In a four-game week, the Andrews varsity basketball team picked up three more victories.
It was a week of Smoky Mountain Conference games for the Wildcats, as the boys earned two wins, while the girls split their games.
Boys down Devils
The Wildcats started their week with a SMC win on the road as they defeated Swain County 79-72. A strong first half and 29-point fourth quarter helped the Cats secure the win on Jan. 13.
Andrews started the game with a 21-point opening quarter to lead 21-15 heading into the second quarter. Swain outscored the Cats 13-11 in the second period, but the Cats still maintained their lead heading to halftime up 32-28.
The Maroon Devils took the lead in the third quarter after scoring 25 points. The Devils took a 53-50 lead to the final quarter.
It was anyone’s ball game in the final frame. The Cats rose to the occasion by scoring 29 points, led by Gabe Clark’s 11 points and Logan Shuler’s 10.
The Wildcats claimed the lead and held on to win. Clark led the Cats with 25 points, six assists and five rebounds against the Devils.
Braylen Maennle had 15 points and Shuler added 13. Shuler also led the team in rebounds with seven.
Girls earn SMC win
After scoring more than 30 points in both halves of the game, the Lady Wildcats earned a conference win by defeated Swain 67-53.
Andrews took an early lead on Jan. 13 with 18 points in the opening quarter. They held Swain to 11 points to lead heading into the second quarter.
The Lady Cats kept up the scoring in the second quarter to lead 32-22 at halftime. They extended their lead in the third quarter led by Knox Davis’ 10 points as the Lady Cats led 53-37 heading into the fourth quarter.
Andrews closed out the game despite being outscored in the final frame by Swain. Davis and Drea Cutshaw both had six points in the fourth quarter as the Lady Cats won 67-53.
Davis led the Lady Cats with 33 points. Cutshaw had 21 points against Swain.
Boys defeat Jackets
The Wildcats ended their week how they started it – with a win – by defeating Hayesville 58-45 on Friday night.
Hayesville held a one-point lead after the first quarter. The rest of the game was all Andrews.
By outscoring Hayesville 14-9 in the second quarter, the Cats took a 30-26 lead to halftime.
Andrews outscored Hayesville again in the third quarter to extend their lead.
Despite being outscored in the fourth quarter, the Wildcats defeated the Yellow Jackets for their second SMC win of the week.
Girls fall to Jackets
The Lady Wildcats ended their week with a loss in a tough game on the road.
In a close battle, the Lady Yellow Jackets defeated Andrews 52-48.
The game was hard-fought by both sides for all four quarters, but Hayesville prevailed with the conference win.
Up next
Andrews will return home to host 5A Franklin today.
The team will be back in SMC action Friday, when the Cats host Rosman.
They will then hit the road to face Robbinsville on Tuesday.
For all three games, the girls will play at 6:30 p.m., followed by the boys playing right after.