Gary Corsair • Clay County Progress Hayesville's Isaac Chandler, No. 11, looks to make an outlet pass after corralling a defensive rebound. Chandler had a game-high 11 caroms.
By Gary Corsair
Sports Writer
Heart, hustle and harmony fueled an 18-point turnaround as Hayesville’s varsity boys bested host Highlands, 50-41.
The Yellow Jackets — 6-3 overall, 4-2 Smoky Mountain Conference — trailed by 9 in the second quarter, tied the score in the third and broke the game open in the final act to culminate an 18-point turnaround.
“We didn’t shoot the ball well at all but we played well down the stretch and gutted one out,” Hayesville Coach Mike Cottrell said.
One of the Yellow Jackets’ most notable displays of intestinal fortitude began with Highlands on top 30-26 with 2:44 left in the third quarter. Slade Crouch began the gut checks by hitting the floor to steal the ball. Three seconds later, Asher Brown scored on a sweet one-hand runner in the lane. When Highlands came down-court, Brown and Isaac Chandler tied up the ball.
That spirited sequence set the stage for a full-fledged takeover by Hayesville during the final period. The Yellow Jackets outscored the Highlanders, 15-7, during the final eight minutes with spirited and unselfish play.
Hayesville trailed 35-34 entering the final act, but immediately jumped in the driver’s seat when Chandler took a feed from Landon Hughes and nailed a fall away 3-pointer to put the Yellow Jackets up for good, 37-35, with 7:43 remaining.
On the next possession, Hughes took a slick pass from Crouch, cut through the lane and deposited the rock to extend the lead to 39-35. Lee then added a hoop on a dish from Hughes to extend the run to 7-0.
Highlands cut the lead to 42-39, but that was the hosts’ last hurrah.
Crouch found Brown for a back door lay-up, then Lee grabbed a defensive rebound and Chandler slipped behind the defense for a bucket thanks to Crouch. Hayesville 46-39. Next, Crouch stole the ball, raced down-court and made the slickest play of the game — a jaw-dropping behind the back wraparound dribble for a lay-up that put the game out of reach, 48-39, with 1:59 left to play.
Crouch was a whirlwind during the crucial fourth period, handing out three assists, making a pair of steals, clearing two rebounds and cashing in his only field goal attempt.
Crouch finished with 10 points on 5-of-8 marksmanship and had five assists, four steals and three rebounds with just one turnover. His finest hustle moment may have come when he threw himself on the floor to steal the ball with 2:44 on the third-quarter clock.
Chandler led Hayesville in scoring with 16 and rebounds with 11. He also had four steals.
Chandler was especially impressive on two plays. Late in the first quarter, he wrestled the ball away from two Highlanders and then hustled down-court to score on a pass from Jackson Sellers; in the second quarter, he went after a rebound so fiercely that he actually did a somersault as he fought for the ball.
Brown contributed 8 points, three steals, two rebounds and two assists. Two of his thefts sparked Hayesville’s first comeback Hayesville’s first comeback with a steal and fast-break lay-up that trimmed the lead 23-18 during the final 2:04 of the second quarter. On the first pick, Brown went all the way for a lay-up. Crouch scored after the second steal as the Yellow Jackets closed out the first half by outscoring the hosts 8-3.
Jacob McClure scored 9 points on three treys. He kept Hayesville in the game during the final two minutes of the first quarter with a trey, a steal and a defensive board.
Luke Lee made 3-of-6 shots and tallied 5 points and had five rebounds. His best hustle moment came when he grabbed a defensive rebound in traffic as three Highlanders clawed at the ball early in the third period.
Hughes had three rebounds, three assists, two points and repeatedly found the open man.
Sellers had two assists and played strong defense.
“I’m proud of them. They are working really hard and they have a great attitude,” Cottrell.
Cherokee 71, Hayesville 51
The Yellow Jackets also had a balanced attack when Cherokee visited The Hive last Tuesday.
McClure led the offense with 15 points on five treys, four of them in the second quarter. Chandler added 9 points, Brown 7, Crouch 6, Lee 4, Cooper Matheson 3, Hughes 2.
Hayesville led 14-12 after the first quarter but fell behind, 39-32, at the intermission. The Braves led the entire second half.
“We played well in spots. Not consistent enough to win that game. We’re still figuring things out,” Cottrell stated.