SMC Basketball

[ObserveAndReport]

SMC basketball got underway last night for a few schools.

Hayesville beat Blue Ridge by 50+. It was boys only, picked up when Nantahala apparently didn't field a boys team. Not much to take away from a game like that, except learning that Hayesville's transfer from (I believe) Smoky Mountain can shoot it. Will get a better overall read on Hayesville next week when they play Tallulah Falls--which won its GA private school league last year and is 3-0 to start this year.

Swain beat Smoky Mountain by 25 or so in boys. Groenewald is back playing for Swain this year and really helps them. Not a good year for Smoky to be moving up to 3A--they're a bit down personnel-wise. Smoky won pretty handily on the girls side. Lots of size and a quick little point guard--should be pretty good in their league although I think Pisgah is probably the favorite.

Looking forward to hearing anybody's else's predictions or takes.

 

[mbdfan]

Murphy girls lost to AC Reynolds by 14 last night. Not entirely sure what to make of that, as AC Reynolds were not particularly good this spring in their league. So unless I'm missing something not a great sign.

I did notice one of Murphy's returning core players from last season, Phillips, is no longer listed on their roster. I'm not sure what happened there but it's not good for them as she would've probably been their top player this season outside of Rogers and Martin. So between no Phillips and Wilson transferring to Rabun Gap last season they've now lost their top two guards from the group, hard to overcome that even with a player like Rogers.

 

[Braves59]

Braves go to Franklin today, girls are young I think only 1 or2 returning starters, boys should be improved from last year

 

[ObserveAndReport]

There's been a few years recently where the top of the conference in boys basketball had some pretty good teams, but the bottom half was really bad. This year I don't know if there will be a bad team in the league on the boys side, and I think that will help everybody.

 

[ObserveAndReport]

Cherokee girls beat Franklin last night 67-59. Panthers brining back their top two scorers from a second place team, so a good start for Cherokee.

Franklin boys won pretty handily. This will probably be the best Franklin boys team in years--basically the same core for the third year in a row. I think they win their conference now that they're 3A and don't have to deal with Hendersonville any more.

 

[Smokymntfan]

Murphy girls have lost alot of players. Only two return from the back to back state titles. Both are very good players but they are having to mesh with some freshman and sophomore girls who haven't played at the varsity level yet. They will improve as the season goes on

 

[WickedStix9]

Don’t sleep on Robbinsvilles boys team. They should be pretty decent.

 

[uk-te-na]

Cherokee girls lost to Pisgah last night 59-53. Lost a ten point lead in the fourth. Boys were down by twenty at the end of the third when I packed it in for the drive home.

 

[Braves59]

Cherokee girls lost to Pisgah last night 59-53. Lost a ten point lead in the fourth. Boys were down by twenty at the end of the third when I packed it in for the drive home.

Boys made a comeback lost by 3

 

[ObserveAndReport]

Cherokee girls lost to Pisgah last night 59-53. Lost a ten point lead in the fourth. Boys were down by twenty at the end of the third when I packed it in for the drive home.

I think Pisgah girls should be one of the best teams in the mountains, so that's still a good showing.

Boys made a comeback lost by 3

Did the boys look better than the Franklin game? Or does Franklin look that much better than Pisgah?

 

[Braves59]

Didn't make the Franklin game so I cant say, I think braves just need a couple games to figure some things out, jv boys look really good

 

[uk-te-na]

IMHO Franklin looks that much better than Pisgah. Pisgah didn’t seem to have a McClure or Green, like Franklin.

 

[Smokymntfan]

Franklin over Andrews boys 75-58

 

[ObserveAndReport]

Hayesville boys won at Tallulah Falls in OT. Tallulah Falls had been 5-0 with three of the wins against 3A or bigger.

 

[mbdfan]

Murphy girls beat Fannin by 10 last night, Murphy boys won by 15

 

[ObserveAndReport]

Murphy girls beat Fannin by 10 last night, Murphy boys won by 15

That’s a great night for both. This coming Wednesday should be very interesting. Enka girls are always tough but their boys have really leveled up this year. Probably the best team in the Asheville 3A/4A league this year.

 

[Smokymntfan]

Murphy girls beat Fannin by 10 last night, Murphy boys won by 15

Sounds like a good showing by both groups. I believe Fannin girls played in the state game last year

 

[Smokymntfan]

Andrews boys host telling plains tonight. I know nothing about tellico but I heard Bateman should be back for Andrews Tonight

 

[ObserveAndReport]

Andrews boys host telling plains tonight. I know nothing about tellico but I heard Bateman should be back for Andrews Tonight

I don't know much about them except that they lost to Hiwassee Dam in OT. I did watch some of the highlights from the Andrews-Franklin game--Ellis looks like a player already. But McClure from Franklin is a load--and more athletic than I realized. That tip jam in the first quarter was impressive. Although if I was the kid who missed that layup so badly I'd tell all my friends I was throwing an alley oop off the backboard. Franklin-Swain is also tonight and could be one to watch.

 

[Smokymntfan]

I don't know much about them except that they lost to Hiwassee Dam in OT. I did watch some of the highlights from the Andrews-Franklin game--Ellis looks like a player already. But McClure from Franklin is a load--and more athletic than I realized. That tip jam in the first quarter was impressive. Although if I was the kid who missed that layup so badly I'd tell all my friends I was throwing an alley oop off the backboard. Franklin-Swain is also tonight and could be one to watch.

Mcclure was better than I expected too. Andrews played their two best defenders on him all night and still couldn't really slow him down.

 

[ObserveAndReport]

Mcclure was better than I expected too. Andrews played their two best defenders on him all night and still couldn't really slow him down.

I knew he was good, just didn't know he could jump like that haha

 

[WickedStix9]

Swain looks really good in the first half against Franklin.

 

[Smokymntfan]

SMH.. not sure what to think about the Andrews game tonight. They got the win but it was an ugly win.

 

[ObserveAndReport]

Swain beat Franklin by 10 or so. They are very balanced and unselfish and play a fun brand of basketball.

 

[WickedStix9]

Andrews will be decent but they will have some growing pains.

 

[Smokymntfan]

Andrews will be decent but they will have some growing pains.

Most of the juniors got good minutes last year. Only 2-3 of them played many minutes. Could be injuries.

 

[BK13T-$]

Robbinsville girls first game

Robbinsville 59
Highlands 39

 

[ObserveAndReport]

Robbinsville girls first game

Robbinsville 59
Highlands 39

That’s a good start. Highlands girls are a good Little Smoky team. Beat Towns Co. bad and played Cherokee close.

 

[Braves59]

Lady braves avenge Pisgah loss, won by 20, McMillan had 41pts.
Braves also won the rematch by about 20

 

[Wildcat10fan]

Anyone know a final score for Andrews vs HD ?

 

[Smokymntfan]

Anyone know a final score for Andrews vs HD ?

I didn't make the game but I heard Andrews lost by 5

 

[Wildcat10fan]

I didn't make the game but I heard Andrews lost by 5

Thanks !! I figured it would be close just going by the score we both had against Tellico Plains and it being played at HD. We just had a game the night before and it takes a little time to get in Basketball shape not to mention nagging injuries left over from football. This bunch will be ok.

 

[ObserveAndReport]

Playing at HD is whole different animal. Just look at their 2 Towns Co. scores--lost by 28 at Towns Co. but beat Towns at home. I know Towns lost a good bit from their state title team, but they still have some really good players like Crowder and Oakes and actually just beat Rabun Gap. And they lost at HD.

 

[BK13T-$]

Robbinsville boys won over Highlands.

I think the score was 55-43?

 

[Wildcat10fan]

Robbinsville boys won over Highlands.

I think the score was 55-43?

Could have been by 30. Robbinsville had a lot of good looks that just wasn’t falling. After coming straight out of football they looked good.

 

[Wildcat10fan]

Playing at HD is whole different animal. Just look at their 2 Towns Co. scores--lost by 28 at Towns Co. but beat Towns at home. I know Towns lost a good bit from their state title team, but they still have some really good players like Crowder and Oakes and actually just beat Rabun Gap. And they lost at HD.

Exactly. I remember that real good Wildcats team we had lost there then beat them by like 30 at home. I remember the old gym where the heat was turned up to like 80 degrees. Lol. Tough place for sure

 

[Braves59]

Braves and lady braves both win pretty big in tuscola

 

[Wildcat10fan]

Braves and lady braves both win pretty big in tuscola

If you keep beating these 3 A schools they won’t play you anymore. They don’t like getting beat by 1A. It’s like football LOL

 

[ObserveAndReport]

Murphy girls beat Enka pretty bad. Enka boys beat Murphy pretty bad. Enka boys kind of remind me of Swain.

 

[Smokymntfan]

Any big games tonight? I know Murphy girls play the top ranked ga 3A team tomorrow. That should be a good tell of how good they will be this year. They've had to pretty impressive wins against Fannin and enka already