Bryson City – Andrews head basketball coach Matt Maennle took his team to a familiar place on Feb. 13 for the Wildcats’ last regular-season game.
He returned to his alma mater, Swain County, but did not receive a warm welcome, as the Maroon Devils (17-7) dispatched the Cats 59-51.
The loss puts the Wildcats (18-7) in fifth place in the final standings of the Smoky Mountain Conference.
The Cats came out and jumped out to a 19-14 lead in the first period. Andrews used a team effort as six players contributed to the scoring.
Ty Clark led the pack with five, while Logan Shuler added four points in the first. Jalen Powell and Gabe Clark added three apiece, while Landon Greene, Cam Rattler and Gabe Clark added two apiece.
Andrews extended its lead in the second period, as the Wildcats outscored the Devils 16-15 to build a 35-29 halftime lead. Rattler and Ty Clark led the way, as they accounted for nine of the Cats’ six points. Landon Greene got into foul trouble early, which put a damper on his scoring the rest of the game.
In the second half, it was like a lid was put on the basket for the Cats. Andrews could only manage eight points in each period, while Swain hit for 15 both times. That was the difference in the game.
Reese Winchester and Josh Collins led Swain’s scoring in the second half, as Collins hit for nine and Winchester hit for eight, accounting for 17 of the Devils’ 30 second-half points. Swain took over the lead at the end of three periods to lead 44-43 and never trailed again, extending its lead in the fourth by outscoring the Cats 15-8.
Andrews was led by Rattler with 16 points, while Clark popped for 13. Swain had four players hitting in double digits, led by Winchester with 18 points.