Hiwassee Dam – Despite a commanding lead early in the third quarter of the Little Smoky Mountain Conference tournament final against Highlands on Thursday, head coach Mark Raper thought his team needed to regroup.
The Highlanders had just scored two easy baskets to cut the lead to 49-25, and Raper wasn’t pleased with his team’s effort. He wanted them to stop playing at half speed and close out the game the right way.
After that timeout, the Eagles heated up, going on an 19-3 run that officially buried Highlands. Hiwassee Dam dominated in an 88-44 win for its first conference tournament title since 2018.
With no losses to Little SMC teams in the regular season or conference tournament, this is the first time the Eagles (13-8 overall) have gone undefeated against conference competition since 2014-15.
“It was a goal we set,” Raper said. “We try to set the goal to win the conference, win the conference tournament. We try to win the county, which we done all three this year, which is pretty good.”
With an automatic bye into the championship due to Nantahala not having a boys team this year, the Eagles hadn’t played in eight days, but didn’t show any rust out of the gate. Highlands (6-16) had no answer for Sam Bradford – who finished with a game-high 25 points – and the Hawks struggled against the Eagles’ press. Hiwassee Dam jumped out a 22-7 lead and never relinquished control after that.
Even when the press didn’t work, the Eagles were able to run off of missed Highlander baskets, beating the defense down the floor. After leading 24-12 at the end of the first quarter, Hiwassee Dam extended the lead to 45-19 by halftime.
The lead only grew in the third quarter. The Eagles were scorching hot after Raper called timeout, burying five 3-pointers in the frame.
“We held their point guard pretty good,” Raper said. “Sam was doing Sam, our defense was pretty good and finally in the second half we got hot shooting the ball, which we usually have a half where we do that. It’s just a good game all around.”
In the final minutes of the third quarter, Raper started to empty the bench with the title all but wrapped up. The energy stayed high, though, with Hiwassee Dam and the student section willing everyone who checked in to score.
Though that didn’t happen, all 16 players on the roster got in the game.
The Eagles have met three of their goals this year and will now look to the state playoffs. Hiwassee Dam was awarded the No. 8 seed and hosted No. 25 seed Robbinsville on Tuesday, after this week’s edition of the Cherokee Scout went to press.
“We’re playing good,” Raper said.
“I think it’s going to take a good team to beat us.”