Varsity Basketball Teams Play for Championships at Hiwassee Dam High

Community, Hiwassee Dam Basketball, Hiwassee Dam High School, Press Release
Hiwassee Dam Eagles play for basketball championship
We would like to CONGRATULATE both our Women’s & Men’s Basketball teams on their LSM Conference Championships!
With these championships each team has qualified for the state playoffs. Both teams will play a home game this Tuesday, February 23rd.
Here are the details for these games.Basketball teams play for championship
Varsity Boys play 1st @ 6:00pm (vs Chatham Central)
Varsity Girls play 2nd @ 7:30pm (vs North Stanly)
Admission is limited to 25 home fans ONLY (2 per athlete)
Children will count toward your two
No extra spots for workers (Filmer & Bookkeeper Only)
Gates open @ 5:30 for boys game
Gates open for girls game 15 min after the boys game is over
Admission $7.00
State fee for live feed is $250 per game (Donations Welcome)
GOOD LUCK EAGLES!

High School stars transferring to Georgia

Sports, Team FYN Sports, TeamFYNSports
transfer

About a month or so ago, the North Carolina High School Athletic Association released their 2020-2021 sports schedule. This new schedule moved football to February and limited sports such as basketball to a 14 game season. It also opened up the door for transfers.

This new season put local athletes college futures at risk, as it has a serious impact on recruiting since North Carolina schools will only be playing conference schedules.

Andrews High School has already seen two of its top athletes transfer away to Georgia schools.

5’10, Senior Guard Kabe Ellis recently transferred to Towns County. Ellis averaged 20.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 3.7 steals for the Wildcats last year. He has already accumulated 1,294 points in his high school career. When #TeamFYNSports asked Ellis about the transfer, he said:

“I’m excited about the opportunity to be able to have a full season for my senior year and be able to play ball with some new teammates. No matter what I give the glory to God.”

Kabe was one of the top basketball players in 1A basketball in North Carolina. He plays with a great pace and has quality court vision with an ability to distribute the ball very well.

6’3, 175 lb, class of 2022 Wide Receiver and Shooting Guard Tucker Holloway transferred to Rabun Gap so that he could focus primarily on football. Tucker was the starting QB and shooting guard on Andrews High School’s football and basketball teams. Last week he had an interception for Rabun Gap as they beat Christ School.

Towns County will also be getting 6’7 junior Jake Mctaggart from Hayesville High School. Mctaggart is a tight end and defensive lineman who has already picked up 2 division one offers from Kentucky and UNC Charlotte for football. Jake is also a menace on the basketball court, as he led the Yellow Jackets to a 25-4 record last year. Mctaggart will is looking to suit up for the Towns County football team this Friday. He will look to help an upcoming Towns football team that was unable to win a single game last year, but is currently 2-2 after losing a heartbreaker in OT last week.

The Towns County Indians basketball team will be one to watch this year after the additions of new transfers Ellis and Mctaggart.

 

Gov. Cooper leaves athletics decision up to NCHSAA

Murphy Bulldogs, Murphy High, Sports, TeamFYNSports
mhs

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper held a press conference earlier today, where he announced that school systems will be operating on Plan B which is a split, virtual and in person system this fall. School districts are also allowed to operate under plan C, which is strictly virtual online learning. Regarding sports, he announced that he is leaving the decision about whether or not to have upcoming athletics seasons to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA).

Cooper stated,“The NCHSAA will be making the decisions about high school sports and what they’re going to engage in.” He went on to say, “I love fall sports and enjoyed playing them in high school. I know a lot of our student-athletes want to get back into playing sports. NCHSAA will be consulting with public health experts, including our staff here at the Department of Health and Human Services. It’s my understanding that they will be making specific decisions a little bit later on in the process.”

Plan B is what the Governor has implemented going forward, which will probably work out to where about 50% of students will be taking classes in person and the other 50% will be taking online classes. Earlier this month Que Tucker, the NCHSAA commissioner, said earlier this month that Plan B would be the most concerning if implemented because it leaves so much unknown.

She also commented, “By Aug. 17, if we have an understanding from NCDHHS that we can proceed with higher-risk sports and what those health and safety guidelines would be, we could then move forward and be able to play some games. If you back up from that, when the governor makes an announcement, we’ll have a better feel for the Aug. 1 date for first official practice for fall sports or whether we’d have to push things back to Aug. 15 or Sept. 1 I try not to draw any lines in the sand or cross any lines. If we get an Oct. 1 date, for example, to go ahead and play some sports, it would be incumbent upon us as a staff to put together some sort of a schedule for those kids to play, even if it’s a month or a month and a half, and end with a conference championship. But it’s not fair to students or coaches to preempt what the governor and his team are trying to do to keep us safe as North Carolinians.”

North Carolina will remain in phase 2 of the reopening process for three more weeks, which leaves the NCHSAA operating under phase one of their plan.

Lady Bulldogs punch ticket to state title game

Murphy Basketball, Sports, TeamFYNSports
Murphy Lady Bulldogs basketball

The Murphy Lady Bulldogs are headed to the NCHSAA Class 1-A state title game after a narrow, 63-62, win against Mitchell in the Western Regional Championship game Saturday, March 7, in Hickory. With the win, the top-seeded Lady Bulldogs (30-0) will face off with third-seeded Weldon (27-1) for the championship Saturday, March 14, at Reynolds Coliseum at North Carolina State University. Tip-off for the game is slated for 12:05 p.m.

Murphy Lady Bulldogs basketball

Senior Sydni Addison takes a jump shot for the Lady Bulldogs.

Despite a 40-27 lead at halftime, and pretty much dominating the whole first half of basketball, Murphy allowed Mitchell to claw their way back into the game in the third. Heading into the fourth, Mitchell cut the Bulldogs lead to 52-41.

Thanks to some very stingy defense, they were able to force three turnovers in the final 25 seconds and put senior Hannah McMahan at the line with .02 seconds left in the game, down 63-61. McMahan was able to nail the first free throw, but with the pressure mounting she missed the second and Murphy escaped with the win.

Murphy showed some signs of panic late in the Regional final game, but thanks to leaders like senior Sydni Addison they were able to compose themselves enough to walk away with another mark in the win column.

Addison finished the game leading her team with 23 points. Torin Rogers was also a vocal leader during the game and filled up the stat sheet to back it up, dropping 16 points, six rebounds, and three blocks.

Lady Bulldogs stay perfect, advance to semis

Murphy Basketball, Sports, TeamFYNSports

It was another packed house Tuesday, March 4, as the Lady Bulldogs tipped-off the state quarterfinal game against the East Surry Lady Cardinals. The same East Surry team that this time last year ended Murphy’s state championship dreams with a last second 3-pointer.

Lady Bulldogs

Sophomore Torin Rogers takes a free throw Tuesday night. Rogers finished the night with 27 points.

It was the Lady Bulldogs (29-0) that got the last laugh this year however, beating the Lady Cardinals 65-45 and advancing to the NCHSAA Class 1-A state semifinals.

East Surry (20-6) started the game with a strong defense, forcing Murphy into some bad shots and creating turnovers, which allowed them to take a 21-19 first-quarter lead.

Settling down in the second quarter, the Lady Bulldogs were able to lock in defensively and rely on senior Sydni Addison to create some open looks on offense. The result was a three-point lead for Murphy, 31-28, at the end of the first half.

Lady Bulldogs

Senior Sydni Addison sets up on the free-throw line Tuesday night.

Coming out of the locker room for the second half, the Lady Bulldogs settled in and started looking more like themselves, sharing the ball and playing a much tighter brand of defense than they were able to in the first half. Murphy ended the third quarter on a five-point run, giving them a 48-39 lead to start the fourth.

Despite some turnovers on offense, the Lady Bulldogs blew the game open in the fourth using a defense that held the Lady Cardinals to just six four-quarter points to seal the 65-45 victory.

Division-I prospect, sophomore Torin Rogers, was the focal point of the offense all night for the Lady Bulldogs. She scored a game-high 27 points while going a 7-for-7 from the free-throw line.

In a game where offense seemed hard to come by at times, Rogers did not shy away from the challenge when she was asked to step up and be the leader, creating open looks for herself and teammates alike.

Murphy will travel to Lenior-Rhyne University this Saturday, March 7, for the NCHSAA Class 1-A Western Regional Championship game, which will be played against the winner of Wednesday’s Mitchell vs. Alleghany game.

Murphy girls advance to state playoff quarterfinals

Murphy Basketball, Sports, TeamFYNSports

Saturday, Feb. 29, the Murphy Lady Bulldogs and the Cherokee Lady Braves played in front of a crowd of more than 1,000 at Murphy High School in the third round of the NCHSAA 1-A state playoffs. Sophomore forward

Murphy

Senior Sydni Addison sets up on defense. Addison scored 20 points to lead the Lady Bulldogs.

Torin Rogers returned to the lineup after missing the previous playoff game with an ankle injury. Rogers didn’t miss a beat, putting up 14 points in the Lady Bulldogs 63-44 route of the Lady Braves.

Murphy

Sophomore Torin Rogers lines up a free throw Saturday at home.

Murphy (28-0) started the game off hot, as senior Sarah Pullium got the team on the right track with eight first-quarter points. Pullium’s push helped the Lady Bulldogs jump out to a 20-6 lead. In the second, Rogers built onto the lead with six points in the quarter, padding Murphy’s lead to 36-14.

Senior Sydni Addison was the leading scorer for the day with 20 points, including two deep 3-pointers in the third quarter that helped the Lady Bulldogs build a 22-point lead heading into the fourth. The final quarter concluded without many fireworks from either side and the game ended just as it began, with Murphy in control.

This was the fourth time that these two rivals had the opportunity to face off this year and the Lady Bulldogs definitely got the best of the Lady Braves, walking away from all four games with a victory.

Tuesday night, March 3, at 6 p.m., Murphy will host East Surry in the quarterfinals of the NCHSAA 1-A state playoffs. Murphy will have revenge on the brain coming into this one against a Lady Cardinals team that knocked them out of the state playoffs in the semi-finals last year at Lenior-Rhyne University, on a last second 3-pointer.

Lady Bulldogs pummel Union Academy

Murphy Basketball, Sports, TeamFYNSports
Murphy

Thursday night, Feb. 27, the undefeated Murphy Lady Bulldogs tipped off against the Union Academy Lady Cardinals in the second round of the Class 1-A NCHSAA state playoffs.

Lady Bulldogs

Senior Sydni Addison takes a jump shot.

The Lady Bulldogs (27-0), the top seed in the tournament, were without one of their leading scorers in Torin Rogers. Rogers is day-to-day as she recovers from an injury sustained during

Lady Bulldogs

Murphy girls head coach Ray Gutierrez.

the opening tip of the first-round playoff game against the Pine Lake Prep Pride. However, much like the first-round game, the Lady Bulldogs were able to take this one easily from the Lady Cardinals, 61-36.

Things were tight at the end of the first quarter as the Lady Bulldogs led 17-8, but they were able to stretch the lead to 15 going in to halftime, 31-16. Murphy came out of the locker room hot and shut Union Academy down, which enabled them to pull away and close out the game with ease, saving any late game theatrics for a later date.

Murphy will face Big Smoky Mountain Conference rival Cherokee in the third round of the NCHSAA 1-A state playoffs at home Saturday, Feb. 29. This will be the fourth time these two teams have faced each other this year, with the most recent being in the conference championship where the Lady Bulldogs won in a thriller, 59-56. Cherokee (18-9) is the ninth-seeded team in Murphy’s side of the bracket.

Karlie Curtis is the TeamFYNSports Writer’s Player of the Week for the Lady Wildcats!

Andrews Basketball, Player of the Week, TeamFYNSports

Karlie Curtis is the TeamFYNSports Writer’s Player of the Week for the Lady Wildcats!

Curtis, a senior, had a strong game in a loss to Rosman on Tuesday, Dec. 3, at home, before posting an all-around big stat line against Swain Co. on Friday, Dec. 6, on the road.

Against Rosman, Curtis posted a double-double with 10 points, 11 rebounds, and four steals.

In the loss to Swain Co., Curtis scored six points, pulled down five rebounds, netted two assists and two steals, and added a block for Andrews (0-2, 0-2 Big Smoky Mountain 1-A).

For her efforts, Curtis is the TeamFYNSports Writer’s Player of the Week for the Lady Wildcats!

 

To be considered for the TeamFYNSports Writer’s Player of the Week, a player must play in all games the team plays during that week and must not have any unsportsmanlike conduct (ejections, etc.). Stats considered for Player of the Week run from Monday through Saturday, with Player of the Week being revealed Sunday each week.

 

Kabe Ellis is the TeamFYNSports Writer’s Player of the Week for the Wildcats!

Andrews Basketball, Player of the Week, TeamFYNSports
Kabe Ellis

Kabe Ellis is the TeamFYNSports Writer’s Player of the Week for the Wildcats!

Ellis, a 5-foot-9 junior point guard, went off for 41 points in a win at Big Smoky Mountain 1-A opponent Swain Co. on Friday, Dec. 6, in a 90-69 win for Andrews (3-0, 2-0).

He also added three rebounds, five assists, and six steals in the win.

Ellis is averaging 20.3 points per game this season, which is second on the team.

Earlier in the week, Ellis had an all-around strong game at home against region-foe Rosman on Tuesday, Dec. 3. In that game, Ellis scored seven points to go with three rebounds, five assists, and three steals in the Wildcats/ 69-22 victory.

For his efforts, Ellis is the TeamFYNSports Writer’s Player of the Week for the Wildcats!

 

To be considered for the TeamFYNSports Writer’s Player of the Week, a player must play in all games the team plays during that week and must not have any unsportsmanlike conduct (ejections, etc.). Stats considered for Player of the Week run from Monday through Saturday, with Player of the Week being revealed Sunday each week.

Bulldogs fall to visiting Bobcats in season opener

Murphy Basketball, TeamFYNSports
Bulldogs

A scrappy Murphy Bulldogs basketball team pushed visiting Gilmer to the limit last night, Thursday, Dec. 5, but ended up losing their season opener 58-52 to the Bobcats.

With nearly a dozen players coming in from the Murphy football team, which finished its season less than a week before, the Bulldogs (0-1) took Georgia’s Class 4A Gilmer (5-1) to the wire before finally falling late in the fourth quarter.

Bulldogs

Junior Abram Abling goes up to score two of his team-high 21 points Thursday night.

Junior Abram Abling led Murphy with 21 points from the point guard position. Abling tried to single-handedly will the Bulldogs to the victory, scoring six points in the first and nine points in the fourth.

Despite taking a 30-28 lead into halftime, the Bulldogs couldn’t overcome a Bobcats defense that held them to just three points in the third quarter.

Bulldogs

Junior Dawson Hensley hits a free thrown for one of his 18 points Thursday.

Trailing 39-33 entering the final frame, Murphy fed off the crowd and made a push to tie the game with less than five minutes to go.

But the discipline of the visiting team was too much for the Bulldogs, who couldn’t keep the Bobcats from earning the victory.

Junior Dawson Hensly scored 18 points in the loss, including scoring 11 points in the second to push the Bulldogs into the halftime lead.

Junior Isra Smith seemed destined to keep Murphy in the game late. He scored eight points on the night, all of them coming in the pivotal fourth quarter.

Jesse Kephart scored three and senior Devonate Murray added two to round out the scoring for Murphy in the loss.

After a Friday, Dec. 6, game at Nantahala, the Bulldogs visit Robbinsville at 8 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 10, before traveling to Rosman at 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 13. Both Robbinsville and Rosman are Big Smoky Mountain 1-A region opponents for the Bulldogs, who have a chance to take a commanding lead in the region.

 

Murphy girls come back to take down visiting Gilmer

Murphy Basketball, TeamFYNSports
Murphy

The Murphy girls basketball team is going to one to watch this season in North Carolina’s Class 1-A.

Murphy

Senior Sydni Addison goes up to score two of her game-high 19 points in the win against Gilmer on Thursday.

Despite trailing by six entering the fourth quarter to Georgia’s Class 4A Gilmer in the home and season opener Thursday, Dec. 5, the Lady Bulldogs blew up in the fourth quarter, outscoring the visiting Lady Cats 21-13 in the final frame to earn the two-point, 61-59 victory.

Heading into that final period, things didn’t look great for Murphy at home.

Murphy

Junior Sarah Pullium drives for two of her 10 points in the win against Gilmer on Thursday.

The Lady Bulldogs took a 28-27 lead into halftime, but were outscored by seven in the third to fall behind by what most would assume would be enough for the visiting Lady Cats to earn the road win.

But senior forward Sydni Addison put up six of her team-high 19 in the fourth, along with five points from sophomore Torin Rogers and four points from junior Sarah Pullium, to will the Lady Bulldogs to the home victory to start the 2019-20 season.

While Murphy was able to score in the fourth period, it was the defense that earned the victory.

The Lady Bulldogs played a full-court, zone press for most of the game, which gave the visiting Lady Cats fits and enable the home team to earn the win.

Pullium finished with 10 points, while Rogers and junior Kaiya Pickens each scored nine.

Sophomore guard Mia Wilson scored 11, and fellow sophomore Taylor Phillips hit a 3-pointer in the fourth to round out the scoring for the Lady Bulldogs.

After a Friday, Dec. 6, visit to Nantahala, the Lady Bulldogs will travel to play Big Smoky Mountain 1-A opponent Robbinsville on Tueday, Dec. 10, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Three days later, Murphy will visit Rosman for a 6:30 p.m. region game Friday, Dec. 13.

The Lady Bulldogs are trying to get back to the state semi-finals, where their dreams of a state championship fell short last season.

 

Andrews boys earn first region win of season

Andrews Basketball, TeamFYNSports
Lady Wildcats

The Wildcats from Andrews posted their first Big Smokey Mountain 1-A victory last night, taking down Rosman 69-22 at home.

Wildcats

Junior Tucker Holloway scored 23 points in the win against Rosman.

Andrews (2-0, 1-0) was led by junior Tucker Holloway, who scored 23 points and added seven rebound in the win. Holloway is scoring 20 points per game so far this season through two games.

Junior Gavin Wilson scored nine, while fellow juniors Spencer Bateman and Bryson Holloway each added eight points in the win. Bryson Holloway also pulled down a team-high 12 rebounds.

Junior Kabe Ellis scored seven points, while adding five assists and three steals.

Andrews is trying to improve upon a 19-8 overall record from last season. The Wildcats went 9-3 in region play to place second in the conference. The Wildcats fell in the first round of the state playoffs a year ago.

In the win against Rosman, junior Gage Gillespie scored six, while senior Landon White put up four. Seniors Jose Martinez and junior Aidan O’Dell each chipped in two points in the victory.

Up next for the Wildcats is a visit to Swain Co. for another region game. Tip-off for that match-up is set for 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 6, in Bryson City.

 

Lady Wildcats fall in region opener 76-45

Andrews Basketball, TeamFYNSports
Lady Wildcats

Senior Karlie Curtis scored 10 points, pulled down 11 rebounds, and added four steals in the Lady Wildcats’ loss.

The Lady Wildcats from Andrews fell to Rosman last night, 76-45, at home.

Andrews (0-2, 0-1 Big Smoky Mountain 1-A) fell behind early and couldn’t recover in the home loss.

Junior Abby Hedden led the way for the Lady Wildcats, scoring 16 points. She also pulled down seven rebounds and had six assists.

Sophomore Emily Mealer added 13 points, five rebounds, and three assists in the loss.

Senior Karlie Curtis scored 10 points, while pulling down a team-high 11 rebounds and adding four steals.

Senior Sydney Postell and junior Ravin Wright each scored three points. Postell added five rebounds, while Wright added two rebounds and a steal.

The Lady Wildcats next visit Swain Co. at 6:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 6, in Bryson City.

TeamFYNSports Writer’s Player of the Week, No. 22 Micah Anderson

Hiwassee Dam Basketball, Player of the Week, TeamFYNSports
Micah Anderson

Micah Anderson is the TeamFYNSports Writer’s Player of the Week for the Eagles!

Anderson consistently helped the Eagles break the full-court pressure of all three opponents from this week: Fannin Co., Gilmer, and Pickens. Hiwassee Dam played in the annual Thanksgiving tournament in Blue Ridge and Anderson was a consistant presence on defense and offense.

He tied a team-high with 10 points against Gilmer, was second on the team with 11 points against Pickens, and added five points against Fannin Co. in the team’s most lopsided tournament loss.

For his efforts, Anderson is the TeamFYNSports Writer’s Player of the Week for the Eagles!

To read about how the Hiwassee Dam boys basketball team did last week, click here.

Eagles show development in tournament

Hiwassee Dam Basketball, TeamFYNSports
Eagles

The Eagles from Hiwassee Dam developed quickly in a three-day Thanksgiving tournament at Fannin Co. High in Blue Ridge, GA.

While the Eagles started the tournament with a 21-point loss to the home team Saturday, Nov. 23, they rebounded to give Class 4A’s Gilmer fits through the first three quarters in a loss Monday, Nov. 25, before playing their best game of the tournament in a 13-point loss to Pickens, also from Class 4A.

With less than 200 students and playing in the Little Smoky Mountain 1-A Conference in North Carolina, Hiwassee Dam doesn’t get many chances to play teams from higher classifications.

Hiwassee Dam

From left, Redford Cheek, Micah Anderson, and Conner Davis were named to the all-tournament team for the Eagles.

The Eagles took full advantage of the opportunity and played each game better than the last.

Through the first two quarters against Pickens, who won the tournament with the victory, the Eagles were proving they can play with anyone.

Four players scored in the first and the defense limited the Dragons to just 12 points.

In the second, Micah Anderson scored seven points, Conner Davis added six, and Sam Bradford scored two to keep pace with Pickens’ 15 in the quarter and head into halftime trailing by just three, 27-24.

In the second half, the Dragons (4-0) pulled away from the short-handed Eagles, using depth and height to finally overwhelm the slowing group in the third to build a 10-point lead at 46-36.

The Eagles wouldn’t go quietly as Davis and Bradford continued to attack. The team put 16 points on the board in the final quarter, but couldn’t slow the Pickens offense enough and fell, 65-52.

Davis finished the game with a team-high 17 points, followed by Anderson with 11, Radford Cheek with nine, and Bradford with seven. Jacob Dockery (4), Seth Hooper (2), and Michael Simms (2) rounded out the scoring for the Eagles.

The day before against Gilmer, Anderson and Simms each scored 10, while Cheek put up eight, Davis scored four, and Hooper added three in the 52-35 loss.

Against Fannin Co. in the first game of the tournament, Cheek scored a team-high 15 points, including going 6-of-8 from the free-throw line. Cheek was just one of the seven Eagles who scored in the game: Anderson, Simms, and Bradford each scored five, Hooper and Davis each scored four, and Dockery scored three.

Hiwassee Dam fell in the game 62-41.

Anderson, Cheek, and Davis were all named to the all-tournament team for the Eagles.

Hiwassee Dam is slated to begin region play Tuesday, Dec. 3, against Nantahala at home. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.

To read about the TeamFYNSports Writer’s Player of the Week for the Eagles, click here.

TeamFYNSports Writer’s Player of the Week: No. 34 Katie Gibson

Hiwassee Dam Basketball, Player of the Week, TeamFYNSports
Katie Gibson

Katie Gibson is the TeamFYNSports Writer’s Player of the Week for the Hiwassee Dam Lady Eagles!

Gibson, the team’s center, averaged a double-double during the three-day Thanksgiving tournament at Fannin Co. High in Blue Ridge last week, scoring more than 14 points per game and pulling down more than 10 rebounds per game.

She led the team in scoring in all three games.

Against Fannin Co. on Saturday, Nov. 23, she scored 14 points, followed by 10 against Gilmer on Monday, Nov. 25, and 19 against Pickens on Tuesday, Nov. 26.

For her efforts, Gibson is the TeamFYNSports Writer’s Player of the Week for the Lady Eagles!

To read about how the team fared in the tournament, click here.

 

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