Gary Corsair • Clay County Progress Hayesville's Ava Shook, No. 2, heads for the bench as the referee confirms her game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer as teammates Mallory Peck, left, and Brooke Graves, No. 40, camped under the basket.
By Gary Corsair
Sports Writer
Things looked grim for the Lady Yellow Jackets, who trailed 30-27, just :11.8 remaining, and Highlands Ae Woods shooting her second free throw. Hayesville needs a miracle.
Enter Ava Shook, aka the Miracle Worker.
Woods misses, Hayesville’s Brooke Graves rebounds and finds Shook, who motors across the timeline and angles for the wing. With just :01 left, Shook pulls up and lofts a beautiful rainbow over two defenders. Nothing but net.
Tie game. Overtime.
Hayesville never trailed again. Mallory Peck spun to the bucket to put the Yellow Jackets up 32-30 and Shook iced the cake with four free throws in the final 1:05 for a 36-31 victory.
Hayesville improved to 2-1 in the Smoky Mountain Conference and 6-3 overall as Shook scored 15 points, collected four rebounds and repeatedly dribbled through Highlands’ full-court press.
The Yellow Jackets didn’t shoot well, but they played good defense, took high percentage shots and adeptly shared the ball.
“Highlands is a tough place to play,” Coach Chad McClure stated. “We struggled early to score efficiently but our defense kept us in it and we found a way to win in the end. Great road win.”
Shook, Breanna Abrams, Emma Ashe, Jasmine Brooks and Briley Clampitt repeatedly got the ball inside to Graves, Bryleigh Krieger and Peck.
Graves was superb with 11 rebounds and just one turnover. Peck repeatedly got to the rim, scored 4 points and grabbed nine boards. Krieger had two rebounds with just one error.
Abrams contributed 5 points and three rebounds, Brooks was a revelation with 2-of-3 shooting for 5 points off the bench, Clampitt had 2 points and two rebounds and Ashe added 3 points.
Highlands led 10-7 after the first quarter, Hayesville ruled 15-10 at halftime thanks to a 3-pointer and bucket by Brooks and the score was tied at 17-17 after three.
Cherokee 67, Hayesville 21
Cherokee roared to a 22-4 first-quarter lead and never looked back last Tuesday.
The Yellow Jackets were plagued by 18 first-half turnovers and another 11 in the final two quarters.
“They really dominated us from start to finish. We have to take care of the ball better to be able to compete with them,” McClure said. “They are considered one of the top teams in the state but we didn’t play the way we are capable of.”
Graves led Hayesville with 6 points. Peck and Brooks scored 5 apiece. Clampitt tallied 4 and Abrams 1.