the half.

Gardner, who finished the night with 7 rebounds, hit one of her two 3-pointers to open the third quarter, giving Owen a 38-22 lead.

The Warlassies, with 13 points each from senior Carly Hancock and junior Elle Martin, improved to 7-8 this season with their second victory over Polk.

The Warhorses took the court with a 5-8 mark, seeking to avenge a Dec. 6 road loss against the Wolverines. Senior Hunter Owen-Inabinett, who led the team with 29 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks, was up to the task.

Owen established an early lead with a trio of 3-pointers from Caleb Mooney, Eli Lewkowicz and Asanti Martin, but Polk kept pace, as the Warhorses carried a 28-27 lead into the half.

While the Owen defense stifled the Wolverine offensive attack to open the second half, a 10-point third quarter from Owen-Inabinett helped extend the Warhorse lead to 49-32.

The Warhorses, boosted by 11 points from Martin who connected on 3 of 4 attempts from beyond the 3-point line, finished the night with a 66-55 win.

The on-court performances of both teams complemented the energetic buzz surrounding Owen Youth Night, which celebrated the players from the Owen Youth Basketball League.

Young players greeted their high school counterparts as they took the court and participated in a pair of halftime contests that helped raise money to purchase rings for the state champion Owen cross country and soccer teams. Each player who made a shot during the fundraising event received a cupcake from Hey Hey Cupcake!

The Warlassies and Warhorses will return to action, Tuesday, Jan. 10, when both teams travel to Avery County to face the Vikings in Western Highland Conference matchups.

Photos of Owen Youth Night can be viewed in the gallery at the top of the page.