Key Freedom-Watauga basketball games postponed, plus all BCPS events (UPDATED 2:20 P.M.)

All Burke County Public Schools after-school athletics and extracurricular activities were canceled on Tuesday due to a winter weather advisory for the county, the school system announced shortly after 1 p.m. via email.

The Freedom basketball teams on Tuesday morning had already announced that they will now host Watauga on Wednesday in a pair of key Northwestern 3A/4A Conference varsity contests after wintry weather in the mountains postponed the action from Tuesday night. Action will start as usual with the JV girls game at 4 p.m.

Wednesday's playing date is fluid and also could change based on the weather and travel situation from Boone, Freedom athletic director Rob Scott said.

If the games were postponed again, the almost certain date would be Thursday as both teams have games scheduled on Friday to end the regular season. The NWC coaches meeting is scheduled for Saturday, and the conference tournament starts next Tuesday (Feb. 18).

In the boys portion of the NWC standings, the Patriots' and Pioneers' clash pits two of three teams currently tied atop the standings with records of 6-2 in league play. South Caldwell is also tied for first place.

The Freedom girls, meanwhile, are alone in third place with with a 5-3 NWC record. A win over Watauga (7-1) could pull the Lady Patriots within one game of first place with a game to play as they would maintain a chance to earn a share of the regular-season title with the three-time defending co-champion Lady Pioneers.

Both Freedom teams already in their most recent games last Friday at Ashe County won to clinch the top 3A state playoff seed from the conference.

Two other local high school hoops contests originally slated for Tuesday were also moved to Wednesday: Patton at Chase, and West Lincoln at East Burke.

Meanwhile, the Mountain Heritage at Draughn games were moved from Tuesday to Friday.