WINTER TRACK
Cats run all way to state
The Andrews High School indoor track – also known as winter track – team wrapped up the 2025-26 season at the 1A/2A state championship on Feb. 11.
The Wildcats had three athletes compete in the 1A/2A indoor track state championship at JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem.
Caleb Helton came in ninth place in the high jump, while Logan Patrick came in ninth place in the shot put. Lady Wildcat Natalie Garrett finished 12th in the 55-meter dash.
SWIMMING
2 Jaguars go to state
Fern Crayton and Sophia Evans of Tri-County Early College competed in the 1/2/3A swimming state championship Saturday morning.
Along with swimmers from 1A, 2A and 3A, they competed at the Triangle Aquatic Center in Cary.
In the 200-yard freestyle, Crayton came in 22nd place. She also came in 20th place in the 500-yard freestyle.
Evans came in 30th place in the 200-yard freestyle.
BASKETBALL
Hawks fall to Rosman
The Nantahala varsity basketball team lost 63-61 on the road at Rosman in its last regular season non-conference game.
Heading into the Little Smoky Mountain Conference tournament at Hiwassee Dam, the boys are the No. 3 seed, while the girls are the No. 5 seed.
On Friday, the Lady Hawks faced Blue Ridge Early College in a play-in game and lost 49-35. With the loss, the Lady Hawks’ season came to an end.
BASKETBALL
County hosts SMC tourney
Cherokee County is set to host two conference tournaments this week.
The Big and Little Smoky Mountain Conference tournaments are already underway, with games Monday and Tuesday. Murphy is hosting the Big SMC, while Hiwassee Dam is hosting the Little SMC.
In the Big SMC, four games will be held today. For the boys, No. 1 seed Murphy will take on the winner of Andrews vs. Hayesville, with Robbinsville taking on Cherokee.
For the Big SMC girls, No. 1 seed Cherokee will take on the winner of Andrews vs. Robbinsville. Murphy will also face Hayesville. The championship games will be held Friday night.
In the Little SMC, the boys and girls championships will be held Thursday night.
POKER
Big money in Cherokee
The World Series of Poker returned to western North Carolina this week at Harrah’s Cherokee Hotel & Casino Resort.
The largest stop on the circuit kicked off Thursday and runs through Monday, with more than $6 in prize money up for grabs.
Tournament entry fees range from $400 up to $2,200, with a $1,700 buy-in for the Circuit Main Event that will pay out a guaranteed $2 million in prize money. The Circuit Main Event will run Feb. 20-23.
As well as big pay outs and signature trophy rings, each event winner will also earn a $5,000 package to play in the WSOP Paradise Circuit Championship in the Bahamas in December.
BASKETBALL
Standings get update
With the regular season wrapped up and teams in the midst of the conference tournament, here’s a look at where teams sit ahead of Saturday’s playoff seeding.
The below rankings are based on the N.C. High School Athletic Association RPI standings used for playoff seeding at the Cherokee Scout’s press time Tuesday morning.
For the boys, Murphy is ranked No. 2 in 2A. In 1A, Andrews is ranked No. 6 and Hiwassee Dam is No. 17.
For the girls, Murphy is ranked No. 15 in 2A at press time Tuesday morning. In 1A, Hiwassee Dam is ranked No. 12 and Andrews is No. 13.
The overall leaders in 1A are the Falls Lake Charter girls and Vance Charter boys. The Cherokee girls and Queen’s Grant boys are the leaders in 2A, at press time.
Compiled by Sports Editor Cannon Crompton. Email items to sports@cherokeescout.com.