Andrews – With a 53-point win Thursday night, the Andrews boys varsity basketball team started 2025 big. The Wildcats hosted Nantahala for their only meeting this season, and the Cats walked away with a lights-out performance that led them to an 86-33 victory.
The Wildcats came roaring into the first quarter and put up 31 points out of the gate. They started with nine straight points until Nantahala’s Landon Neal made a 3-pointer.
The Wildcats then went on a run to build a 31-9 lead in first quarter. Nantahala’s nine points came on two 3’s by Neal, a layup from Cole McCoy and a free throw by Chase McMahan.
It was more of the same for the Cats as they continued to dominate the Hawks. In the second period, the Wildcats added 24 more points and only allowed the Hawks to score six to take a 55-15 lead at halftime.
In the second half, they played with a running clock. Andrews kept it rolling out of halftime with 20 points in the third quarter.
Nantahala had its highest scoring quarter in the third with 12 points. The 12 points for the Hawks came on two 3’s from Fernando Trejo and one 3 each from McCoy and Neal.
Andrews closed out the game in the fourth, the Cats’ only quarter with less than 20 points scored. They added 11 points and the Hawks only scored six as Andrews picked up its fourth straight win.
Ty Clark led the scoring for Andrews with 22 points. Three more Wildcats were in double digits, with Braxton Rickett putting up 18 points, Gabe Clark 16 and Landon Greene 10. Eli Aguilar had nine points, Keegan Ellis six and Logan Shuler five.
For Nantahala, Neal led the team with 12 points, as he was the only Hawks player in double digits. Nantahala’s leading scoring, McCoy, was held to just eight points. Trejo had nine points, all coming on 3-pointers.
After the game, Wildcats head coach Matt Maennle said it was good to get a win in their first game of 2025 coming out of winter break.
“It was good to take some time with wife and kids, that was fun. The schedule worked out good for us. … I know it’s a non-conference game, but like I told you, we don’t have any games that we just chalk up to let’s have fun and get better, we try to win every ball game,” he said.
“Friday night’s probably going to be hard, too, because we’re playing Hiwassee Dam. I tell people that’s probably one of the top-three hardest places to play in the conference. We still have our hands full next week, but it’ll be good to get back rolling.”
In the Cherokee Scout’s Mountain Hoops special section published on Dec. 18, Maennle talked about how the team was going to work on pace of play this season. He said after Thursday night’s game that the team has done well with having a good pace in all their games – except for the Franklin game on Nov. 30, when they lost 85-33.
Coming up next for the Wildcats is a big week against tough opponents. First is their rematch against Franklin at home starting at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. They will close out the week with their rematch against Hiwassee Dam on the road at 7:30 p.m. Friday. On Tuesday, Jan. 14, they head to Summit Charter.
Nantahala will return to Cherokee County for their next game when they take on Murphy at 8 p.m. Thursday. On Friday, they will hit the road to take on Cherokee. On Tuesday, Jan. 14, they will hit the road again to face Swain County.