By: Deby Jo Ferguson
Sports Writer
To summarize the early part of the Hayesville Middle School girls basketball season, they are holding a “just stand back and watch” 5-2 record. Coach Tammy Dills leads this impressive team with three eighth-graders; six seventh-graders and two ladies in the sixth grade filling her 11-player squad.
Their season started with a great opening game at home against Murphy with a 51-31 victory over the Lady Bulldogs. According to Dills, everyone got time on the court and most everyone scored.
High scorers: Ava Shook 14 points, Jasmine Brooks 14 points, Ava Moore 9 points.
The result for the second game of the season was a close 36-35 loss later that week when the Lady Jackets traveled to Ranger. With the score not going in their favor, the Lady Jackets were looking to bounce back.
"The shots just didn’t fall, and players didn’t step up that needed to,” said Dills. On a positive note, that Kaydence Morrow came off the bench and had a solid night.
High scorers: Ava Shook 14 points; Kaydence Morrow 9 points.
Next on the schedule was Cherokee, at team that is riding the high of a two-season undefeated streak. Hayesville ended the first quarter leading the Lady Braves team, but got behind after 3 three consecutive errors which resulted in points for Cherokee. The Lady Braves took the win with a final score of 47-32.
Dills said the effort in this game was much better and even though they suffered a loss, she spoke highly of her team's effort which was displayed during the game.
High scorers: Jasmine Brooks 10 points, Emma Ashe 8 points.
After two losses, Hayesville’s Lady Jackets got back in the win column with a 41-34 victory on Swain’s court. They fought the entire game to maintain the lead. Dills said Moore had a great game on the board coming down with 18 rebounds total. Shook also lit up the score board when she busted a 3-point shot.
High scorers: Ava Shook 12 points; Emma Ashe 9 points, Briley Clampitt, 8 points, Ava Moore 8 points.
Hayesville continued their winning streak in Robbinsville, with a 30-12 victory which also, according to Dills, gave everyone playing time on the court.
High scorers: Jasmine Brooks 11 points, Emma Ashe 6 points, Ava Shook 6 points.
Without a girls’ team for Martins Creek, Hayesville invited Franklin over for a game. Dills knew Franklin is classified as a 3A school, but she still wanted the girls to get the experience and a high pace game atmosphere.
Dills said, “Franklin had high team numbers and were somewhat big players all around, but that was no match for us, Hayesville went to work on making Franklin turn the ball over and we kept feeding the ball to our post players which had a good night in the paint.” This gave the Hayesville Lady Jackets a 34-14 victory over the Lady Panthers.
High scorers: Jasmine Brooks 12 points, Ava Moore 11 points, Ava Shook 6 points..
A 45-22 victory for the Lady Jackets came the Thanksgiving break when Hayesville hosted Andrews. Dills said all players received needed playing time. “The best quarter showing was in the third quarter when the girls came out from half time and scored 20 points to match what they had done in the entire first half,” Dills said.
High scorers: Emma Ashe 15 points, Ava Moore 10 points, Briley Clampitt 6 points, Ava Shook 6 points.
Hayesville Middle School will start the second half of their season at 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 2 at Murphy.