Gary Corsair • Clay County Progress Isaac Chandler, No. 11, powers his way through two Robbinsville defenders for a bucket in the conference tournament.
By Gary Corsair
Sports Writer
Since the first day of basketball practice, Hayesville Coach Mike Cottrell has been stressing the importance of avoiding letdowns and playing four solid quarters.
Thursday, the Yellow Jackets gave their leader what he’s wanted, but wait, there’s more. His boys also gave coach and one in a thrilling, 64-59, overtime victory over Robbinsville in the Smoky Mountain Conference Tournament.
Hayesville displayed moxie from opening tip to the final horn against a Black Knights team that dumped the Yellow Jackets in both regular-season meetings.
Hayesville turned the tables with minimal turnovers, aggressive drives to the basket, clutch plays when Robbinsville threatened to retake the lead and, most importantly, tremendous swarming defense.
Hayesville’s impressive defense was most evident after Robbinsville’s Donovan Carpenter, a 6’ 4” do-it-all, scored 19 of the Black Knights’ 26 first-half points.
The second half was a different story. Hayesville’s big men Isaac Chandler and Jackson Sellers made Carpenter work for every inch of position and Landon Hughes and Asher Brown seemed to materialize every time Robbinsville’s pivotman received the ball inside.
The Yellow Jackets’ scrappy defense held Carpenter to 4 points in the third quarter, 2 in the fourth and a solitary tip-in during overtime.
Hayesville became extra intense on defense after Carpenter scored down low to give Robbinsville a 42-36 lead with 1:44 on the third-quarter clock.
The final minute of the stanza was all Hayesville, as Brown fed Hughes for a three-pointer, sensational Slade Crouch grabbed a defensive rebound and raced down court to feed Brown, who calmly sidestepped a defender, drew a bead and launched a three-ball that tied the game 42-all. The quarter ended with Hayesville’s defense denying Robbinsville a good shot, Carpenter heaving up a three try and Sellers grabbing the rebound.
Hayesville continued scrapping and clawing in the fourth period. Most notably, Crouch wrestled a rebound away from three black shirts, which led to Chandler being foul and making a free throw. Later, Sellers took a charge on a Robbinsville fast break.
Neither team made a basket during the opening 3:22 of the final quarter, but Robbinsville made more free throws and eked out a 46-43 advantage.
Hayesville then heated up. A sweet running one-hander by Crouch and two consecutive buckets by Luke Lee put the Yellow Jackets up 50-48 with 2:38 left in regulation.
Robbinsville tied the score a minute later.
Hayesville responded with Chandler burying a three-pointer on an assist from Crouch.
Robbinsville tied the score on an “and one” with :54 on the clock.
Both teams missed shots in the waning seconds, Robbinsville’s miss coming on a hotly contested shot by Carpenter that Sellers cleared to make sure there would be no Black Knights heroics at the buzzer.
The overtime period was one for the ages that can only be described with play-by-play:
• 3:29 - Robbinsville misses twice and finally scores on its third attempt when Carpenter tips in a miss to give his team a 55-54 lead.
• 3:16 - Hayesville responds with a bold drive by Crouch, who is fouled and makes a freebie to cut the gap to 55-54.
• 2:26 - Robbinsville coach Jake Beasley hits the roof when Hayesville is awarded possession after a missed shot is tipped by Lee and an opponent before the ball rolls out of bounds in front of the Black Knight bench.
• 2:14 - Hayesville capitalizes when Hughes dishes to Crouch slicing through the lane for a bucket that gives the Jackets a 56-55 lead.
• 1:34 - Hayesville takes advantage of a Robbinsville turnover when Brown slides a sweet bounce pass to Sellers for a bucket. Hayesville, 58-55.
• :59 - Lee intercepts a pass and goes all the way for a lay-up. 60-55.
• :20 - Robbinsville cuts the lead to 60-59 with a pair of free throws.
• :17 - Hughes, with the demeanor of a seasoned safe cracker, cans two freebies. 62-59.
• :06 - Robbinsville misses a three that would tie the game, gets the rebounds, but loses the ball out of bounds.
• :04 - The Black Knights, forced to foul, send Jacob McClure to the line and he nails both shots.
All eight Yellow Jackets contributed.
Chandler made his last five shots and was a whirlwind with 18 points, four rebounds, a gritty defense before fouling out late in the fourth period.
Sellers stepped into the pivot in a big way, filling the vacancy created by Chandler with 4 points, five rebounds, a steal, and tough-as-nails defense.
Crouch seemed to always be in the thick of things at both ends, scoring 10 points, collecting 10 boards, dishing five assists, and making three steals.
Brown was also a blur of activity. He tossed in 10 points, totaled seven assists and made things tough on Robbinsville’s offense.
Lee hit two very big buckets when Hayesville needed a boost and finished with 7 points.
Hughes kept his mates fired up and hit two crucial three-pointers and pair of free throws in an 8-point effort.
McClure stretched the Robbinsville defense with constant movement and scored 5 points.
Cooper Matheson hit 2-of-2 free throws.