The Hayesville High School Yellow Jackets closed out the regular season with a thrilling night of basketball against the Robbinsville Black Knights on Thursday, Feb. 13, in Smoky Mountain Conference action. The home crowd was treated to a hard-fought victory in the girls' game, while the boys' team battled against the conference’s top squad but came up short.
In the first varsity game of the evening, the Hayesville Lady Yellow Jackets avenged an early-season loss in spectacular fashion, defeating the Lady Black Knights 55-50. Hayesville had previously fallen to Robbinsville by 30 points, making this victory a testament to their growth and resilience.
The Lady Jackets came out strong, jumping to a 16-9 lead after the first quarter. By halftime, the teams were locked in a 26-26 tie, setting up a tense second half. Robbinsville edged ahead 36-30 at the end of the third quarter, but Hayesville stormed back in the fourth, outscoring the Lady Knights 25-14 to secure the win.
Leading the charge for Hayesville was Mallory Peck, who posted 16 points. Emma Ashe contributed 13 points, while Ava Shook and Briley Clampitt each added nine to round out the balanced scoring attack.
The boys' contest saw Hayesville go toe-to-toe with the SMC’s top-ranked Black Knights, but Robbinsville pulled away late to claim a 65-49 victory.
The Yellow Jackets made a strong early statement, leading 21-17 at the end of the first quarter. Robbinsville responded in the second, taking a 35-29 lead into halftime. Despite Hayesville’s efforts, the Black Knights extended their lead to 54-45 after three quarters and controlled the final period to seal the win.
Brady Reynolds led the Jackets with 13 points, while Riley Rogers added nine and Cooper Matheson chipped in eight. Hayesville’s starting point guard, Slade Crouch, saw limited action due to early foul trouble, which impacted the team’s offensive rhythm.
Now the teams turn their attention to the post season as HHS hosts the conference tournament. In round one, the Yellow Jackets (4) will take on Murphy (5) at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 15. The Lady Jackets (3) will follow when the take on Swain (6) at 5 p.m.