By Gary Corsair
Sports Writer
Lila Roberts, Ava Shook, Bryleigh Krieger and Breanna Abrams all reached double figures in scoring as the Lady Yellow Jackets clouded up and stormed all over the host Nantahala Eagles on Tuesday, 65-28.
All four Lady Yellow Jackets made more than they missed, a stat that brought a smile to the face of Hayesville Coach Chad McClure.
"I thought we executed our offense, we got some good looks," McClure said. "We were able to press early, got some fast break points, which is always good."
Unflappable senior Roberts engineered an efficient offense with 18 points on 6 of 11 firing — including 4 of 6 from distance — and eight rebounds, four assists and three steals.
Shook led a strong supporting cast with 15 points on 6 of 11 popping from the field, made six steals, handed out four assists and cleared three rebounds.
"Lila's playing solid for us and Ava's playing solid too," McClure said.
Roberts and Shook were the primary instigators as Hayesville jumped to a 17-0 lead before Nantahala finally got on the scoreboard with a 3 ball with 1:22 on the clock. Roberts and Shook fried the Eagles with 11 points and five steals in the opening stanza.
Emma Ashe also had a hand in the mayhem, banging home a 3-pointer and recording two rebounds, a steal and an assist. Brooke Graves was a factor with 3 boards in the opening 8 minutes.
All four kept bringing the hurt in the second quarter, being joined in making a statement by Krieger, who grabbed 4 boards and Abrams who swished a basket and 4 freebies without a miss.
Krieger finished with 13 points, 10 boards, and two steals. Abrams posted 10 points on 7 of 8 shooting from the field and the line, adding four steals and two assists.
"Our posts — Krieger, Graves, and Lakota Shelton — are improving, Ashe is coming along and so is Abrams. A lot of good things are happening," McClure stated.
Hayesville, 5-9, was clearly better than the young Eagles, which only dresses six players. Nantahala didn't give the game away; the Lady Yellow Jackets earned it.
Hayesville looked even better than it did in the 66-22 victory over Nantahala last week. The Lady Yellow Jackets made 20 of 45 from the field, 44 percent, 6 of 15 from 3-point land, 40 percent, 7 of 10 from the charity line, cleared 45 rebounds, piled up 21 assists and made 18 thefts.
Hayesville's balanced attack included 4 points and three assists by Briley Clampitt, Ashe's four assists, 3 points and two steals, Graves' five rebound, 2-point performance, 5 boards from Shelton and two assists from Leanna Alberta.
"We got a chance to work some new defensive things we've been working on in practice," McClure said. "A lot of playing time for everybody. I like what I'm seeing. The girls are asking us what to do. You can see them getting more confident."
The varsity girls play at Highlands on Thursday before hosting Andrews on Friday.