Sports

Jenny Millsaps/Contributing Photographer Murphy’s Luke Hyde competed at the N.C. High School Athletic Association 1A Wrestling State Championships on Friday and Saturday, wrapping up a strong freshman campaign.

Jenny Millsaps/Contributing Photographer Murphy’s Luke Hyde competed at the N.C. High School Athletic Association 1A Wrestling State Championships on Friday and Saturday, wrapping up a strong freshman campaign.

Hyde wrestles to state

Justin Fitzgerald
Wednesday, February 22, 2023
Body Murphy – Though Bulldogs freshman Luke Hyde had been wrestling for four years before starting his high school career this fall, he got some advice from assistant coach Darren Cook
Justin Fitzgerald/sports@cherokeescout.com The Hiwassee Dam Eagles made it back-to-back Little Smoky Mountain Conference Tournament Championships with a 77-52 win over Highlands on Thursday. From left are head coach Mark Raper, Jonah Hamby, Kyle Taylor, Dawson Headley, Tanner Taylor, Preston Hyde, Clay Davis, Caden Twiggs, Leo Hickson, Tate Raper and longtime assistant coach Leon Green, who is battling medical issues.

Justin Fitzgerald/sports@cherokeescout.com The Hiwassee Dam Eagles made it back-to-back Little Smoky Mountain Conference Tournament Championships with a 77-52 win over Highlands on Thursday. From left are head coach Mark Raper, Jonah Hamby, Kyle Taylor, Dawson Headley, Tanner Taylor, Preston Hyde, Clay Davis, Caden Twiggs, Leo Hickson, Tate Raper and longtime assistant coach Leon Green, who is battling medical issues.

Hiwassee Dam splits Smoky finals

Justin Fitzgerald
Wednesday, February 22, 2023
Body Nantahala – Hiwassee Dam was very close to bringing two Little Smoky Mountain Conference tournament trophies back down N.C. 294.
Justin Fitzgerald/sports@cherokeescout.com Hiwassee Dam seniors Kiera Taylor (left) and Preston Hyde (right) both scored their 1,000th career point during the Little Smoky Mountain Conference Tournament.

Justin Fitzgerald/sports@cherokeescout.com Hiwassee Dam seniors Kiera Taylor (left) and Preston Hyde (right) both scored their 1,000th career point during the Little Smoky Mountain Conference Tournament.

Two Eagles reach 1,000-point mark

Justin Fitzgerald
Wednesday, February 22, 2023
Body “It feels pretty great,” Taylor said. “It was definitely one of my goals ever since freshman year.”
Justin Fitzgerald/sports@cherokeescout.com Retired Murphy High School head football coach David Gentry patrolled Murphy’s sidelines for 38 years, setting records that may never be broken. He will be inducted into the N.C. High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame on Saturday, Aug. 19.

Justin Fitzgerald/sports@cherokeescout.com Retired Murphy High School head football coach David Gentry patrolled Murphy’s sidelines for 38 years, setting records that may never be broken. He will be inducted into the N.C. High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame on Saturday, Aug. 19.

Gentry headed to Hall of Fame

Justin Fitzgerald
Tuesday, February 21, 2023
Body Gentry coached high school football in North Carolina for 47 years. His 426 wins are the most in state history, and 361 of them came during 38 years at Murphy, an NCHSAA record for the most wins at one school.
Justin Fitzgerald/sports@cherokeescout.com Hiwassee Dam’s Kiera Taylor pushes the ball up court during the Lady Eagles’ 87-69 win over Blue Ridge on Thursday. Taylor had a game-high 27 points in what’s almost certainly her final game at “The Nest.”

Justin Fitzgerald/sports@cherokeescout.com Hiwassee Dam’s Kiera Taylor pushes the ball up court during the Lady Eagles’ 87-69 win over Blue Ridge on Thursday. Taylor had a game-high 27 points in what’s almost certainly her final game at “The Nest.”

Lady Eagles run past Blue Ridge to end regular season

Justin Fitzgerald
Tuesday, February 14, 2023
Body Hiwassee Dam – Against a Lady Bobcats’ team that likes to play fast, Hiwassee Dam head coach David Payne thought his Lady Eagles could play at that pace for longer than the opponen
Justin Fitzgerald/sports@cherokeescout.com Andrews’ Kylie Donaldson tries to get by Murphy’s Julia Dockery during the Lady Wildcats’ 82-57 loss to the Lady Bulldogs on Friday.

Justin Fitzgerald/sports@cherokeescout.com Andrews’ Kylie Donaldson tries to get by Murphy’s Julia Dockery during the Lady Wildcats’ 82-57 loss to the Lady Bulldogs on Friday.

Lady Wildcats’ season ends with loss to Murphy

Justin Fitzgerald
Tuesday, February 14, 2023
Body Andrews – As the Lady Wildcats’ season came to an end with an 82-57 loss to Murphy in the Big Smoky Mountain Conference Tournament, several players left the court in tears.
Justin Fitzgerald/ sports@cherokeescout.com Tri-County Early College junior Ariana Rivas competed in both the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard butterfly at the N.C. High School Athletic Association 1A/2A state championships in Cary on Thursday.

Justin Fitzgerald/ sports@cherokeescout.com Tri-County Early College junior Ariana Rivas competed in both the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard butterfly at the N.C. High School Athletic Association 1A/2A state championships in Cary on Thursday.

Rivas of Tri-County swims to state meet

Justin Fitzgerald
Tuesday, February 14, 2023
Body Cary – Due to some issues with pool time since the turn of the New Year, Tri-County Early College junior Ariana Rivas was just looking to compete at the N.C.