Gary Corsair • Clay County Progress Hayesville’s Jackson Sellers, No. 33, goes up strong for 2 against Swain. Sellers tallied 13 in the Yellow Jackets’ win over Hiwassee Dam.
By Gary Corsair
Sports Writer
Slade Crouch went off like a box of Roman candles in a sauna with 19 points in the middle quarters as Hayesville bolted from a halftime tie to a 62-53 Smoky Mountain Conference win over Hiwassee Dam on Tuesday, Jan. 7.
Crouch finished with 24 big ones as Hayesville (3-7 overall, 2-1 SMC) snapped a five-game losing streak and avenged an 8-point loss to Hiwassee Dam (6-6 overall, 1-2 conference) in early December.
That 17-point swing brought a smile to the face of Hayesville Coach Mike Cottrell.
“We played much better throughout the game — definitely moving forward,” Cottrell said.
Notice he said “we” not “he.”
Yes, Crouch was a shooting star from inside and out — a pair of three-pointers and two and-ones, but he wasn’t Hayesville’s only heavenly body.
Jackson Sellers struggled at the free throw line but cashed in 13 markers, hit a three-pointer, grabbed 10 boards including 4 at the offensive end and took a charge.
Brady Reynolds also went boom, scoring 14 points, including a pair of three-pointers in the fourth period.
E.J. Abrams scored in every quarter, finished with a season-high 8 and took a charge — as usual.
Landon Trout rebounded and scored 2 points and Brandan Lynch hit a three-pointer.
Hayesville trailed 14-10 after the first quarter but knotted the score at 25 by halftime as Crouch went bonkers with 9 points and Abrams and Lynch drilled three-pointers in the second act.
Cottrell used halftime to make sure his charges stayed the course. “I felt like things were coming together and just encouraged them to continue to do their best,” he recalled.
Clean floor play also factored in the win — Hayesville only committed two turnovers in the first half. The Jackets continued to take care of the rock after the intermission. Hayesville made just eight errors all night.
“The guys have had good practices and the focus is getting better,” Cottrell said.
That focus will need to be razor sharp when Franklin (11-3) comes calling on Thursday, Jan. 16. Nantahala (5-7) visits on Friday, Jan. 17.