TRACK
Cold cancels track meet
Indoor track teams in the Smoky Mountain Conference were scheduled to travel to Cherokee on Jan. 15, but the meet was canceled due to cold temperatures.
This meet was scheduled to be their first meet of 2025 after the Jan. 8 meet in Swain County was also canceled due to winter weather.
Their next meet is scheduled to take place today in Swain County. On Wednesday, Jan. 29, conference teams will head to Cherokee for the SMC championship.
BASKETBALL
McCoy scores 1,000th point
Nantahala had a three-game week last week, as the Hawks took on Swain County, Shining Rock Classical Academy and Hayesville.
In their first game of the week on Jan. 14, they fell to Swain 90-75. On Jan. 16, they hosted Shining Rock Classical Academy and won 79-66.
On Jan. 17, they started a four-game road slate by falling to Hayesville 89-52. In the game, junior Cole McCoy scored the 1,000th point of his high school career.
Their next game is 6 p.m. Thursday, when they travel to Hiawassee, Ga., to take on Eastgate Life Academy. Then 6 p.m. Friday, they will travel to take on Blue Ridge Early College.
At 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28, they will host Hiwassee Dam to take on the Eagles.
OUTDOORS
Climbing spots to close
As of Jan. 15, rock faces used by nesting peregrine falcons began to close again in the Nantahala and Pisgah national forests.
In the Nantahala Ranger District, Pickens Nose (East Face) near Franklin will be closed to all climbing. Whiteside Mountain in between Cashiers and Highlands will also be closed to climbers.
Climbing cliffs and operating drones in the closed areas are restricted to protect the state-listed endangered birds. These birds mate for life and return to the same location to roost and tend to their nestlings each year.
The closure will be lifted on Aug. 15. Like in past years, the order may be partially lifted early depending on the development of young falcons.
BASKETBALL
UNC in a tough spot
The UNC-Chapel Hill men’s basketball team is in a tough spot heading into week 12 of the regular season.
With a 12-7 overall record, the Tar Heels have been absent from the NCAA Associated Press rankings since week five. The week six rankings were the first time the Tar Heels were unranked since 2023, when they ended up missing the NCAA March Madness tournament.
The Tar Heels started the season ranked No. 9 and have fallen since then as they have suffered four losses to ranked teams and three losses to unranked opponents. The unranked losses to Michigan State, Louisville, and Stanford, combined with only one win against a ranked team, have severely impacted their chance of getting back to the AP top-25.
Compiled by Sports Editor Cannon Crompton. Email items to sports@cherokeescout.com.