By Gary Corsair
Sports Writer
Hayesville’s JV boys basketball bolted from the gate with convincing wins in its first two games, a 53-33 beat-down of Towns County on Friday and a 49-15 whipping of Hiwassee Dam on Monday.
“It’s a great start for the guys. They’re playing well, they’re playing hard and they’re doing what we asked them to do,” Hayesville JV Coach Josh Cottrell remarked Monday.
The players are being asked to share the ball and, as coach says, they are following directions.
Daemien Soto’s 16 points led a balanced attack at Hiwassee Dam. The Yellow Jackets also had 9 points apiece from Micah Moss, Kabe Shaheen and Carter Whitfield. Wes Jennings added 4 and Donivin Soto had 2.
The game was never in doubt. Hayesville led 16-4 after one quarter and 30-6 at the half.
The junior Jackets opened the season in equally convincing fashion at Towns County as Soto pumped in 15 points, Shaheen kicked in 9 and Whitfield added 8.
Hayesville also had 4 points apiece from E.J. Saapasua, Wes Jennnings and Moss. Byron Engelman and Damon Brugges each added 2.
“We shot it pretty good in both games, but the jury is still out on how we’ll do when we don’t shoot it well and we have a tough night,” Cottrell said. “We’ve got some good opponents coming up and we have to get ready for conference.”