Gary Corsair • Clay County Progress Hayesville's Aaliyah Jackson sidesteps a Bulldog on the way to the basket.
By Gary Corsair
Sports Writer
The Hayesville junior varsity girls finished the regular-season with impressive conference wins that gave the Lady Jackets the No. 2 seed and a bye in the Smoky Mountain Conference Tournament.
Hayesville’s first game in the tourney was Wednesday. Results and future pairings are posted on the Clay County Progress Facebook page.
Here’s how Hayesville earned the No. 2 ranking:
Hayesville 35, Robbinsville 23
Hayesville Coach Meghan McQuade Taylor received quality minutes from each of her warriors.
Inside, Ava Moore was in fine form with 13 points and six rebounds.
Up top, point guard Aaliyah Jackson frustrated Robbinsville with six steals in addition to scoring five points.
On both ends, Kara Bauer collected rebounds, finishing with 10 to go with two points. Here, there and everywhere, Micalynn McClure collected five thefts, three boards, three points and two assists. Off the bench, Breanna Patterson kicked in two points, an assist and a rebound.
Outside, Kadence Morrow buried a pair of threes during a first quarter the Lady Jackets dominated by a score of 11-0.
That’s right, zero. Nada. Goose egg.
And Hayesville continued to handcuff the Lady Knights. The halftime score was 21-4.
Hayesville 41, Murphy 34
The Bulldogs pulled within 3 in the final minute but the Lady Jackets kept their composure and turned back the visitors with four unanswered points.
Hayesville clinched the Feb. 11 victory when Kara Bauer collected a long pass and laid the ball in to up the score to 39-34. Aaliyah applied icing to the cake by swishing a pair of free throws, giving her a perfect 6-of-6 on the night.
The wild and wooly victory was especially sweet considering a shaky start. The score at the end of the first quarter: Murphy 13, Jackson 2.
The Nike was on the other foot in the third period when Hayesville went ahead by outscoring Murphy, 15-1.
Moore led all scorers with 14. Jackson added 11.
Kadence Morrow hit a pair of treys for six points. Micalynn McClure added a half dozen on three baskets. Bauer contributed four points.