Lady Jackets Punch Ticket to SMC Championship with Thrilling Win Over Andrews

(Photo by Kynnly McClure) Hayesville's floor general Ava Shook led the way for the Lady Jackets with 24 points.

The Hayesville Lady Yellow Jackets and the Andrews Lady Wildcats delivered a semifinal showdown to remember in the Smoky Mountain Conference Tournament on Tuesday, Feb. 18. With the tournament being hosted in Hayesville, the home crowd had plenty to cheer about as the Lady Jackets battled their way to a hard-fought 51-41 victory to secure a spot in the championship game.

The game was a back-and-forth affair from the opening tip, with both teams trading momentum in a contest that wasn’t decided until the final minutes. Hayesville jumped out to an 11-8 lead after the first quarter, but Andrews responded with a strong second quarter to take a 22-21 advantage into halftime. The Lady Jackets reclaimed a one-point lead at 33-32 by the end of the third quarter, setting up a dramatic final period.

(Photo by Kynnly McClure) Junior Bryleigh Kreiger came up big down low to help Hayesville advance.

With time winding down and the game still in question, Hayesville point guard Ava Shook took control. Shook delivered a stellar 24-point performance, hitting key shots down the stretch to help her team pull away. Emma Ashe was deadly from beyond the arc, draining four three-pointers to finish with 12 points. Defensively, Bryleigh Kreiger was a force under the basket, pulling down nine defensive rebounds to keep Andrews from getting second-chance opportunities.

In the closing two minutes, Andrews was forced to foul to extend the game, but Hayesville took full advantage at the free-throw line, pushing the final margin to 51-41. The win sends the Lady Jackets to the SMC Tournament championship game, where they will face Cherokee for the championship on Friday, Feb. 21.