Lady Jackets lock down two more SMC foes

  • Neal Wachob • Clay County Progress Lucy Trout, No. 3, stretches for a rebound as the Hayesville trio of Trout, Ava Moore, No. 42, and Micalynn McClure, No. 10, attack the glass against Swain County.
    Neal Wachob • Clay County Progress Lucy Trout, No. 3, stretches for a rebound as the Hayesville trio of Trout, Ava Moore, No. 42, and Micalynn McClure, No. 10, attack the glass against Swain County.
  • Neal Wachob • Clay County Progress Ava Moore, No. 42, goes up strong for a Hayesville basket against Swain County.
    Neal Wachob • Clay County Progress Ava Moore, No. 42, goes up strong for a Hayesville basket against Swain County.
    Neal Wachob • Clay County Progress Ava Shook, No. 3, lofts a floater for a Hayesville basket against Swain County.

    Neal Wachob • Clay County Progress Ava Shook, No. 3, lofts a floater for a Hayesville basket against Swain County.

    By Gary Corsair

    Sports Writer

     

    Hayesville’s girls extended their win streak to six games with a pair of conference victories last week.

    The Lady Yellow Jackets, 11-6 overall and 6-1 in the Smoky Mountain Conference, hope to grab a piece of first-place pie with an upset of league-leading Cherokee when the 15-1/8-0 Lady Braves visit Hayesville for a rematch on Friday. 

    Cherokee bested Hayesville, 62-41, three weeks ago.

    The Lady Jackets will rely on stingy defense to slow the defending state champions this week.

    The Black-and-Gold defense has been a huge factor of late: 

    Hayesville 36, Swain County 22

    Lucy Trout and Briley Clampitt landed in double-figures as the Lady Yellow Jackets slapped the Maroon Devils with a first-quarter goose egg and were never seriously challenged last Friday.

    “Defensively we had to keep Swain off the board and not allow them to fast break,” Hayesville Coach Tammy Dills said.

    Hayesville led 9-0 after one; 18-4 at halftime and 26-13 entering the fourth quarter thanks to aggressive defense.

    Swain was the second consecutive opponent the Lady Jackets held to 25 points or less. 

    Trout was high scorer with 12; Clampitt tallied 10; Ava Shook tossed in seven; Olivia Free scored three and Jasmine Brooks and Ava Moore had two apiece.

     

    Hayesville 37, Murphy 25

    The Lady Jackets seized control late in the first quarter with a 6-0 run that turned a 5-2 deficit into an 8-5 first quarter advantage on the Lady Bulldogs court last Tuesday.

    Murphy was thrown into the backseat during the final three minutes of the period when Shook drove the ball to the hole for two, Moore grabbed a rebound and deposited the rock and Micalynn McClure swished.

    Hayesville took control despite shooting just 18 percent during the first period. 

    Those shooting woes were mitigated by impressive mastery on the glass. 

    Hayesville grabbed five offensive boards and cleared 10 Murphy misses in the first quarter alone. Shook led the way with seven rebounds and Moore snared three.

    “Working hard on the boards has been a huge factor — and playing aggressive defense,” Dills said.

    The Lady Jackets also had two steals – both by Shook – and a block by Caroline Wade during the period.

    Hayesville then put a 15-3 hurting on the hosts during the next eight minutes.

    The Lady Bulldogs actually outpointed their guests (by two) in the second half
    but couldn’t overcome Hayesville’s 23-8 halftime lead. 

    Shook led the scoring attack with 13 markers. McClure tallied, seven; Brooks, six; Clampitt, three; Trout, three; Moore two; Wade, two and Aaliyah Jackson, one.

    Shook made 3-of-4 free throws. Brooks and McClure were a perfect 2-for-2.