Neal Wachob • Clay County Progress Byron Engelmann, No. 15, surprises Cherokee with a scoop shot to tally 2 of his team-high 9 points for Hayesville's JV boys.
By Gary Corsair
Sports Writer
Underclassmen stole the show at Hayesville High School’s Senior Night last Friday when the JV Yellow Jackets avenged an 11-point loss to Murphy on Jan. 20.
Hayesville did much more than get revenge; the Clay County boys rewrote code, changed the recipe, shook up the soda pop and totally discombobulated the baby Bulldogs, 67-42.
“They beat us by seven last time. We got off to a good start last time; we just couldn’t hang on late,” Hayesville Coach Will Penland remarked. “We’ve been on the verge of busting out like that for a few weeks now. The first group got us off to a great start. That intensity level, communication on both ends of the floor, guys flying around, making plays, making shots — I’m proud of those guys, they’ve worked their tails off all season long.”
The working off of tails resulted in a 36-point swing, which happens about as often as a kid making a full-court shot . . . and Hayesville ‘Smurfed the Murphs with Rhett ‘The Jet’ Sellers and Micah ‘Like A Rolling Stone’ Moss playing just one quarter and “Never Rest Wes’ Jennings only playing the first and fourth.
Hayesville kenneled the ‘Dogs with a 23-point first quarter and led comfortably, 51-31, by halftime.
Sellers propelled Hayesville off the launch pad with 11 points on three three-pointers in the first period and Jennings added 7 points in his 14 minutes. Big Wes also blocked two shots and cleared three boards in the final quarter.
Master Outside and Mr. Inside rocked Murphy, 10-3 overall, 1-1 conference, from the get-go but this beat down was a total team effort. Eli Cheeks exploded for 20 points and was everywhere, grabbing rebounds, stealing the ball and feeding teammates for baskets. Byron Englemann was a carbon copy of hustle as he put in 13 points on three treys, cleared rebounds, blocked shots and took charge.
Nine Jackets landed in the scoring column, including Moss, who tallied 6 points during the second quarter.
Fransisco Rio scored 2 and played like a house afire when the game was already decided, taking a charge and snaring three rebounds in the second half.
Grant Baldwin hit a bucket from the corner and Karson Hughes ended the route with a three-ball.
E.J. Hughes added 3 points.
Cherokee 39, Hayesville 22
The Jackets had a rougher time in the opening round of the Smoky Mountain Conference tournament Tuesday at Murphy.
The Braves stifling defense severely hampered the offensive efforts of Hayesville, which was without the services of Sellers and Jennings, who both dressed for the varsity.
Cherokee led the entire way but Hayesville fought tooth-and-nail as evidenced by Engelmann tossing in a team-high 9 points, grabbing four boards and stealing the ball twice.
He wasn’t only never-say-die Jacket. Carson Finn took two charges, Peyton Cordell swiped the ball four times, Eli Cheeks scored 8 points with two steals; E.J. Hughes cleared four rebounds; Karson Hughes had four rebounds; Rios three boards and Grant Baldwin worked for rebounds underneath.