Andrews – The Wildcats’ week started off pretty good as they defeated Hayesville 53-35, but the second game didn’t end as well as they fell to Swain 54-46.
On Jan. 23, the Yellow Jackets (11-8) invaded Andrews and the first quarter looked like the Cats were going to run away with the game as they jumped out to an 18-10 lead over the Jackets. However, somebody must have had a lid on the basket at the Andrews end of the court in the second period as they popped for only four points.
Hayesville, on the other hand, poured in another 10 points and closed the gap to only one point at the end of the half as Andrews led 21-20. Cam Rattler led the Andrews scoring in the first half with eight points.
The Cats (15-3) came out hot in the second half as Gabe Clark and Rattler got the scoring going. Clark hit 10 of his 13 points in the second half and Rattler hit 14 of his 23 points on the night in the second half. Ty Clark got into the mix as well as he scored eight of his points in the second half.
Andrews extended their lead to five leading the Jackets 39-34 at the end of three. Hayesville made another run in the fourth behind the scoring of Jacob McClure who hit three shots from beyond the arch in the fourth quarter, but the Wildcats held on as they made their free throws late in the fourth. Rattler was 6-8 and Ty Clark was 4-6 from the stripe in the fourth period, as Andrews held on to win 58-50.
Cam Rattler led all scorers with 23 points, Gabe Clark had 13 points for the Cats and Ty Clark had 12 to round out the Cats who were in double figures for the night. Hayesville was led by Luke Lee who had 13 and McClure who had 12.
Swain wins 54-46
Andrews coach Matt Maennle probably had some mixed emotions as he looked across the court Friday night. He graduated from Swain (13-5) and was a member of one the Maroon Devils’ state championship football teams.
Those feelings didn’t last long, however, because he wanted his Wildcats to beat his alma mater. Unfortunately, the Cats came up a little short, as they fell to the Maroon Devils 54-46.
The game was tight right up until the end. It was tied at 11 at the end of the first period, as Jalen Powell hit for six of the Cats’ first-period points. Cam Rattler was kept in check in the first half, as he only account for four points.
Swain built a four-point lead by the half leading 23-19. Andrews tried to make a run in the third period, but Swain matched their point total to maintain the four-point margin.
Rattler finally got going in the second half with 12 of his 16 points. The only problem was Swain’s Josh Collins, who did not score in the first half, poured in 13 points in the second half.
Swain outscored the Cats 29-27 in the second half to net the final score. Andrews had two players in double figures on the night, Rattler with 16 and Clark with 11.