By Gary Corsair
Sports Writer
Hayesville will have a new starting five in the season-opener at Towns County on Friday, but the quintet’s lack of varsity experience doesn’t mean they aren’t ready for the big time.
Coach Mike Cottrell thinks his young Yellow Jackets are ready or will be soon.
“This team has played more basketball from the end of last season than probably any team I’ve coached. We spent a lot of time in off-season development,” Cottrell said. “I’m encouraged.”
Hard-working big Jackson Sellers and point guard Slade Crouch proved their readiness last year during a 13-15 season.
The remainder of the starting lineup will be determined between now and Friday night.
“We have six or seven guys who have a chance to start, maybe even more than that right now,” Cottrell said.
Brendon Lynch, Hayesville’s tallest player at 6-foot-4, is a leading candidate to join Sellers and Crouch.
Lynch was one of the most consistent players on a balanced JV team that had some truly big moments. E.J. Abrams took center stage with 32 points against Hiwassee Dam and racked up 17 points in three quarters against Robbinsville. Not to be outdone, Brady Reynolds stroked seven three-pointers in the rematch with Hiwassee Dam.
Cooper Matheson, Landon Trout, Michael Colandrea also distinguished themselves on the junior varsity.
All that talent — and hunger — have made for interesting practices.
“Right now, I think we’re still trying to figure things out, but I think this will be a really fun team to watch develop,” Cottrell said.
The fun — or rather, adventure — begins against a Towns County powerhouse that graduated every starter from last year’s 19-8 squad that nipped Hayesville 58-56.
The Indians are green, but they are ahead of the Yellow Jackets. Towns County will have played six games by the time Hayesville opens its season in Hiwassee.
The Indians lost their first four and stood 1-4 at press time, but three of the losses came against ranked teams.
Town County is led by Cruz Kitchens, who is always a threat to double-double in points and rebounds — he had 14 boards against Union County. Jonas Rouse is also a force inside. Tucker Engert and Dustin Barrett are proven scorers.
Look for Towns County to run at every opportunity.
Hayesville’s second game will also be on the road. The Yellow Jackets visit Hiwassee Dam on Monday.
The Eagles are also ahead of Hayesville in terms of games played. They were 2-1 at press time and will have five games in the bank by Monday.
The Eagles like to play a perimeter game, but their three-point shooting has been sporadic. They shot a respectable 34 percent from the field in a 78-65 win over Coppin Basin, but only made 19 percent of treys in a lopsided loss to Andrews.
Hayesville can expect guards Braiden Ledford and Aiden Bennett to dial long distance whenever they get an open look from behind the long-ball arch.
On Tuesday, Hayesville travels to Highlands, a team the Yellow Jackets handled 61-42 a year ago.
The Highlanders, 2-2 at the time of this writing, will have played six games by the time the Yellow Jackets arrive.
Highlands is also enamored with the three-ball, but like Hiwassee Dam, they have yet to master it. The Highlanders nailed 44 percent from distance against lowly Summit Charter, but only converted 9 percent of their triples against Rosman. Their two-point shooting wasn’t much better. Highlands only made a third of their field goals, yet managed to pull out a 54-41 victory.