Andrews – For Andrews boys basketball, the early parts of the season have seen some growing pains. With no seniors on the team, some Wildcats are learning as they got what it takes to win at the varsity level.
That showed in some of Andrews’ games last week. The Wildcats had an off night against Tellico Plains on Dec. 6, but grinded out a 51-49 win. The next night at county foe Hiwassee Dam, Andrews came up short 54-49.
“(Against Tellico) was slow, and we didn’t play very well but we played well enough to win,” head coach Matt Maennle said. “(Against Hiwassee Dam) we went on a run to get back in the ball game and take the lead, made a couple turnovers that killed us late. That’s gonna happen, but we gotta learn from this.”
Against the Bears, Andrews struggled to score but turned in an excellent night defensively. Against the Eagles, the Wildcats struggled on both sides of the floor to start. They struggled with the size and skill of Hiwassee Dam’s Sam Bradford, while Preston Hyde knocked down two threes in the first half as the Eagles jumped out to a 30-15 lead.
Andrews (2-2) battled back with an 8-0 run to end the half, and a floater by Isaac Weaver cut the lead to 30-23 heading into halftime. The run continued in the third quarter, when Andrews went on a 15-5 run to take a 38-35 lead.
Weaver and Cameron Rattler scored 13 of the Wildcats’ 15 points during their surge, with Rattler finishing with a team-high 24 points. The sophomore combined for 39 against Tellico Plains and Hiwassee Dam.
“He’s a gifted basketball player,” Maennle said. “He’s a very talented basketball player.”
Unfortunately for the Wildcats, the Eagles answered back with a spurt of their on. A layup by Tanner Taylor cut the lead to one before the end of the third quarter.
A tough bucket under the basket, and two free throws from Bradford, gave Hiwassee Dam a 41-38 lead.
Andrews cut it to one twice over the next few minutes, but a 3-point shot by Leonard Hickson and a basket by Kolby Stiles pushed the Eagles’ lead to 48-42 and gave them the necessary breathing room down the stretch.
Andrews defeated Invest Collegiate Imagine Charter of Asheville 67-33 on Friday. The Wildcats started conference play on Tuesday night against Hayesville, the results of which were not available until after this week’s edition of the Cherokee Scout went to press. The Wildcats travel to Swain County on Friday.