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Nathan Bogdanowicz goes up for a layup against Highlands
We’re coming at you this week with a full slate of Devils basketball, with the teams competing in four games in a little over a week’s time. On Friday, Jan. 21 Swain traveled to Pisgah, on Tuesday, Jan. 25 to Robbinsville, played at home on Jan. 26 versus Highlands and back on the road to Andrews on the 27th. This many games in such a short amount of time proved good for the varsity Maroon Devils but spelled some trouble for the varsity Lady Devils.
Maroon Devils
On Friday, the Swain County Maroon Devils traveled to Pisgah to compete against the Bears for a non-conference game of hoops. The first half was a nail biter with Swain trailing close behind Pisgah with 39-31. After the half the Devils came back swinging, scoring 23 points compared to the Bear’s 12 in the 3rd quarter. Scoring wise, the final quarter was the closest of the half with 19 points for Swain and 15 for the opponent, ending the game with a 73-66 win for Swain.
Highest scoring players for the Pisgah game were Donnavin Groenewold with an impressive 23 points, short of his career high of 30 points. Isaiah Collins was next with 19 points and Charlie Collins had eight points and two assists. Cooper Hyatt had six points, four assists, while Carter Kirland had five, with three assists, and Joshua Collins six points and one assist.
On Tuesday, the Robbinsville conference game gave the Devil’s a run for their money. In all four quarters it was back and forth fights, with Swain coming out on top in the first quarter with 12-7, and Robbinsville not backing down with 16-9 points in the second. After the half, Robbinsville scored 5 more points than Swain but in the final the Devils gave it all they had scoring 22 points to the Black Knight’s 16, still losing the game by one devastating point. The final score was 56-55 in favor of the Knights.
Wednesday brought back the Devil’s winning streak with a big time 59-34 win against the Highland Highlanders and another win on Thursday against the Andrews Wildcats with 65-54.
Currently, Swain has a 5-2 conference record and is ranked 2nd in the 1A West Conference behind Hayesville.
The Devils played the number one ranking, Hayesville Yellow Jackets at home on Tuesday, Feb. 1.
JV Maroon Devils
The good luck continued for the JV Maroon Devils with a 35-point win. Aiden Southards and Reese Winchester were both leading scorers of the game with 11 points each against the Black Knights. The final score was 57-22, Swain.
Highlands did not have a JV team so neither the boys nor girls teams competed against the Highlanders.
Lady Devils
In the game against Pisgah, the Swain County girls’ team lost 56-29 on Friday, Jan. 21.
On Tuesday, Jan. 25, they traveled to Robbinsville for an in-conference game where they put up a hefty fight but suffered a loss of 61-44.
The highest scoring player against the Black Knights was Amaya Hicks with an incredible 25 points, six out of 10 3-point shots taken, 10 rebounds, and four assists.
“We are continuing to improve and grow as a team on both ends of the floor. We are plagued with injuries, and we are still finding ways to compete at a high level and that’s all a coach can ask for,” Coach Joshua Griffith said.
On Wednesday, the ladies were back at home against the Highland Highlanders, where things were neck and neck until the final quarter where the girls seemed to lose steam, while Highlands powered ahead, making the final score 61-52, the closest game of the week.
Highest scoring players against the Highlanders were Amaya Hicks, Mazie Helpman, and Savana Smith all with 13 points each.
“We gave ourselves a chance throughout the game and just came up a little short. Playing a back-to-back against two good teams is always tough but I am proud of how my girls came to compete,” Coach Griffith said.
JV Lady Devils
On Tuesday, the Lady Devils JV team put a beat down on the Black Nights, winning 35-15.
Swain ran away with nine points in the first quarter without Robbinsville scoring a single point. Another impressive quarter put the Devils going into halftime with 19-3.
After the half, the Devils continued their reign over the Knights and ended the game with a 20-point lead.
The top scorer of the game was Swain’s Faith Woodard with 12 points.