Sports

Justin Fitzgerald/sports@cherokeescout.com Hiwassee Dam’s Sam Bradford goes up for a shot during the Eagles’ 63-51 loss to Robbinsville on Feb. 9. The two teams met again at Hiwassee Dam on Feb. 22 in the first round of the playoffs, with Robbinsville winning 61-53.

Justin Fitzgerald/sports@cherokeescout.com Hiwassee Dam’s Sam Bradford goes up for a shot during the Eagles’ 63-51 loss to Robbinsville on Feb. 9. The two teams met again at Hiwassee Dam on Feb. 22 in the first round of the playoffs, with Robbinsville winning 61-53.

Eagles’ season ends in playoffs

Body Hiwassee Dam – When Hiwassee Dam and Robbinsville boys basketball met on Feb.
Christopher Lugo/The Highlander Hiwassee Dam’s Rylie Payne battles for the ball with Highlands’ Ezra Banham during the Eagles’ 66-43 loss to the Lady Highlanders on Feb. 22. It was Hiwassee Dam’s fourth loss to Highlands this season.

Christopher Lugo/The Highlander Hiwassee Dam’s Rylie Payne battles for the ball with Highlands’ Ezra Banham during the Eagles’ 66-43 loss to the Lady Highlanders on Feb. 22. It was Hiwassee Dam’s fourth loss to Highlands this season.

Lady Eagles’ season closes

Body Highlands – It was deja vu for the Hiwassee Dam girls basketball team on Feb. 22.
Cory Smith/Mount Airy News Mount Airy’s Tyler Mason rises to the rim as Andrews’ Isaac Weaver (5) and Andy Tatham try to disrupt his shot during the Wildcats’ 69-49 loss to the Granite Bears in the first round of the state 1A playoffs on Feb. 22.

Cory Smith/Mount Airy News Mount Airy’s Tyler Mason rises to the rim as Andrews’ Isaac Weaver (5) and Andy Tatham try to disrupt his shot during the Wildcats’ 69-49 loss to the Granite Bears in the first round of the state 1A playoffs on Feb. 22.

Wildcats fall to Mount Airy

Body Mainly it boils down to the intensity that they played with..” – coach Matt Maennle
Justin Fitzgerald/sports@cherokeescout.com Murphy’s Lochlan Rogers tries to keep Albemarle’s Amari Baldwin in front of her during Murphy’s 66-36 win over Albemarle in the third round of the state 1A playoffs Saturday. Rogers had a career-high 13 points in the win.

Justin Fitzgerald/sports@cherokeescout.com Murphy’s Lochlan Rogers tries to keep Albemarle’s Amari Baldwin in front of her during Murphy’s 66-36 win over Albemarle in the third round of the state 1A playoffs Saturday. Rogers had a career-high 13 points in the win.

Lady Bulldogs roll into Elite 8

Body “This one’s special,” Gutierrez said. “We’re young, we’re not as talented as we have been in the past, but the kids like each other, play hard for each other.”
Murphy's Addie Johnson tries to get by Mitchell's Chandra Jenkins during the Lady Bulldogs' 64-47 win over the Lady Mountaineers on Thursday. Johnson scored a career-high 18 points in the win.

Murphy's Addie Johnson tries to get by Mitchell's Chandra Jenkins during the Lady Bulldogs' 64-47 win over the Lady Mountaineers on Thursday. Johnson scored a career-high 18 points in the win.

Lady Bulldogs shake off slow start, handle Mitchell to advance to round 3

Body Murphy – About halfway through the second quarter of Murphy girls basketball team’s second-round matchup with Mitchell, things were not going well.
Justin Fitzgerald/sports@cherokeescout.com Murphy sophomore Lailee Holloway tries to get to the basket during the Lady Bulldogs’ 72-21 win over Elkin in the first round of the state playoffs Tuesday night. Holloway had a team-high 18 points in the win.

Justin Fitzgerald/sports@cherokeescout.com Murphy sophomore Lailee Holloway tries to get to the basket during the Lady Bulldogs’ 72-21 win over Elkin in the first round of the state playoffs Tuesday night. Holloway had a team-high 18 points in the win.

Lady Dogs cruise into Round 2

Body Murphy – The Murphy girls basketball team did it exactly what it needed to in the first round of the state playoffs. Facing No.
Murphy Middle School went undefeated on its way to a Smoky Mountain Conference boys basketball championship this season. Back row (from left): Cale Harger, Abram Twiggs, Camden Breazeale, Elijah Twiggs and Landan Ennis. Front row (from left): coach Robert Payne, Ryan Payne, Aaron Harger, Tyler Payne, Robert Turner, Brady Grant, AJ Rice, Cruz Yarbro, Brayden Gutierrez and coach Henry Grant.

Murphy Middle School went undefeated on its way to a Smoky Mountain Conference boys basketball championship this season. Back row (from left): Cale Harger, Abram Twiggs, Camden Breazeale, Elijah Twiggs and Landan Ennis. Front row (from left): coach Robert Payne, Ryan Payne, Aaron Harger, Tyler Payne, Robert Turner, Brady Grant, AJ Rice, Cruz Yarbro, Brayden Gutierrez and coach Henry Grant.

Murphy Middle undefeated

Body But going undefeated?
Justin Fitzgerald/sports@cherokeescout.com Kegan Ellis of Andrews tries to fool a Hayesville defender during the Wildcats’ 66-53 loss to the Yellow Jackets on Feb. 14.

Justin Fitzgerald/sports@cherokeescout.com Kegan Ellis of Andrews tries to fool a Hayesville defender during the Wildcats’ 66-53 loss to the Yellow Jackets on Feb. 14.

Wildcats fall to Hayesville in tournament semifinals

Body Bryson City – No matter what Hayesville threw at Andrews in the Big Smoky Mountain Conference tournament semifinals on Feb. 14, the Wildcats continued to hang around.
Justin Fitzgerald/sports@cherokeescout.com Hiwassee Dam won the Little Smoky Mountain Conference Tournament for the first time since 2018 with an 88-44 win over Highlands on Thursday.

Justin Fitzgerald/sports@cherokeescout.com Hiwassee Dam won the Little Smoky Mountain Conference Tournament for the first time since 2018 with an 88-44 win over Highlands on Thursday.

Eagles take Little Smoky Mountain tournament title

Body After that timeout, the Eagles heated up, going on an 19-3 run that officially buried Highlands. Hiwassee Dam dominated in an 88-44 win for its first conference tournament title since 2018.