Gary Ayers
ayers5315@bellsouth.net
Molleigh Woodard scored 15 second-half points to break open a tight game, and the Lady Devils avenged an earlier loss to Summit Charter by beating the Bears 49-42. The Swain County High School girls basketball team hosted the Lady Bears on Wednesday, Jan. 15.
Swain had lost to Summit a few days earlier 36-34 but turned the tables at the Swain High gym.
After leading 29-27 after three quarters, Swain briefly lost the lead as Olivia Reeves of Summit hit a 3-point shot to take a brief lead 31-30. But the Lady Devils Carley Teesateskie answered with a lay-up for a 31-30 Swain lead. Molleigh Woodard grabbed a steal and converted it into a Swain lay-up seconds later for a 33-30. But the Lady Bears weren’t finished as Reeves, a freshman, hit another 3-pointer following a Woodard free throw to keep the game tight at 34-33.
Teesateskie hit another bucket and was fouled.
After making the free throw, Swain was up 37-33.
Teesateskie, Woodard, Jayden Smiley and Faith Woodard hit the next four shots in a row and Swain had a lead they would not give back at 46-33.
Reeves hit two more 3-point shots, but free throws by Emily Stargell, Addison Blankenship and Hadley Shuler gave Swain the final score at 49-42.
The Lady Devils were led by Molleigh Woodard with 17 points, (15 in the second half), Teesateskie with a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds, and Jayden Smily with 5 points and 5 big assists.
Swain improves to 2-7 while Summit Charter is now 2-9 after a 43-38 loss to Hayesville on Friday.
Summit Charter is located in Cashiers and is the fifth smallest school in North Carolina with 82 students according to NCHSAA ADM (Average Daily Membership), slightly smaller than number six Highlands with 90 students. But Nantahala High is even smaller with 31 students, making them the third smallest school in the state.