Photo by Beth Chandler Hayesville's Jasmine Brooks, No. 3, looks for a way to get a pass to Bryleigh Krieger, No. 10, in the low post.
By Gary Corsair
Sports Writer
Last year, Hayesville’s ultra young girls basketball team was unceremoniously bounced from the post-season playoffs by Bishop McGuiness in a game decided shortly after tipoff.
This year, the all-underclassmen Lady Yellow Jackets proved they belonged on the same court with one of the state’s perennial powers before being eliminated from the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 1-A playoffs by Bishop McGuinness, 71-34.
“I’m really proud of the girls and the competitiveness they showed against a really good team,” Hayesville Coach Chad McClure said.
The Lady Jackets, who posted a sparkling 21-7 record, did their community proud with an impressive first quarter and never-say-die attitude the rest of the way.
“We played a good first quarter defensively but couldn’t get shots to fall. Then we had some foul trouble in the second quarter,” McClure stated.
The Bishop McGuinness, 24-4, lead was just three at the end of the first quarter, 11-8. The Villains broke the game open by blanking Hayesville 11-0 in the second period for a comfy 33-8 halftime lead.
“They got hot in the second and third quarter and stretched the lead out,” McClure said.
Hayesville aided and abetted by shooting 29 percent from the field and 20 percent from behind the three-point arch over the course of four quarters.
Brooke Graves, who established herself as a scoring threat late in the season, again led Hayesville. The hard-working junior was the only Lady Jacket to shoot above 50 percent, hitting 5-of-7 from the field and 2-of-2 from the free throw line for 12 points. Graves also had three rebounds.
Junior Mallory Peck was the leader in caroms with eight. She also scored 4 points.
Exuberant sophomore Briley Clampitt contributed 7 points and four rebounds. Sophomore Bryleigh Krieger cleared four rebounds, handed out a team-high three assists and scored a point.
Junior Breanna Abrams had a team-high three steals and scored 4 points.
Sophomore Ava Shook added 5 points. Freshman Jasmine Brooks contributed three rebounds.
Sophomore Emma Ashe had a rebound and an assist.
Hayesville didn’t rattle Bishop McGuinness this year, but the Lady Jackets took a step in that direction. Thirty-four points may not sound like a lot, but 19 of the schools that lost to Bishop McGuinness’ scored 34 or less – 10 teams didn’t break 20.
Chances are Bishop McGuinness isn’t looking forward to playing Hayesville in the years to come.