Highlands – After receiving a first-round bye, the Hiwassee Dam girls varsity basketball team lost to Highlands 51-47 in the Little Smoky Mountain Conference championship game.
This was their third meeting of the season, with the teams splitting their games during the regular season. During their three games, the home team won each time.
The Lady Eagles took an early one-point lead after the first quarter Thursday night. They scored 16 first-quarter points, led by Brinkley Payne and Brooklyn Hyde with six each.
They outscored Highlands 8-7 in the second quarter to lead 24-22 at halftime. Hyde scored all eight points for the Lady Eagles on two 3-pointers and a field goal, while Hyde had four first-half 3-pointers.
The Eagles maintained a two-point lead in the third quarter, when both teams scored 11 points. Payne had four points in the third quarter, all on free throws.
Highlands made a late push down the stretch of the fourth quarter with 18 points for the win.
In the LSMC championship game, the Lady Eagles were led by Hyde with 16 points. Olivia McNabb scored 13 points, seven coming in the fourth quarter, while Payne had 12.
The Lady Eagles were seeded No. 14 in the N.C. High School Athletic Association state 1A playoffs. They played at home against No. 19 seed Starmount after the Cherokee Scout’s press time Tuesday night. Results will be in the March 5 edition of the local newspaper.
They are the only girls varsity team in Cherokee County to get a first-round home game. The Lady Eagles and Highlands were also the only LSMC teams to make the playoffs.