Cooper Matheson dials long distance for 3 of his 19 points in Hayesville's runaway win over Summit Charter.
By Gary Corsair
Sports Writer
Hayesville made the game of basketball look ever so easy last week.
How easy? The boys varsity Yellow Jackets only made eight turnovers and scored 58 points in the first three quarters in waxing Blue Ridge Early College, 62-20, on the road Tuesday, then barbecued visiting Summit Charter with 72 percent shooting in a 64-25 drubbing on Wednesday.
“Great team effort. We are doing some things better,” Hayesville Coach Mike Cottrell said. “Wins are always good this time of year.”
Hayesville 62, Blue Ridge Early College 20
Jacob McClure led the team effort by canning four three-pointers and exploding for 14 points in a run-and-gun second quarter in which Hayesville outscored the hosts 21-3 to produce a 40-12 halftime advantage.
Asher Brown was the chief distributor. He finished with a team-high seven assists.
The Yellow Jackets upped the lead to 58-17 after three. Cottrell played the bench in the final period.
Hayesville didn’t miss often. When it did, a Yellow Jacket was often in position. Hayesville collected 17 offensive rebounds.
McClure was top scorer with 14. Luke Lee tallied 10 points. Isaac Chandler contributed 8, Slade Crouch 7, Landon Hughes 7, Jackson Sellers 5, Cooper Matheson 4, Landon Trout 4, Brown 2 and Riley Rogers 1.
Hayesville 78, Summit Charter 25
The Yellow Jackets hit Summit between the eyes with a one-for-all, all-for-one attack in a 24-point first quarter and never looked back.
The first five baskets all came on assists as Hayesville began the game with a 20-4 run.
The Yellow Jackets roared to a 24-4 first-quarter lead with 10 fast break points. Five Black-and-Gold hoopsters scored, five had at least one assist, four had steals, Lee nailed all three of his shots, Crouch hit on 3-of-4, Brown connected on 2-of-3 and Chandler was 2-of-4.
Hayesville kept running to the rim. The Yellow Jackets scored 29 fast break points on the night.
At times, the get-up and go resembled hardwood poetry. One of the sweetest moments came with 1:11 on the first-quarter clock when Sellers stole the ball and shoveled it to Hughes, both sprinted down court and Hughes returned the rock to Sellers for a lay-up.
Brown and McClure had three assists apiece in the explosive first quarter.
Matheson stepped into the spotlight in the second act, busting 3-of-4 from behind the three-point arch and hitting his only two-point attempt. The Splendid Splinter was even better in the third, swishing all three shots and recording two rebounds, two steals and two assists. Matheson finished with a game-high 19 points.
With Matheson dealing like a high-strung blackjack dealer, Hayesville roared to a 39-15 halftime lead and 62-17 hold after three.
Defense was the name of the game in the third as Hayesville handcuffed their guests with a dozen steals – four by Lee, who created havoc at the top of the Jackets zone; three by Chandler who also had a deflection; two by Brown and two by Matheson.
Matheson gave Summit a migraine with 19 points on 5-of-7 drilling from behind the line and 2-of-2 from the charity stripe, three steals and three assists.
Lee finished with 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting, made five steals and gathered three boards.
Chandler had 9 points on 4-of-7 shooting and added four boards and three thefts.
Crouch tallied 9 markers with 3-of-4 marksmanship and posted 3three rebounds and three assists.
Brown rolled for 7 points on 2-of-2 field goal firing, handed out four dimes and had a pair of steals.
McClure posted 6 points, four assists and two steals and did not commit a turnover.
Rogers seized six rebounds to go with 4 points.
Hughes had three rebounds, two assists and two points.
Sellers hit on 2-of-3 for 4 points.
Zach Townsend added three rebounds and 2 points. Trout added two rebounds and 2 points. Peyton McGaha had two rebounds and two points. Michael Collandrea chipped in 2 points.
Hayesville, 10-6, traveled to Andrews on Tuesday and hosted Nantahala on Wednesday. Murphy visits Hayesville on Friday.
Two of the three challengers will likely test the Yellow Jackets.
“Big week in front of us,” Cottrell remarked.