Hayesville Shoots Their Way to a Regional Championship
Hayesville Basketball, Sports, Team FYN Sports, TeamFYNSports March 7, 2022
The Hayesville Yellow Jackets played the most important game in over a decade for their program. They played a regional final, just the third in school history and only the 12th in conference history. Only three teams have won a regional final to earn a trip to the state championship in Smoky Mountain Conference history. Cherokee has done it once, and so did the now-defunct Cullowhee high school. Hayesvilles’ 72-66 win over Winston Salem Prep Saturday is their third Regional title in school history.
Jake Mctaggart battles for a tough basket inside.
1st Quarter:
The Winston Salem Prep Phoenix scored first, but Hayesvilles Jake Mctaggart answered with a long three-point jumper. This gave Hayesvilleville a 3-2 lead, but the Yellow Jackets would not lead again in the quarter. The Phoenix would score the next eight points to take a 10-3 lead. Mctaggart would dribble the ball up and hit a deep three from beyond the volleyball line. Just a possession later, Ethan Hooper would hit a three of his own to trim the deficit to one point. Shortly after, Hayesville would get called for an intentional foul, which gave Prep two free throws and the ball. This helped them extend their lead back to up seven points. A Logan Caldwell three followed up by Mctaggarts third three of the quarter would help Hayesville keep it close. The Phoenix, though, would carry a 21-18 lead into the 2nd quarter.
2nd Quarter:
Hayesville struggled with turnovers the entire first half, and that trend continued at the start of the second quarter. Once Hayesville finally settled down some, you could tell the game started to trend back in the Yellow Jackets’ favor. The crowd that traveled from Hayesville to AC Reynolds in Asheville for the game was incredible. They had a significant impact on the game, and as the Yellow Jackets started to play better, the crowd got louder and louder. Perhaps the loudest cheer of the night to that point was when Kolbe Ashe hit two free throws with 11 seconds left in the half. This gave Hayesville a 33-32 lead at halftime and was the first lead since the 3-2 mark in the first quarter.
Ethan Hooper nails one of his four made three-pointers on the night.
3rd Quarter:
Hayesville came out firing in the third quarter; Ethan Hooper hit a big three to start the half. Prep was not going anywhere, though, as they continued to fight back each time the Yellow Jackets extended their lead at all. Hayesville was hot to end the quarter, though, which helped finally build a multi-possession lead. The Yellow Jacket lead got as high as 11 points as Ethan Hooper, just as he started the quarter, finished it with a three. Hayesville looked strong going into the last quarter of play leading 55-44.
4th Quarter:
The Yellow Jackets would watch their lead shrink possession by possession as the Phoenix would not go away lightly. A Hayesville technical really hurt at the start of the quarter and essentially gave Prep three straight possessions to shrink the lead. The Phoenix worked all quarter to cut down the lead and got it within one point. In fact, they had a and one free throw to tie it but missed. Free throws were a big key to the game as Hayesville went 6-7 from the free-throw line down the stretch to keep their lead as Prep fouled at the end of the game. While on the night, Prep was only 8-13, with Hayesville being 9-11 from the line. The Final straw was the one miss in the fourth quarter. Mctaggart missed the front end of a one and one but got his own rebound as he caught the Phoenix sleeping. That was followed by Kolbe Ashe hitting two free throws to make the score 72-66, which was the final score after a missed final shot by Prep.
Kolbe Ashe hits a smooth step back jumper.
Hayesville Notable Individual Stats:
Jake Mctaggart 32 points, 14 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 blocks
Ethan Hooper 16 points 4-6 from Three, 4 assists
Kolbe Ashe 11 points, 4 assists
Logan Caldwell 9 points
Hayesville will now play in the state championship on Saturday, March 12th, at NC State in Reynolds Coliseum. The Yellow Jackets will play Chatham Charter at 5:00 PM.
Game Highlights:
Interviews:
ELITE Yellow Jackets Win in ELITE 8
Hayesville Basketball, Sports, Team FYN Sports, TeamFYNSports March 2, 2022
The Hayesville Yellow Jackets played in an Elite 8 for the first time since their 2011-2012 season. The last time the Yellow Jackets went this far it ended in a loss, but not last night. Hayesville showed some nerves early but after the first quarter and the team settled down some, Hayesville would control the game. With three players scoring over 18 points the Yellow Jackets would win comfortably 81-62.
Asher Brown forces the loose ball with great defense.
1st Half:
Hayesville struggled with turnovers in the first quarter which allowed Thomasville to keep things close and have a few narrow leads. The Yellow Jackets had a strong finish to the quarter though to take back the lead 21-16. Hayesville has had huge second quarters throughout the playoff and Tuesday night was no different. The Yellow Jackets limited Thomasville to just 11 second-quarter points. While scoring 23 points of their own, Hayesville was able to take a stranglehold on the game. The Yellow Jackets watched their narrow single-digit lead grow to 44-27 at the half. Not only that a Logan Caldwell three right before the buzzer gave Hayesville every bit of momentum going into the halftime break.
2nd Half:
The Yellow Jackets did nothing to give away their big lead in the third quarter. Give credit to the Bulldogs of Thomasville though, they had their highest-scoring quarter of the night in an attempt to make a comeback. Even with the Bulldogs scoring 19 in the quarter Hayesville answered and then some every single time though. The Yellow Jackets would score 24 points in the quarter to stretch their lead to 22 points. Up big in the fourth quarter Hayesville would cruise to victory, Thomasville would outscore Hayesville for the first quarter all night but with such a significant lead it would not matter. Hayesvilles student section ended the game chanting “FINAL FOUR, FINAL FOUR” as the Yellow Jackets won 81-62.
Kolbe Ashe breaks down the Bulldog defense.
Leading Scorers for Hayesville:
Jake Mctaggart 28 points
Logan Caldwell 20 points
Kolbe Ashe 18 points
Hayesville will now play in the final four hosted at a neutral site against Winston Salem Prep Academy on Saturday. The neutral site has been Designated as AC Reynolds High School in Asheville. The game will be played at 6:00 PM this Saturday.
Interview with Hayesville Head Coach Michael Cottrell:
Kolbe Ashe & Jake Mctaggart Interview:
Hayesville Dominates in Sweet 16 Advancing to the Elite 8
Hayesville Basketball, Sports, Team FYN Sports, TeamFYNSports February 26, 2022
This season, the Hayesville Yellow Jackets are a team on a mission, especially in the playoffs. Anyone that gets in the way is simply getting run over tonight. Carolina International was the unfortunate opponent in the way. What happened? They got ran over; the Yellow Jackets made a statement winning their sweet sixteen matchup 83-47. Hayesville will now move on to the elite eight, hosting Thomasville next Tuesday.
Landon Hughes brings the ball up the floor for the Yellow Jackets.
1st Half:
Hayesville and Carolina International went back and forth in the game’s early minutes. Hayesville’s scoring was spread out, with each of the starting five scoring in the first quarter. Kolbe Ashe was the last one to get a bucket, but it was a big one as he hit a huge three as time expired in the first quarter. It doubled Hayesvilles lead to up six leading 20-14 going into the second quarter. Carolina Internation hung around for the first half of the quarter, but the Yellow Jackets finished the half on a huge run. Kyle Lunsford came into the game with about four minutes left in the half. He made his presence known, scoring a lightning-quick ten points to help Hayesville get their lead to double digits. Lunsford’s big buckets helped Hayesville take total control going into halftime leading 42-27.
Jacob Mcclure surveys the CIS defense.
2nd Half:
Hayesville’s defense was incredible on the night, and Carolina International’s usually potent offense never got it going. Their frustration was evident, and the points that they usually get easily weren’t so on this night. In the third quarter, Hayesville’s defense really clamped down to put the game away. They only gave up seven points in the third quarter, couple that with Kolbe Ashe’s four third quarters three’s, and it was ball game over. With a 60-34 lead going into the fourth quarter, it was just a matter of letting the last eight minutes run off the clock. Even with a big lead, the Yellow Jackets extended it even more in the fourth quarter, getting some good minutes from several reserves. Hayesville would finish the game-winning 83-47 and await an elite eight matchup with Thomasville.
Hayesville Leading Scorers:
Kolbe Ashe 20 points
Jake Mctaggart 19 points
Kyle Lunsford 14 points
Ethan Hooper 10 points
Logan Caldwell 8 points
Hayesville Head Coach Michael Cottrell Postgame Interview:
Yellow Jackets Dominate in 2nd Round
Hayesville Basketball, Sports, Team FYN Sports, TeamFYNSports February 25, 2022
The Hayesville Yellow Jackets once again showed why they are the #1 seed in the NCHSAA boys basketball playoffs. An excellent Corvian team came to town Thursday riding a 12 game win streak but couldn’t come close to matching Hayesvilles’s effort. The Yellow Jackets were in total control of the game for all four quarters and wouldn’t be denied the opportunity to continue their playoff run. While things got a little chippy with multiple technicals on Corvian, Hayesville kept their cool, winning 84-59.
Kolbe Ashe disects the Corvian defense.
1st Half:
Hayesville Jake Mctaggart came out looking like a man possessed to start the game. He wanted to make sure that Corvian felt his presence, and boy did they. They had no answer for him as he dominated inside and splashed in a couple of long-range threes as well. His 12 first-quarter points helped Hayesville establish a 22-16 lead by the end of the first quarter. In the second quarter, Hayesville’s defense, as it has all year, frustrated Corvian to no end. Only allowing seven points helped Hayesville stretch their lead to double digits. Going into the halftime break, the Yellow Jackets had all the momentum leading 38-23.
2nd Half:
While Mctaggart dominated the first half, Kolbe Ashe did the same in the second half, leaving zero chance for a Corvian comeback. Hayesville’s star point guard led the way with 22 second-half points as a part of his 31 points on the night. Ashe’s scoring total was aided by six technical free throws that he made each one of. While Corvians frustration got the best of them as the team had four technicals on the night. Two of those were on their assistant coaches, which resulted in their head coach being ejected. Hayesville did well, though, keeping their cool and not letting Corvian’s poor display of sportsmanship impact their play. Hayesville’s four-quarter effort helps them advance to the third round of the playoffs after their 84-59 win.
Kyle Lunsford finishes strong inside for two points.
Hayesville Leading Scorers:
Kolbe Ashe 31 points
Jake Mctaggart 26 points
Ethan Hooper 8 points
Logan Caldwell 7 points
Asher Brown 6 points
Kyle Lunsford 6 points
Hayesville will be at home again for their third-round game, hosting #9 seed Carolina International. Game time is set for 6 pm and is being broadcast live on fyntv.com.
Hayesville Interviews Kolbe Ashe, Jake Mctaggart, and Head Coach Mike Cottrell:
Carolina International Coach Bell Interview Previewing Saturday’s Game:
Hayesville Cruises in 1st Round Playoff Win
Hayesville Basketball, Sports, Team FYN Sports, TeamFYNSports February 23, 2022
Hayesville was back to 0-0 in the record books, or that is at least what many would say when a team starts the playoffs. Throw away the records because it is win or go home in the playoffs. The Yellow Jackets looked very familiar to the team we saw go 22-0 in the regular season. Hayesville hosted Starmount in the 1st round of the NCHSAA basketball playoffs and won comfortably. Hayesville was well balanced, with eight players contributing six points or more en route to their 85-49 win.
Taylor McClure surveys the defense.
1st Half:
The Yellow Jackets got off to a good start and started the game on a 7-0 run forcing a Starmount timeout. The Rams put the timeout to good use and started to get back into the game a little. At one point, Starmount cut the Hayesville lead down to just two points but would never get in closer than that. Hayesville ended the quarter with a 19-15 lead. The second quarter saw a lot of back-and-forth action. Yet as the quarter started to wind down, Hayesville extended their lead out to up 18 points once again though a few buckets by the Rams brought it down to where Hayesville led 39-25 at halftime.
2nd Half:
Hayesville came out of the half and had a few miscues that allowed Starmount to cut the lead to 11 points. Yet, at this point, Hayesville would take total control and run the Rams out of the gym. Hayesville’s patented fast break gave Starmount problems all night, capped off with a 26 point third quarter. Giving Hayesville a 65-37 lead going into the fourth quarter, the Yellow Jackets would cruise to victory. It was also good to see that as many Yellow Jacket reserves got into the game, they increased the lead even more against Starmount’s starters. Not only that, Seth Hedden gave the crowd a show late in the game, throwing down a big dunk in traffic to cap the game off. Hayesville’s 85-49 win advances them to the second round of the NCHSAA playoffs.
Kolbe Ashe sets up the Yellow Jacket offense.
Hayesville Leading Scorers:
Kolbe Ashe 17 Points
Jake Mctaggart 17 points
Ethan Hooper 10 points
Logan Caldwell 9 points
Asher Brown 6 points
Taylor McClure 6 points
Isaac Chandler 6 points
Kyle Lunsford 6 points
The Yellow Jackets will next play in the second round of the NCHSAA playoffs at home, hosting the Corvian community school Cardinals. Corvian won their first-round game 59-45 as the #17 seed playing at #16 Mountain Heritage. The scheduled game time is 6:30 PM. If you can’t make it to the game to watch it in person, tune in to fyntv.com as we will be carrying live coverage of the game.
Interview with Corvian Head Coach Demond Wilson:
Yellow Jackets Dominate in SMC Tournament Final
Hayesville Basketball, Sports, Team FYN Sports, TeamFYNSports February 19, 2022
On Friday night, the Hayesville Yellow Jackets had a tough matchup in the SMC tournament final. The Yellow Jackets were matched up with Swain, and it was the fourth time they have played already this season. Their first matchup at Hayesville went to overtime, with the Yellow Jackets pulling it out. Then the last two matchups at Swain saw the Yellow Jackets pull away to win by 25 or more each time. This was their third straight game at Swain, and just like the previous two, Hayesville proved to be too much, winning comfortably 77-54.
Logan Caldwell nails a free throw.
1st Half:
The game started a little slow, with each team feeling their way into the game. Hayesville got to an early 8-0 lead as Swain could not get anything to fall against the tough Yellow Jacket defense early in the first quarter. The Maroon Devils, though, would battle back and decrease the lead by the end of the quarter trailing 14-10. The second quarter was all Hayesville as the Yellow Jackets proved why they are the #1 team in all of 1A North Carolina. Hayesville would score 26 points in the quarter, led by Jake Mctaggart, who had an incredible 18 points in the quarter. Swain had no answer for Mctaggart, who was scoring from all three levels—draining several long threes, hitting fade-away jumpers, and finishing strong inside. This led the Yellow Jackets to have a 40-24 lead going into halftime.
2nd Half:
Hayesville would come out in the third quarter and leave no doubt pulling away from Swain. The Yellow Jackets had another big scoring quarter led by Kolbe Ashe, who had eight points in the quarter. He got plenty of help, too, as five Yellow Jackets scored in the quarter. By the time the fourth quarter started, Hayesville was leading by 26 and would cruise to a comfortable victory. The Yellow Jackets were in complete control for four quarters. With Swain for the fourth time this year unable to find a way to slow down the Yellow Jackets. Hayesville went on to win 77-54 to stay undefeated going into the NCHSAA playoffs.
Asher Brown finishes strong at the rim on the drive.
Hayesville Leading Scorers:
Jake Mctaggart 26 points
Kolbe Ashe 17 points
Logan Caldwell 12 points
Ethan Hooper 9 points
Asher Brown 8 points
Postgame Quotes from Hayesville Head Coach Michael Cottrell:
- “I think Swain is an excellent team, and anytime you can beat a team like that on their home court, it helps you going into the playoffs. A really solid win for us.”
- Asked about earning the #1 seed for playoffs: “We have to take it one game at a time; there are a lot of quality teams in 1A this year. It is going to be a tough road, but these guys are playing really well right now so we will see.”
Ethan Hooper leads the Hayesville fastbreak.
Hayesville will next play tentatively on Tuesday, February 22nd, in the first round of the NCHSAA playoffs. Coaches from both teams can always agree to play the game a day earlier. Stay tuned to the TeamFYNSports Twitter and Facebook pages. We will have all the playoff updates and schedules and times as soon as we find out from the state and local teams.
Hayesville Boys Battle Adversity to Advance to SMC Finals
Hayesville Basketball, Sports, Team FYN Sports, TeamFYNSports February 15, 2022
The Hayesville Yellow Jackets faced some adversity Monday night with some difficult refereeing. Foul trouble plagued Yellow Jacket star Kolbe Ashe and had him at his season-low in minutes against good competition. Hayesville battled for four quarters, though, and even without their star point guard for much of the game, found a win. A big night from fellow star Jake Mctaggart powered the Yellow Jackets to their 66-51 win over Andrews to earn a chance at the conference tournament title.
Logan Caldwell floats through traffic while making a perfect pass.
1st Half:
The game started with Kolbe Ashe getting three fouls in about the first two minutes. This sent him to the bench with several questionable calls on him. Yet the Yellow Jackets, even without Ashe, found a way to maintain their lead. Guys like Asher Brown, Kyle Lunsford, and Logan Caldwell stepped up without Ashe on the court. This allowed Jake Mctaggart enough room inside to do some major damage, with the Wildcats not having anyone who could match up with him. It was a low-scoring first half, but it saw Hayesville take a 26-22 lead into the halftime break.
2nd Half:
Hayesville was able to keep their lead while they waited for Ashe to get back on the court. Once he did a little over halfway into the third quarter, it spelled doom for Andrews. With Hayesville still holding the lead and getting Ashe back, the whole tone of the game changed. Ashe and Mctaggart combined for 29 points in the second half matching the Wildcat’s entire second half scoring by themselves. With Ashe’s return and his combination with Mctaggart left Andrews behind in the fourth quarter, winning 66-51 to advance to the SMC tournament final.
Jake Mctaggart slams one down against Andrews.
Hayesville Leading Scorers:
Jake Mctaggart 27 points
Kolbe Ashe 14 points
Asher Brown 11 points
Hayesville Head Coach Michael Cottrell Quotes:
“I thought it was good for us as a team; we need to play those games right now, so nothing surprises us in the state tournament.”
“Our team is weathered. We have had a few like this. We had to do it without Kolbe on the floor for a long stretch. It was uncomfortable for me, it was uncomfortable for the team, it showed a little, but we held the lead and did some good things.”
Hayesville will play in the conference tournament final Friday, February 18th, against the winner of tonight’s Swain, Robbinsville game. 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
Ashe and Mctaggart Lead the Way in Big Senior Night Win
Hayesville Basketball, Sports, Team FYN Sports, TeamFYNSports February 9, 2022
The Hayesville Yellow Jacket boys team made history on Friday night. It was senior night, and Hayesville honored Kolbe Ashe and Jake Mctaggart in a pregame ceremony. Shortly after that, the game tipped off, and the two seniors put on a show in their final regular-season game at Hayesville. The Yellow Jackets were in control the entire game and beat Robbinsville comfortably 61-39. The victory makes them the first boys team in Smoky Mountain Conference history to go undefeated in two straight regular seasons.
1st Half:
The Yellow Jackets and Robbinsville went back and forth for the first few minutes of the game. The pace was a little slower than expected, but each team was easing their way into the game. Hayesville would close a little stronger, leading 11-6 going into the second quarter. At this point, Hayesville would start to force their will on their opponent and start to build their lead. A solid close to the quarter, including a Jake Mctaggart dunk, would give Hayesville a 27-16 lead at halftime.
Kolbe Ashe makes a strong finish at the rim.
2nd Half:
The story of the night had to be the Hayesville defense holding Robbinsville to no more than 12 points in a single quarter. Hayesville’s offense has seen hotter shooting nights, but their defense was as strong as we have seen it all year. Combined with the Yellow Jacket rebounding effort, the Black Knights had no chance at a comeback. Then came the fourth quarter, where the seniors Mctaggart and Ashe put on a show for the home crowd. Ashe was a wizard dribbling the ball and made several great passes that led to jaw-dropping dunks by Mctaggart. That momentum was too much to overcome for Robbinsville as Hayesville would secure their undefeated season, winning 61-39.
Hayesville Leading Scorers:
Jake Mctaggart 25 points
Kolbe Ashe 12 points
Interviews:
Ashe and Mctaggart Highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUu_ZmYejYU
Boys Conference Tournament Bracket.
The Yellow Jackets will next play in the conference tournament as the one seed, taking on the winner of the four/five seed game between Andrews and Murphy. This conference tournament game will take place at Swain, this year’s tournament host, with this matchup happening on Monday, February 14th. 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
Hayesville Wins Big Over Cherokee
Hayesville Basketball, Sports, Team FYN Sports, TeamFYNSports February 8, 2022
The Hayesville Yellow Jackets boys team gave the home crowd plenty of excitement on Monday night. Taking on Cherokee for the second game in a row, the Braves put a scare into the Yellow Jackets in the first half. Cherokee held a first-quarter lead and carried it into the second quarter. Hayesville would dominate the second half and put the Braves away fairly easily, winning 70-46.
1st Half:
The Yellow Jackets looked to be off to the races early, grabbing a 5-0 lead to start the game. The Braves fought back quickly, though, going on a 16-5 run from that point to take a 16-10 lead in the game. Cherokee shot the ball very well and would close the quarter leading 19-12. However, Hayesville would not back down and came out in the second quarter and started to chip away at the Cherokee lead. Yet each time Hayesville would tie it up or take a slight lead, Cherokee would answer right back. An incredible drive and kick from Kolbe Ashe to Logan Caldwell for three at the buzzer gave Hayesville a 33-30 lead going into halftime.
Hayesville’s Asher Brown knocks down a free throw.
2nd Half:
The second half was a different story as Cherokee’s hot shooting start didn’t carry over from the first half. At the same time, Hayesville started to force their will and dictate the game on their terms. It seemed like every time you looked up, Hayesville had increased their lead a little more. Hayesville got some pretty balanced scoring from their team with four players in double figures and also hit ten three-pointers on the night. By the time the fourth quarter came to a close, the Yellow Jackets had taken care of business, winning 70-46.
Leading Scorers:
Ethan Hooper 18 points
Kolbe Ashe 17 points
Jake Mctaggart 11 points
Kyle Lunsford 10 points
Postgame interview with Ethan Hooper:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XxeZDCHuYs
The Yellow Jackets will next play on Tuesday, February 8th, hosting the Robbinsville Black Knights. This is the final regular-season game for the Yellow Jackets. The game on Tuesday 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
Yellow Jackets Stifle the Braves
Hayesville Basketball, Sports, Team FYN Sports, TeamFYNSports February 4, 2022
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
Hayesville Boys Wins Crazy Game at Swain
Hayesville Basketball, Sports, Team FYN Sports, TeamFYNSports February 3, 2022
The Hayesville boys basketball team’s incredible ride continues as the Yellow Jackets beat Swain Tuesday evening. It was an insane environment playing at Swain with multiple adult and student fans from Swain getting thrown out of the game. One of Swain’s best players also got two technicals resulting in his ejection. Hayesville championship composure showed through as the Yellow Jackets remained calm, cool, and collected. This allowed the Yellow Jackets to run away with the game in the second half, winning 80-55.
Kolbe Ashe directs the Hayesville offense.
1st Quarter:
Hayesville got out to a great start taking an early lead in the first quarter, stretching their lead out to 7-0. However, it did not last for long as Swain took control in the middle part of the quarter and forced several turnovers. This allowed the Maroon Devils to take the lead, stretching it as large as seven points. The Maroon Devils would never have a larger lead than this. Two back-to-back threes, including one at the buzzer by Kolbe Ashe, gave Hayesville the lead back at the end of the quarter 22-20.
2nd Quarter:
Swain would take another lead back early in the quarter but never stretch it out by more than two points. The two teams would go back and forth for much of the quarter, with things getting a little crazy at the end of the quarter. With about three minutes left in the quarter, Hayesvilles Logan Caldwell tried to save a ball as it was going out of bounds. He was then shoved by a Swain student from their student section. Nothing was called, but there was a scrum for the ball at half court a few moments later. Caldwell was shoved well after the whistle by Swains Donnavin Groenewold. He was assessed a technical, and from this point forward, Hayesville controlled the rest of the quarter and really the rest of the game.
Logan Caldwell hits a corner three pointer.
2nd Half:
Hayesville started the quarter with a 36-30 lead but quickly built their lead, which forced Swain to call a timeout. As the timeout was called, Groenewold got near the ref and apparently said something the official did not like. He was assessed his second technical of the night, which ejected him from the game. Swain could not get much of anything going offensively without their star guard from that point forward. Hayesville forced their will from that point forward, winning 80-55.
Game Notes:
- Kolbe Ashe and Jake McTaggart look every bit of the star duo Hayesville fans have come to expect. They combined for 50 points, almost outscoring all of Swain by themselves. With each player having won an SMC player of the year in their career, they might be in a two-man race for the award this year.
- The frustration from the Swain team and fanbase was evident; Swain gave Hayesville their best shot before their star’s ejection. Yet even before the ejection, their best shot was not good enough to beat Hayesville.
- Having overheard one Hayesville fan comment after the game saying, “this is what a #1 team in the state looks like.”
Hayesville Unofficial stats:
Kolbe Ashe 27 points
Jake Mctaggart 23 points, 24 rebounds, 5 blocks
Postgame Quote from Hayesville Head Coach Michael Cottrell:
“Quality win on the road in a tough environment, a late-season win like that shows we are maturing. I am excited about the next few games.”
The Yellow Jackets will next play on Friday, February 3rd, at Cherokee. The game on Friday 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
Hayesville’s Kolbe Ashe Breaks State Record
Hayesville Basketball, Sports, Team FYN Sports, TeamFYNSports January 30, 2022
Hayesville’s Kolbe Ashe has had one of the best careers in Smoky Mountain Conference history. His ability to perform in the clutch and lead his team to countless victories will never be forgotten. This past Friday night in a 77-50 win over rival Murphy Ashe permanently etched his name into the records books.
Ashe was fouled driving towards the hoop with 1.9 seconds left in the second quarter of Friday night’s game. Going to the free-throw line, Ashe made the first free throw which was his 54th consecutive made free throw tying a state record. The record was set at 54 straight all the way back in 1956 by Richard Hauser of Westfield and was tied in 1988 by Tony King of Clyde A. Erwin.
Kolbe Ashe then made the second of his two attempts to break the state record. Ashe would get fouled again early in the third quarter to put him back at the free-throw line. He would make the first but miss the second free-throw to end his streak setting the state record at 56 straight made free throws.
Ashe had some pretty incredible games throughout the streak, and to make the streak even better, each game of it resulted in a win. Here is a list of Ashes’ free-throw performances throughout the streak.
The Streak:
12/3/21: 5-6 FT in a 53-49 win over Tallulah Falls
12/10/21: 1-1 FT in a 59-26 win over Highlands
12/13/21: 2-2 FT in a 81-41 win over Hiwassee Dam
12/17/21: 4-4 FT in a 58-55 win over Murphy
12/28/21: 2-2 FT in a 75-37 win over Mtn Heritage
12/29/21: 15-15 FT in a 86-58 win over Swain
12/30/21: 6-6 FT in a 64-40 win over Hiwassee Dam
1/7/22: 12-12 FT in a 51-45 win over Robbinsville
1/11/22: 2-2 FT in a 95-54 win over Hiwassee Dam
1/28/22:3-4 FT in a 77-50 win over Murphy
Highlight of all 56 made free throws:
https://youtu.be/U5-E6buy4ko
Hayesville Handles Murphy at Home for Season Sweep
Hayesville Basketball, Sports, Team FYN Sports, TeamFYNSports January 29, 2022
The Hayesville Yellow Jackets continue their incredible run of the play that has lasted for almost two seasons now. The Yellow Jackets defended home court last night against rival Murphy. It was a special night in Hayesville as the Yellow Jackets retired Zach Cottrell’s jersey. After the ceremony between the boys and girls games, the Yellow Jackets boys team took the floor. They made Cottrell proud, who now serves as an assistant coach by beating their county line rivals 77-50.
Jersey Retirement:
Hayesville honored Zach Cottrell for his outstanding playing career, both as a Yellow Jacket and collegiately. Arguably the best boys player in Smoky Mountain Conference history, Cottrell is the only player to win the SMC Conference Player of the Year award four times. Cottrell was also four-time NCPreps all-state and NCHSAA all-state three times. Cottrell scored 1978 career points and, at the time of his graduation, was the program’s all-time leading scorer to go along with 976 career rebounds. Throughout his playing career, Cottrell led his team to four consecutive conference championships.
1st Half:
Once the action started shortly after the jersey retirement ceremony, the Yellow Jackets played one of their best games of the season. Hayesville’s offense was dominant, and no matter what the Bulldogs tried to do defensively, the Yellow Jackets had the answer. Give credit to Murphy point guard Dillian Brown who single-handedly kept the Bulldogs within reach for most of the 1st half with 17 points and 15 coming in the 2nd quarter alone.
Yet his big first-half performance was surpassed by Hayesvilles Jake Mctaggart, who had 19 first-half points, including 3-3 from three-point range. The difference was outside of those two outstanding first-half performances, Mctaggarts teammates also scored quite a bit as well as three other Yellow Jackets had seven or more first-half points. By the halftime horn, Hayesville led 44-28.
2nd Half:
Murphy, who let a 20+ point lead slip away the night before, had thoughts of a similar comeback against Hayesville. The Yellow Jackets quickly shut down any thoughts of a Bulldog comeback. The sting of the Yellow Jackets was more potent than the Bulldogs bite on this night. Hayesville held Murphy to just five third-quarter points, and the game was out of reach in the opening moments of the third quarter. Going on to win 77-50 Hayesville stays undefeated and comes up with a regular-season sweep over their rivals.
Hayesville Leading Scorers:
Jake Mctaggart 29 points
Ethan Hooper 11 points
Kolbe Ashe 10 points
Logan Caldwell 10 points
Kyle Lunsford 8 points
Postgame Interview with Jake Mctaggart:
Be aware Hayesville fans, the Yellow Jackets game today against Franklin has been postponed/canceled. The Yellow Jackets will next play on Tuesday, February 1st, in a critical conference matchup at Swain. 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/teamfynsports
Yellow Jackets Dominate Hiwassee Dam
Hayesville Basketball, Sports, TeamFYNSports January 13, 2022
The Hayesville Yellow Jackets continued their fantastic undefeated run, winning a non-conference game Tuesday night. They traveled to play at Hiwassee Dam, a notoriously tough home court gym. The Yellow Jackets held a slight lead for the first half but blew it wide open in the second half. Hayesville would go on to win 95-54 and beat the Eagles for the third time this season.
Isaac Chandler makes a free throw.
1st Half:
As mentioned, the first half was close with Hiwassee Dam as the Eagles shot better than typical in the first half. Yet as mentioned, Hiwassee Dam has one of the better home-court advantages in the entire state and always has incredible community support regardless of record. In the first half, Hayesville also struggled with foul trouble and had several starters on the bench with two fouls. At one point, Hayesville led by as little as eight with about three minutes in the second quarter. A solid run to end the half, though, would give the Yellow Jackets a 50-33 at halftime.
2nd Half:
Hayesville would come out in the second half, tighten the defensive screws, and have their way with the Eagles. Hayesville’s offense was nearly unstoppable all night as they scored a season-high 95 points. Hayesville had seven players with over 7-points and an excellent balanced team effort. The Yellow Jackets also had nine three-pointers made with a team-high three from the corner sniper Asher Brown. Hayesville would go on to win in an utterly dominating fashion 95-54.
Taylor McClure drills one from three point range.
Leading Hayesville Scorers:
Jake McTaggart 24 points
Kolbe Ashe 18 points
Asher Brown 13 Points
Jacob McClure 10 points
Taylor McClure 9 points
Cade Denton 8 points
Kyle Lunsford 7 points
Postgame Interview with Jake McTaggart:
Up Next:
FYI for fans of Hayesville, the home games scheduled on Friday with Franklin have been postponed. The Hayesville Yellow Jackets will next play at Blue Ridge on Tuesday, January 18th, in a non-conference matchup. 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/teamfynsports
Hayesville Win Top 10 Matchup in OT
Hayesville Basketball, Sports, Team FYN Sports, TeamFYNSports December 22, 2021
On Tuesday night, the Hayesville Yellow Jackets hosted the Swain Maroon Devils in a primetime matchup. These two teams are the presumptive top two teams in the conference, and they played like it. Regulation was simply not enough as the two teams fought incredibly hard all night. In overtime, Hayesville dominated and quickly put the game away, winning 68-57.
1st Quarter:
The Yellow Jackets and Maroon Devils both started slowly, with each only having a few possessions over the first three minutes. Neither team was pushing the pace, and both were feeling their way into the game. Hayesville scored first and wouldn’t relinquish the lead all quarter. Led by Jake Mctaggart, who had five first-quarter points, Haysville would lead 11-10 at the end of the 1st quarter.
Junior Ethan Hooper makes a free throw.
2nd Quarter:
The pace would quicken in the second quarter, with both teams starting to find their scoring groove. In the quarter, the Yellow Jackets would get two huge threes from Ethan Hooper. Hooper has struggled with his shot at times this year but appeared to break out of the mini-slump. He had some clutch moments for Hayesville on the night. Hayesville would stretch their lead out to almost double digits in the quarter. However, it all changed when Asher Brown picked up his second foul, putting him on the bench. He had been guarding Donnavin Groenewold, who was scoreless to that point. He would immediately go on a solo 8-0 run to pull Swain close. Going into halftime, Hayesville would lead 28-24.
3rd Quarter:
Hayesville would be ice cold in the third quarter. Arctic cold scoring a season-low five points in the third quarter. Swain would get up as many as six in the quarter. Thankfully Taylor McClure would hit a big three as time expired in the third quarter. This would pull Hayesville within three, trailing 36-33 going into the fourth quarter.
Senior Kolbe Ashe makes a beautiful pull up jumper.
4th Quarter:
The Yellow Jackets would come out firing in the third quarter and quickly regain the lead. The Yellow Jackets would score more points in the first 40 seconds of the fourth quarter than they did the entire third quarter. In the quarter, Hayesville would get six points from Kolbe Ashe, eight from Mctaggart, who also had a highlight-reel dunk in traffic. It looked like those two would help Hayesville secure a tight victory. Swain, though would make a miracle bank shot three as time expired. This would force overtime.
Overtime:
The overtime period was all Hayesville. Hayesville head coach Michael Cottrell said, “overtime showed a glimpse of the type of team we can be.” Hayesville cruised to victory, scoring 15 in the four-minute overtime period. Winning the game 68-57, Hayesville stays undefeated on the season.
Junior Logan Caldwell makes a big corner three.
Postgame Q&A with Hayesville Head Coach Michael Cottrell:
Q: Tell us your thoughts on the game; they hit a big bank shot three to force overtime?
A: Yes, they did, and you know we usually come up with that rebound; that’s what we do is come up with big plays. We didn’t, though, and they hit a tough shot. I like the way we won; I like going into overtime, taking over the game, and playing like we are capable of.
Q: Your not an excuse maker, and you’re through a tough stretch with a bit of break coming up. Your team, though, has been sick with lots of kids getting over the flu, some have missed games, and one missed the game tonight and have had a starter injured. With a lot of your guys not 100%, what does it say about your team to be able to win three games in five days?
A: We have learned a lot about our team right now; we have had a lot of adversity and have not had our whole team together all year. I look forward to having our entire team back soon; Kyle Lunsford has been hurt all year. He is close to back. We’re hopeful we will get some minutes out of him at the Christmas tournament, get him some small minutes, and work him back in. Logan Caldwell was very sick with that flu, and it takes some time to get your stamina back. Our team has shown a lot of character. I am really pleased it’s kind of what they did during the summertime, too; it has become an identity for us, we’re going to gut it out with you, and we’re not afraid to do that.
Interview with Junior Guard Ethan Hooper:
Game Highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O20nB0cHjYE
The Yellow Jackets’ next play starting the Swain Christmas tournament on Tuesday, December 28th. To get updates or see how the Yellow Jackets have done, tune in to all the latest FYN sports coverage on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and at https://claync.fetchyournews.com/category/teamfynsports
Yellow Jackets Cruise to Victory Over Blue Ridge
Hayesville Basketball, Sports, Team FYN Sports, TeamFYNSports December 20, 2021
The Hayesville Yellow Jackets boys basketball team hosted the Blue Ridge Bobcats for the second time this season. It is odd to see two teams play three times in a year, but because of Nantahalla’s lack of a boys team this year, both teams found themselves looking for an extra game. This matchup was very similar to the first, as Hayesville dominated every quarter, winning 68-18.
Junior Ethan Hooper lines up a three.
1st Half Recap:
As mentioned, Hayesville was able to force their will from the opening tip. The Yellow Jackets got started quickly, with every player getting into the game in the first quarter. Six of those players scored in the first quarter as Hayesville had a balanced attack. This allowed them to lead 27-7 at the end of the first quarter. Hayesville’s defense got even tighter in the second quarter, only allowing two measly points. While the offense put up 21 points and at halftime, Hayesville led 48-9.
2nd Half Recap:
The Yellow Jackets would continue their domination in the second half. Scoring on their first possession would put Hayesville up by over 40 and start the running clock. This made the second half move very quickly. Every single Yellow Jacket would score in this game, with six different players having over seven points. The highlight of the second half was the end of the 4th quarter when Junior Seth Hedden threw down a tomahawk dunk that brought the bench and crowd to their feet. Those were the game’s last points, as Hayesville would win 68-18.
Junior Seth Hedden getting warmed up, attacking the rim.
Hayesville Leading Scorers:
Landon Hughes 12 points
Seth Hedden 10 points
Jacob McClure 9 points
Cade Denton 9 points
Ethan Hooper 8 points
Kolbe Ashe 7 points
The Yellow Jackets’ next play is on Tuesday, December 21st, when they host the Swain Maroon Devils (the game will be live on fyntv.com). To get updates or see how the Yellow Jackets have done, tune in to all the latest FYN sports coverage on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and at https://claync.fetchyournews.com/category/teamfynsports