Gary Corsair • Clay County Progress Hayesville's Damien Soto, No. 10, flies high as he scores on a scoop shot against Andrews.
By Gary Corsair
Sports Writer
Hayesville’s junior varsity boys basketball team is looking forward to rematches with Smoky Mountain Conference rivals Robbinsville and Andrews after the Yellow Jackets lost to both schools last week.
“We have two big games this week and then we go right into the tournament, so we’ll see if we can put something together,” Hayesville Coach Josh Cottrell said.
That something would be wins over Murphy on Tuesday and Robbinsville on Thursday, both home games, and then more success in the SMC tournament early next week. Hayesville hopes to get another crack at Andrews in the tourney.
Here’s a summary of how the JV Jackets fared last week:
Robbinsville 54, Hayesville 36
The Jackets came out flat and never hit stride against the SMC-leading Black Knights (12-3).
“Tuesday night was not our best,” Cottrell stated. “It’s a hard place to win, hard place to have energy. We didn’t play well. They made shots.”
Hayesville’s Micah Moss also made shots — he hit 4-of-5 free throws and amassed a team-high 10 points.
Carter Whitfield added eight points. Byron Engleman and Damien Soto scored six apiece. Kabe Shaheen added four, Donovin Soto, two.
Hayesville struggled to make baskets, in part due to 20 turnovers.
Andrews 51, Hayesville 39
The first half belonged to Hayesville, but the Wildcats found their shooting eyes in the second half.
“They just really shot well,” Cottrell said. “We had a chance to win but just couldn’t execute down the stretch. We played well, we just got outplayed. It happens sometimes.”
The Jackets certainly did play well; they only committed four turnovers.
No one outplayed Hayesville’s Damien Soto, who fired in 15 points. Shaheen was also on; he scored 12.
E.J. Mapusua added four points, Engleman and Donovin Soto had three apiece, and Moss added two.