Andrews – It was a winning week for the Wildcats, as they returned to the basketball court with two games.
In the home opener, Andrews faced Highlands, then hosted Smoky Mountain, to close out an opening week of hoops.
Boys
The Wildcats kicked off their 2025-26 campaign by hosting Highlands on Nov. 18, finishing with a 58-38 win. They took a close 13-11 lead in the first quarter, led by Gabe Clark with eight points.
Andrews extend its lead in the second quarter with four points each from Clark and Braylen Maennle. The Cats took a 25-21 lead to halftime.
With 17 points in the third quarter, the Cats began to pull away. Clark made two 3-pointers, plus a field goal, for eight of Andrews’ 17 points in the third quarter. Tucker Stalcup also drained a 3-pointer to help the Cats maintain their lead.
Heading into the final frame, the Cats led 42-30. The Wildcats continued to score and closed out the game with 16 points in the fourth quarter to win their season opener.
Brady McLelland made two 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to lead the Cats in closing out the game. Gabe Clark led the Cats with 22 points, while Levi Clark was also in double digits with 10, scoring at least two points in each quarter.
Maennle had eight points thanks to field goals in the second and fourth quarters, as well as making two free throws in the third. McLelland had seven points thanks to his fourth-quarter 3-pointers and a free throw in the first.
Andrews closed out its opening week by hosting Smoky Mountain on Friday night. The Mustangs took an early 15-10 lead heading into the second quarter, then extended their lead to 37-28 at halftime.
The Mustangs closed out their win in the second half with 20 points in both the third and fourth quarters to win 77-55.
Gabe Clark led the Wildcats with 22 points Friday night, including four 3-pointers and a perfect 4/4 from the free throw line. McLelland was also in double digit with 11 points on two 3-pointers and five free throws.
Girls
The Lady Cats started their season by hosting Highlands on Nov. 18. Thanks to a late push, they won 39-38 over the Lady Highlanders.
Highlands got out to a slim lead in the first quarter to lead 11-8. Highlands continued to lead through the second quarter to hold a 19-16 lead at halftime.
The Lady Highlanders maintained their lead in the third quarter with the score at 30-25 heading into the fourth quarter. After getting 10 points from Knox Davis and four from Drea Cutshaw, the Lady Cats earned their first win of the season with a 39-28 defeat of Highlands.
Cutshaw led the team with 15 points, scoring at least one bucket in each quarter. Davis was not far behind with 13 points.
Alexis Beasley had four points on field goals in the second and third quarter. Marley Blackwell had three points thanks to a bucket from beyond the arch in the third quarter.
Juliet Holloway and Kimber Vaught both had two points on the night. Holloway made a field goal in the second quarter, while Vaught made two free throws in the first.
On Friday, they returned to action hosting Smoky Mountain. The Lady Wildcats earned another win to start their season 2-0.
The Lady Mustangs of Smoky Mountain got out to an early lead, taking a one-point lead to the second quarter. Andrews then fought back to tie it at 28 at halftime.
Smoky Mountain then regained the lead in the third quarter with a 39-34 advantage heading into the final frame.
Led by Davis and Beasley, the Lady Cats got the 54-53 lead to earn their second win of the week. In the fourth quarter, Davis had eight points and Beasley added six.
Davis led the team Friday night with 23 points. Beasley was also in double digits with 13 points, while Cutshaw had six points on a 3-pointer and three free throws.
Holloway, Blackwell, Vaught and Chanteah Rattler scored three points each.
Up next
After Thanksgiving, the Wildcats will return to the court Monday as they travel to Sylva to take on Smoky Mountain again. The girls will start at 6:30 p.m., and the boys will play right after.