By Gary Corsair
Sports Writer
Hayesville’s brilliant back court of Logan Caldwell and Ethan Hooper scored more than 80 points in two hotly contested conference games last week — an exhilarating 75-59 toasting of Cherokee on Tuesday and an oh-so-close, 53-42 loss at Robbinsville on Friday.
The win over Cherokee was sweet revenge, a highlight of the season. Seven weeks ago, Cherokee seized momentum early and never relinquished the lead in frustrating visiting Hayesville, 82-74.
Hooper and Caldwell, who were superb in the December game, were spectacular in the rematch.
Hooper was super with 33 points on 8 of 13 accuracy from the field, 8 of 8 at the line and six rebounds. He did some of his best work with quarterback Caldwell on the bench after picking up two fouls in the first 5 minutes.
Caldwell sure made the most of his time on the floor though, racking up 20 points on 2 of 4 from the field, 3 of 5 from downtown and 7 of 8 from the line with seven rebounds, three steals and three assists.
Hooper and Caldwell delivered practically every time Cherokee threatened to swat the Yellow Jackets. Here’s how:
• Second quarter, less than a minute before halftime. A 10-3 run by the Braves has reduced Hayesville’s lead to 27-25. Eleven seconds later, Hooper zips into the lane, spins and deposits a “We’re still in control” bucket.
• Third quarter. Hayesville up 33-30 when the Braves spring a ferocious trap. Caldwell and Javian Martin become entangled. Martin draws a technical. Hooper makes both free throws.
• Third quarter, Hayesville clinging to a 36-35 lead. Ten seconds later, Hooper scores on a lay-up.
• Third quarter, Cherokee trims the count to 40-37. Hayesville then throws the ball away. Taylor McClure, the toughest kid in the Smoky Mountain Conference, blocks a Cherokee shot, Kyle Lunsford grabs the ball and finds Caldwell, who romps into the lane and is fouled. He makes both freebies. Hayesville up 40-39.
• Third quarter, Braves down by one. Fourteen seconds later, Hooper hits a pull-up jumper to elevate Hayesville, 44-41.
• Early fourth period. Cherokee is within 3 when Caldwell barges into the lane and lays in a scoop shot to increase the advantage to 49-44.
• Fourth period, Hayesville 53, Cherokee 50.
• Four minutes and change remaining when Hooper grabs a rebound and scores the ball. Five-point lead.
As great as Hooper and Caldwell played, their teammates had equally important moments.
For instance, Asher Brown’s 3-pointer with 5:09 left to play may have been the biggest basket of the game. The home run put Hayesville up 58-50. The Braves would get no closer than 6 points.
Brown shined with 10 points, a solid floor game and excellent defense. Six of his points came during the crucial fourth quarter.
Mayhem McClure also made big plays despite sitting half the game after picking up three fouls in the first period. In addition to his huge blocked shot, he took a charge, as usual, in the first quarter, cleared five rebounds and canned 2 of 3 from the floor and 2 of 3 from behind the arch for 6 points. His brazen drives to the hoop early in the game kept the defense honest. Any thoughts Cherokee may have had about overplaying Hooper and Caldwell went out the window McClure barreled into the paint early and dumped in two shots.
Lunsford was also a factor, grabbing a team-high eight rebounds, playing aggressive defense and taking good care of the ball.
Isaac Chandler’s five rebounds and gritty defense were instrumental in the win. Chandler also had a big basket when Cherokee threatened to pull even — a baseline bucket with 2:15 remaining in the third upped the lead to 40-35.
Cade Denton, Seth Hedden and Landon Hughes gave solid effort. They didn’t have a turnover between them.
“They made plays. We hadn’t been doing that when it gets tough,” Coach Mike Cottrell said. “I’m excited about them right now. Tonight we made the plays. Cherokee tried to make it a game. They’re a good team.”
Hayesville avenged itself with stellar shooting — 55 percent from the field and 81 percent from the free throw line.
The Yellow Jackets took command early in the second quarter and repelled every comeback attempt the Braves, 11-11 overall, 4-4 conference, could muster.
Hayesville wasn’t as successful at Robbinsville.
Robbinsville 53, Hayesville 42
Hayesville played aggressive, smart, inspired ball against SMC leader Robbinsville, only to be undone by two missed free throws during a crunch time.
The Yellow Jackets, 13-9 overall, 4-5 conference, only missed two free throws in the second half, but the pair of errant charity tosses led to baskets by the Black Knights, 17-5 overall, 7-2 conference, and helped Robbinsville keep Hayesville in the rear view mirror.
Hayesville lost 4 potential points and the Black Knights capitalized to the tune of 5 points.
That was pretty much the difference.
Hayesville could get no closer than 7 during the final three minutes. Oh how the Yellow Jackets fought to pull off an upset. For the most part, the Black Knights took good care of the ball and Hayesville was forced to foul. Unfortunately for the guests, Robbinsville made 6 of 6 from the line in the final 1:32.
Rebounding was definitely a factor. The Yellow Jackets had trouble keeping the taller Black Knights off the boards.
Caldwell and Lunsford led Hayesville with 7 caroms and McClure grabbed five misses, but no other Yellow Jacket had more than two rebounds.
Shooting was also a problem. Hayesville was 0 for 6 from the field in the first period and 2 for 8 in the third act, finishing 7 of 23, 30 percent. The Yellow Jackets were also 7 of 23 from the 3-point range.
The fact that Hayesville was in the game almost to the end is a testament to the tenaciousness of the Yellow Jackets, who played intense defense from start to finish.
The Clay County boys didn’t get rattled when Robbinsville jumped out to a 6-0 lead. Instead, Hooper answered with a pair of bombs from downtown to keep things close.
Hooper was the only Jacket to score in a 10-6 first period, but Caldwell gobbled up three rebounds and had a dish, Lunsford had two boards and an assist and McClure snared two boards, drew a charge, as usual, and added a steal.
Hayesville remained unfazed as Robbinsville opened up a 30-23 lead in the second. This time, Caldwell responded, draining a three-ball on a pass from Lunsford. Moments later Caldwell deposited a miss, getting fouled in the process. Caldwell’s free toss reduced Robbinsville’s advantage to 32-29.
A half minute later, Hooper hit the bullseye from outside to knot the game at 32-all.
Robbinsville pushed the spread to 37-34 early in the fourth period, but Caldwell nailed a triple to tie things up with 5:58 left in the quarter.
Following a time out, Robbinsville turned a steal into a layup to go ahead for good. The first of the missed 1 and 1 shots followed shortly thereafter.
A break here and there and the Yellow Jackets would have prevailed. Hayesville didn’t fold, it just lost to the best team in the conference.
Caldwell led the Yellow Jackets with 16 points. Hooper added 13. McClure and Lunsford scored 5 apiece and led the team in assists with 3 each. Denton scored 3 points.
Hayesville closed out its regular season Tuesday at Andrews.