By Gary Corsair
Sports Writer
Daemien Soto proved himself ready for the big time in leading Hayesville to an easy win with team highs in points (18) and rebounds (8) in his first varsity start as the Yellow Jackets smoked Blue Ridge Early College, 69-20, Tuesday in Cashiers.
Hayesville decided the outcome with relentless fast-breaking, a stifling 1-3-1 defense and unselfish half-court offense in winning the Black and Gold’s season opener — with last year’s leading scorer Brady Reynolds on the sidelines with an injury.
“I thought the energy level was much higher,” Hayesville Coach Mike Cottrell said. “We passed the ball at times.”
The share and share alike approach was evident from the opening tip as Hayesville’s first four baskets came from four different players, none of them named Damien Soto.
The game was over by the time Soto joined the party. Hayesville tamed the Bobcats by outscoring the hosts 17-1 during the middle four minutes of the first quarter that resulted in a 19-3 lead.
Most of Soto’s eight baskets came on second-quarter run outs that began with steals on the Bobcats’ end of the floor. The 1-3-1 worked like a charm, especially when Brendan Lynch or Soto was on top and small but speedy Kabe Shaheen or E.J. Abrams patrolled under the hoop.
The 1-3-1 basically flummoxed the Bobcats, who were repeatedly stymied by Hayesville middle man Jackson Sellers, who led the Yellow Jackets with four swipes, a blocked shot and five defensive rebounds.
Action Jackson also tallied eight points on 3-of-4 shooting from the field and 2-of-2 marksmanship from the line, handed out five assists and pulled down seven rebounds.
Sellers was one of five Yellow Jackets to score seven or more points. Lynch followed Soto with 11 points on 4-of-7 field goal shooting, Kabe Shaheen totaled eight by making 2-of-3 shots and 3-of-4 free throwing and Landon Trout nailed 3-of-4 from the field and his only free throw attempt for seven markers.
Hayesville finished with 21-of-43 marksmanship from the field and 15-of-19 efficiency from the charity stripe. The Yellow Jackets took care of the ball, committing just eight turnovers.
Hayesville’s balanced attack resulted in a 24-7 first-quarter lead. Soto scored 11 in the next quarter to propel the Yellow Jackets to a 53-14 halftime lead.
Cottrell played his bench extensively after the intermission and back-ups Wes Jennings, Brady Jones, Micah Moss, Rhett Sellers, Byron Engelmann, Eli Cheeks and Carter Whitfield responded. Jennings had four points, three rebounds, a block in the half and finished with six points, six boards and two assists. Jones had four caroms in the second half and Engelmann had two boards.
“We have lots of things to work on, but we are headed in the right direction. We will get a better indication Friday night, but I definitely felt better about our focus level.”
Hayesville Scoring
Soto 18, Lynch 11, J. Sellers 8, Shaheen 8, Trout 7, Jennings 6, Moss 5, Abrams 3, Whitfield 2, Jones 1.
Hayesville Leaders
Rebounds: Soto 8, J. Sellers 7, Jennings 6.
Assists: J. Sellers 4, Shaheen 3, Abrams 2, Engelmann 2, Jennings 2.
Steals: J. Sellers 4, Shaheen 2.
Score by Quarters
Hayesville 24 - 53- 63 - 69
Blue Ridge EC 7 - 14 - 18 - 20