BASKETBALL
Hawks fall on the road
The Nantahala Hawks returned to the hardwood Friday night for their first road game of the season against conference opponent Summit Charter.
Both the boys and girls fell in Little Smoky Mountain Conference action. The boys kicked off the night in a tough battle where they fell 84-82. Despite a late push, the Hawks (1-1) came up short.
The Lady Hawks (1-1) were in action to close out the night and fell 62-12.
Both teams will be back on the court Thursday, when the boys host MACA at 7 p.m. and the girls host Macon County Early College 6 p.m. Both teams will then host Shining Rock Classical Academy on Friday, with the girls starting at 6 p.m. and the boys to follow.
OUTDOORS
Blackpowder season open
Blackpowder deer season is underway in the Western zone of the state. Blackpowder season opened Saturday and will run until Friday, Nov. 28.
Gun season for deer in the western part of the state will begin Saturday, Nov. 29, and go until Jan. 1, 2026.
Bear is also in season until Saturday, then from Dec. 13, 2025, through Jan. 1, 2026. Quail season also begins Saturday.
Youth deer hunting days are also coming up at the end of the month. In the Western Deer Zone, youth hunting days are Thursday and Friday, Nov. 27-28.
RACING
Local wins biking title
Caleb Kephart of Murphy was crowned the WERA Southeast Region champion in the C Superbike Novice and C Superstock Novice divisions.
Kephart racked up 10 wins in the C Superbike Novice division and seven wins in the C Superstock Novice division during the 2025 season.
He capped off his championship-winning season with a first-place finish in the C Superbike Novice division and second-place finish in the C Superstock Novice division at the 53rd Grand National Finals at Barber Motorsports Park in Leeds, Ala., in late October.
He is sponsored by JM Anderson Electric, Brent Smith and Rick Norton. In races, he drives a Yamaha 600 motorcycle. Kephart graduated with the Murphy High School Class of 2025.
High school schedule
Today
Indoor track
Meet @ Swain County, 3:30 p.m.
Thursday
Girls basketball
Nantahala vs. Macon Early College, 6 p.m.
Boys basketball
Nantahala vs. MACA, 7:30 p.m.
Friday
Football
No. 1 Murphy vs. No. 9 Community School of Davidson, 7:30 p.m.
Girls basketball
Andrews vs. Smoky Mountain, 6 p.m.
Hiwassee Dam vs. Macon Early College, 6 p.m.
Boys basketball
Andrews vs. Smoky Mountain, 7 p.m.
Hiwassee Dam vs. Macon Early College, 7 p.m.
Nantahala vs. MACA, 7 p.m.
Saturday
Wrestling
Andrews @ Polk County High School, 9 a.m.
Murphy @ Towns County, Ga., 9 a.m.
Compiled by Sports Editor Cannon Crompton. Email items to sports@cherokeescout.com.