WNC -- February 13, 2026: It was a banner week for basketball across Western North Carolina, marked by historic individual milestones and dominant team performances that have shifted the landscape of conference play.
Bulldogs Bite Back in National Spotlight
The UNC Asheville Bulldogs took center stage on Thursday night, securing a thrilling 79-74 road victory over Longwood in an ESPNU wildcard showdown. The game was a showcase of offensive firepower, featuring three 20-point performances from the Bulldogs:
Toyaz Solomon: 24 points and 13 rebounds.
Justin Wright: 24 points (including the go-ahead "and-one" with 1:34 remaining).
Kameron Taylor: 22 points.
The night belonged to Toyaz Solomon, who officially etched his name into the record books. By surpassing 500 career rebounds during the contest, he became the 20th player in Big South history to join the elite club of athletes with 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, and 100 blocks.
Catamounts Cruise in Cullowhee
Back in the mountains, the Western Carolina Catamounts put on a masterclass of efficiency on Wednesday, dismantling The Citadel 87-49. The Catamounts jumped out to a massive 52-25 lead by halftime and never looked back.
Julien Soumaoro led the charge with 15 points.
Tidjiane Dioumassi and Tahlan Pettway each chipped in 12 points.
The win provides a much-needed boost for WCU as they climb the Southern Conference standings.
High School Playoff Push
The local prep scene is also heating up as teams fight for postseason positioning:
East Rutherford faced off against East Burke this week..
It was a busy Tuesday for the East Rutherford and East Burke rivalry, as both the boys' and girls' varsity teams faced off with split results.
Boys' Varsity Game
The East Rutherford Cavaliers extended their winning streak to 12 games by defeating the East Burke Cavaliers 54-45. It was a hard-fought battle where standout performances led the way:
Blake Suttle dominated with 18 points and 8 rebounds, shooting an efficient 50% from the field.
Andre Staley contributed 16 points to help seal the victory.
This win improved East Rutherford’s record to 19-2, while East Burke fell to 7-13.
Girls' Varsity Game
In a reversal of the boys' outcome, the East Burke Cavaliers girls' team came away with a decisive 54-39 victory over East Rutherford:
Bella Harris was a bright spot for East Rutherford in the loss, scoring 14 points.
Zilah Dewberry also added 10 points for the Cavaliers.
This win continued a strong run for the East Burke girls, who have now won 11 of their last 12 matchups.