Andrews – Two Cherokee County teams headed to The Valley last week to face off in a packed gym, and the Wildcats took an early lead and maintained it en route to defeating Hiwassee Dam in their first matchup of the season.
The Wildcats extended their win streak against the Eagles to eight games with a 63-50 win on Nov. 25. The last time the Eagles defeated the Wildcats was on Dec. 7, 2021.
Braylen Maennle opened the game with a 3-pointer and the Cats took off from there. Andrews took an early lead to pull ahead 22-10 heading into the second quarter.
The Eagles fought back in the second quarter with 11 points and held the Cats to just six points. Andrews still took a 28-21 lead to halftime.
Gabe Clark and Maennle led the scoring in the first half for the Cats with 11 and 10 points, respectively. For the Eagles, Dalton Kester and Jonah Dockery led the scoring. Kester had eight points in the first half, six of those in the first quarter, while Dockery had five points, all in the second period.
In the second half, the Wildcats gained control of the game and didn’t relinquish their lead. They kept the Eagles at bay and led 45-32 heading into the fourth quarter.
It was a shootout in the final frame as both teams put up big points. Despite both teams dropping buckets, the Wildcats held off the Eagles to secure the win.
Maennle closed out the night as the leading scorer with 23 points, 12 in the second half. He also made four 3-pointers.
Gabe Clark had 19 points. Six of his seven second-half points came from the free-throw line.
Hiwassee Dam’s leading scorer was Dockery with 25 points, with 20 coming in the second half on three 3-pointers, four field goals and three free throws.
This season’s Wildcats squad is a little different after graduating five seniors from last season. After the game, Wildcats head coach Matt Maennle said his young team is talented, but has to do the little things right. He added that it was good to bounce back from the their loss to Smoky Mountain with a win against Hiwassee Dam.
The Wildcats had two players in double-digit points against the Eagles, but Maennle said anyone can step up at any moment and play well.
Andrews will return to the court on the road Friday at Summit Charter. The Cats will return home to face Nantahala at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
The Eagles will be back in action Thursday, when they host Polk County, Tenn., at 7 p.m. They will then hit the road Friday to face Swain County at 8 p.m. The Eagles will return home to host Macon County rivals Nantahala at 8 p.m. Monday.
The Wildcats and Eagles will share the court again in Hiwassee Dam on Friday, Jan. 20, 2026.