389 Country
Staff Report
The Lady Yellow Jacket varsity basketball team traveled to Charlotte on Tuesday, Feb. 25 to take on Jackson Day in round one of the state championship tournament. Hayesville played tough, even holding the lead at points. Unfortunately, in the fourth quarter, turnovers proved to be costly, and Jackson Day eliminated the Lady Jackets 53-39.
Hayesville had an eventful season, finishing with a record of 15 wins and 12 losses. In conference play they went 6-4, showing a strong performance against league opponents. Key conference wins included two victories over Andrews (45-34 and 46-34), a sweep of Swain County (52-32 and 46-18), and a notable upset against Murphy (49-35). However, they struggled against tougher conference foes like Cherokee and dropped games to Robbinsville (57-29) and Murphy (47-37) on the road.
Outside of conference play, the team split their games against Towns County (a 44-42 loss and a 38-29 win) and Hiwassee Dam (a 60-54 loss and a 49-42 loss), while picking up wins against Highlands (36-28 and 43-31), Summit Charter (43-38 and 52-35), and Blue Ridge Early College (68-27 and 55-19). Their non-conference highlight was a dominant 68-27 victory over Blue Ridge Early College.
In tournament action, the Lady Yellow Jackets went 1-2. They secured a win against Coosa (32-23) but fell to Rabun County (53-34) and Towns County (43-40) in the Battle of the States Christmas Tournament. Hayesville's play in the Smoky Mountain Conference tournament earned them a spot in the championship against Cherokee.
Overall, the season showcased the team’s resilience and ability to compete, particularly in conference play and against familiar opponents, though they faced difficulties against top-tier teams like Cherokee and in closing out tight games. With 15 victories, including a strong finish in their final conference stretch (winning 5 of their last 6), the Lady Yellow Jackets demonstrated growth and potential for future success.
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