MaxPreps
The Andrews boys basketball team is still undefeated this season after taking on Cherokee, but the Braves came as close as anyone has to beating them, with the Wildcats taking a 67-65 victory Friday.
Multiple players turned in solid performances to lead Andrews (6-0), but perhaps none more so than Landon Greene, who scored a season-high 14 points along with nine rebounds and three steals. Jailen Powell joined the fun with 16 points along with five rebounds against Cherokee (2-2).
On the girls side, Cherokee had its way with Andrews, winning 79-9.
Hiwassee Dam vs. Murphy
The Hiwassee Dam boys basketball team’s recent rough patch got a little bit rougher on Dec. 12 after a third straight loss, taking a 75-66 hit to the loss column at the hands of Cherokee County rival Murphy.
The Bulldogs got their victory on the backs of several key players, with Dominick Rummler scoring 19 points along with six rebounds; the game was Rummler’s third in a row with at least 10 points. Xander Wachacha made a difference with 10 points, seven steals and six assists.
The Eagles’ loss dropped their record down to 1-5. The win was the third in a row for the Bulldogs, bringing their record for this year to 3-0, after Murphy started later due to the football playoffs.
On the girls side, Hiwassee Dam beat Murphy 67-40.
Murphy vs. Robbinsville
It was a good run, but the Murphy boys basketball team witnessed the end of their three-game winning streak Friday, losing 67-60 to Robbinsville. The loss was a bit of a surprise, as Murphy came into the contest with a sizable advantage in MaxPreps’ North Carolina basketball rankings; the Bulldogs are ranked 37th, while the Black Knight are ranked 225th.
Murphy’s loss came despite a team effort from the offense, with several players turning in solid performances. Xander Wachacha scored 15 points along with four steals, while Dominick Rummler scored 11 points along with six rebounds.
The Bulldogs’ defeat ended a seven-game streak of wins at home dating back to last season and dropped them to 3-1. Robbinsville pushed their record up to 5-0 with that victory, its third straight on the road.
On the girls side, Robbinsville defeated Murphy 63-45.
Andrews vs. Nantahala
The Andrews boys team took down nearby Nantahala 78-28 on Dec. 12. While losing is never fun, the Hawks can’t take it too hard given the team’s big disadvantage in MaxPreps’ North Carolina basketball rankings; they are ranked 586th, while Andrews is ranked 219th.
Nantahala lost despite Cole McCoy scoring nine points along with eight rebounds and three steals. The team also got help from Landon Neal, who scored six points along with five rebounds.
Jailen Powell continued his habit of posting solid stat lines for the Wildcats, scoring 16 points. That’s the first time this season that Powell scored 15 or more points. Cameron Rattler was another key contributor, scoring eight points along with eight rebounds and five assists.
Nantahala has not been sharp recently, as they’ve lost four of their last five games, which put a noticeable dent in their 3-4 record this season. As for Andrews, the victory kept them at an undefeated 5-0.
On the girls side, Andrews defeated Nantahala 74-52.