Yellow Jackets Stifle the Braves

Junior Ethan Hooper lines up a three.

The Hayesville Yellow Jackets boys team is getting every team left on their schedule’s best shot every time they play. The Bullseye on their back keeps getting bigger as everyone wants to take down the #1 in the state-ranked Yellow Jackets. Cherokee pushed Hayesville and even got it down to five points at one point in the third quarter. The Braves would never get closer than five in the second half as Hayesville would pull away in the fourth quarter to win 64-36.

1st Half:

Hayesville would get off to a strong start in the games, as multiple players contributed early. Jake Mctaggart started off the game with an old-fashioned and one three-point play. Follow that up with three three-pointers by Logan Caldwell, Ethan Hooper, and Kolbe Ashe. Hayesville used their hot shooting to build a 19-7 lead going into the second quarter. However, Cherokee would not go away without a fight, outscoring Hayesville in the second quarter. Thanks to a great assist from Kolbe Ashe to Kyle Lunsford with two seconds left in the half, The Yellow Jackets would lead at halftime 29-21.

Taylor McClure drives hard to the rim.

2nd Half:

The Braves would put a little fear into the Yellow Jackets early in the third quarter, cutting the lead down to five. Hayesville post duo Kyle Lunsford and Jake Mctaggart combined for 12 points in the quarter getting six apiece, with several coming off great passes from Ashe. By quarter’s end, Hayesville’s lead was up 45-32. Quickly hitting the Braves at the start of the fourth quarter, the Yellow Jackets would put the game away. Hayesville was able to get all of their players in with a 20 plus point lead and cruise to a 64-36 victory.

Hayesville Leading Scorers:

Jake Mctaggart 24 points

Kolbe Ashe 17 points

Kyle Lunsford 10 points

Hayesville Notes:

With the win, tonight Hayesville clinched the outright conference championship. It’s very impressive, considering they still have two conference games on the schedule.
Hayesville’s defense was outstanding tonight, holding a usually good Cherokee offense to just 36 points.

The Yellow Jackets will next play on Monday, February 7th, hosting the Cherokee Braves. This odd scheduling having to play Cherokee back-to-back games was due to it being rescheduled several times this year. The game on Monday will be covered live on fyntv.com. To get updates or see how the Yellow Jackets have done, tune in to all the latest Team FYN sports coverage on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and at https://claync.fetchyournews.com/category/teamfynsport

Caleb Tallman