Early in the week, the Andrews varsity basketball times racked up miles with two road games.
First up, the traveled to Franklin where the girls got the win in overtime and the boys fell. They then went to Cashiers to face Blue Ridge Early College, where the Cats got a sweep to come home victorious.
Girls win OT thriller 60-58
It took five quarters to decide the winner in the Lady Wildcats’ first game of the week. On the road against 5A Franklin, the Lady Cats came away with the win after trailing most of the contest.
The Lady Cats started their week on the road on Jan. 5 as they traveled to the Lady Panthers. It was neck-and-neck the entire game, but the Lady Wildcats made a fourth quarter push to force overtime, then got the win 60-58.
Franklin took the early lead with 15 points in the opening quarter. Andrews had 13 points in the opening frame.
Franklin slightly extended their lead, but the Lady Cats were right behind them as the Panthers took a 27-23 lead to halftime. The Panthers maintained their lead in the third quarter to take a 41-36 lead into the final frame.
The momentum shifted in the fourth period as the Lady Cats dropped 15 points, eight scored by Kimber Vaught. They held the Panthers to 10 points, forcing overtime as they were tied at 51 at the end of regulation.
Behind Alexis Beasley and Davis’ three points each, as well as two from Cutshaw and one from Marley Blackwell, the Wildcats scored nine points and held the Panthers to only seven to complete the late comeback.
They secured the 60-58 overtime victory to start the week with a win. Cutshaw led the Cats with 20 points, while Davis had 19.
Boys fall 75-45
In their first meeting of the season, the Wildcats fell to Franklin on the road 75-45.
The Cats kicked off their busy week on Jan. 5 with a trip to Franklin. Despite leading early, the Panthers defeated the Cats 75-45.
The Wildcats got out to an early lead with 17 points in the opening quarter and holding Franklin to 14 points. The momentum shifted in the second period as Franklin outscored Andrews 19-9.
At halftime, the Panthers led 33-26. In the third quarter, Franklin had 24 points.
Franklin ended the game outscoring the Cats 18-10 in the fourth quarter to win. Gabe Clark led the Wildcats with 23 points, including seven 3-pointers.
Girls secure big win
The Lady Wildcats defeated Blue Ridge Early College 56-25 in their second road game of the week. On Jan. 6, they hit the road to Cashiers to face the Lady Bobcats and got the big win for their fourth straight victory.
Andrews got out to a quick lead with 12 points in the opening quarter and holding the Lady Bobcats to just two points. The Lady Cats followed it up with a big second quarter to lead 43-6 at halftime.
Despite being outscored in the second half, the Lady Wildcats’ first half lead held on and they secured the victory. Two Lady Cats were in double figures, as Davis had 13 points and Chanteah Rattler 11.
Boys win by 41
After building a 19-point lead at halftime, the Wildcats almost shutout the Bobcats in the second half to win 55-14. Andrews traveled to Cashiers on Jan. 6, where they got back into the win column after they faced Blue Ridge Early College.
The Cats jumped out to a 17-2 lead in the first quarter. They followed it up with 12 more points in the second quarter to lead 29-10 at halftime.
In the second half, Andrews really pulled away with 14 more points in the third quarter while holding the Bobcats to two points. Andrews held the Bobcats to two more points in the fourth quarter, while the Wildcats scored 12 points to win.
The Wildcats were led by Brady McLelland, who had a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Levi Clark was also in double figures with 10 points.
Up next
Andrews will once again face Blue Ridge Early College, this time at home today. The girls will play at 6:30 p.m., with the boys playing afterward.
The Cats will close out the week at Hayesville on Friday, with the girls playing at 6:30 p.m., and the boys playing right after.