Warhorses run away with win in home opener
Owen heats up in 76-67 victory over North Buncombe
Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
December 11, 2024
With four of their top eight players on the sideline, Dec. 11, the 1-2 Warhorses were relying on strong performances from each member of their starting five to deliver a victory for fans in the team’s home opener against 1-1 North Buncombe.
Led by 21 points and 13 rebounds from senior Jared Kelley, and double-digit efforts of four teammates, Owen had everything it needed to seal its second straight win, outlasting the Black Hawks, 76-67.
Kelley, who finished the night 6 of 9 from beyond the three-point line, posted a career high in points and rebounds, while senior Eli Lewkowicz added 18 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists. Jack Wesley Burk notched his 19th consecutive double-digit showing with 13 points, as senior Colton Morris and junior Asante Martin each added 12.
The team’s performance in front of a packed Owen gymnasium was “huge,” according to head coach Joe Valencia.
“All my big men are hurt, and these guys came in here tonight and did everything you could possibly ask them to do,” he said. “They played with immense heart while playing under control. You really couldn’t write a script better for how they performed tonight.”
The Warhorses jumped out to a 20-18 lead when Kelley connected on a three-pointer as the buzzer sounded to end the first quarter. A swarming Owen defense held its opponent to 8 points in the second quarter, as the home team entered the half with a 37-26 advantage.
The Black Hawks responded with 5 unanswered points to start the second half, before the Warhorses settled in to establish their biggest lead of the night. Timely rebounding and aggressive perimeter defense fueled a transition attack that brought the crowd to its feet throughout the Warhorses’ 24-point fourth quarter.
The relentless effort of Lewkowicz and Martin, who collected 8 rebounds and 7 assists, forced the North Buncombe defense to collapse into the lane throughout the contest, and Kelley was ready to respond, according to his coach.
“He’s a senior who works hard everyday,” Valencia said. “He makes sure to tell me every night he’s a shooter, and everyone could see that tonight. He left it all on the floor.”
The effort was a “true team win,” he added.
“These kids really love each other so much, so whoever’s cooking gets to cook,” Valencia said. “Everybody had opportunities tonight, and they call came up big when they had to.”
The victory comes five days after Owen dispatched Brevard, 67-47, closing out a three-game road trip to open the campaign. Maintaining momentum will be key, as the Warhorses head to Valdese, Dec. 17, to face Draughn in their Western Highlands Conference opener.
“We just have to keep buying into the game plan, night in and night out,” Valencia said. “These guys are in great shape, because we played six players tonight and they took care of business. So, we just need to keep coming to practice and working our tails off.”
Trusting a system designed around ball movement and high-intensity man-to-man defense will continue to yield positive results, as injured players return to the roster, according to the coach.
“We have eight seniors on this roster, so we expect big things,” he said. “We want these guys to go out with a bang this season, and these guys really set that tone tonight.”
Photos of Owen’s 76-67 victory over North Buncombe can be viewed in the gallery at the top of the page.