Andrews – It was supposed to be a busy week for both Wildcats basketball teams, with the boys teams playing four games in five days and the girls playing three. However, both teams were only able to play one game last week due to COVID-19 cases within both programs.
After playing Blue Ridge on Jan. 11, the boys remaining three games for the week and the girls remaining two games were postponed. The Wildcats were scheduled to play at Highlands on Thursday, at home against Hiwassee Dam on Friday and at Franklin on Saturday. The Lady Wildcats were scheduled to play the Lady Eagles and the Lady Panthers.
On Jan. 12, the Andrews High School Athletics Facebook page announced that all remaining games for the week had been postponed. Two days later, the page posted that the Lady Wildcats’ game on Jan. 17 against
Nantahala would be postponed as well.
Both teams stopped practicing last week. Andrews coach Matt Maennle said on Jan. 13 that both the boys varsity and junior varsity weren’t practicing, with girls basketball coach Eric Duong canceling practice for his team the next day.
As of press time Tuesday, both teams were scheduled to resume practicing yesterday and will return to the court Thursday at Tellico Plains, Tenn., before hosting Highlands the next day. Last week’s boys game against the Highlanders has been rescheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 2, while both the boys and girls game against Hiwassee Dam has been rescheduled for Monday, Jan. 24.
Before going on COVID pause, the Andrews boys were able to dominate Blue Ridge 70-16, while the Lady Wildcats came up short against the Lady Bobcats in a 76-51 loss. The Wildcats (6-8 overall) led 41-10 at halftime, overwhelming the Bobcats like they did in the first matchup between these two teams on Nov. 23, a 67-27 Andrews win. Freshman Kegan Ellis led the way with 13 points, while Donovan Bateman, Cam Rattler and Isaac Weaver each finished with 10.
The Lady Wildcats struggled for most of the night, falling behind 24-6 at the end of the first quarter and trailing by 34 at the end of the third quarter. Emily Mealer led Andrews (1-13) with a season-high 23 points, while Kylie Donaldson also finished in double figures with 15 points.
Making up games could be crucial for the Andrews boys team, which is battling for a playoff spot. The Wildcats sit at No. 30 in the 1A West RPI rankings, and with 32 1A West teams qualifying,
every game is important for staying on the right side of the playoff picture.