Gary Ayers
ayers5315@bellsouth.net
The Maroon Devils varsity boys and Lady Devils girls basketball teams traveled to Sylva Tuesday with hopes of taming a bunch of Mustangs, but Smoky Mountain had other plans as they defended their home court by winning 52-33 in the girls’ game and 88-49 in the boys’ nightcap.
The Lady Devils played a strong first-half despite several missed free throw opportunities as the teams went into the half-time locker room with Smoky holding a three-point 18-15 lead.
Multi-sport standout Carley Teesateskie had six points in the first half to keep Swain close.
Teesateskie continued to lead the Lady Devils in a tight third quarter by scoring six quick points to force a 21-21tie with 3:45 left in the quarter, but a 13-0 run by the Mustangs gave them a somewhat comfortable 34-21 lead with 7:20 to play early in the fourth quarter.
Molleigh Woodard broke the Swain scoring drought with a bucket, and Miley Teav added a field goal and two free throws to pull Swain back to within 36-27 with 5:37 to play.
Another Smoky 13-0 run put the game out of reach for the Lady Devils, with a 49-27 lead with only 3:18 left to play.
Cara Aldridge, Faith Woodard and Jayden Smiley chipped in the final Swain buckets.
The game was a physical contest, with 40 total whistles on the night as Smoky was charged with 23 fouls to the Lady Devils 17 fouls.
The Lady Devils finished the game hitting 6-18 free throws as Teesateskie led Swain with 12 points.
Swain stands at 1-3 getting ready to continue a tough early season schedule as conference play begins this Friday with Hayesville coming to Swain.
Maroon Devils
The Maroon Devil boys varsity team ran into a balanced Mustang squad who showed strong inside and outside play by jumping out to a 48-27 half-time lead they would never relinquish.
Both teams knocked down three-point field goals in the first half with the Mustangs hitting seven three-pointers and the Devils nailing four three-pointers.
Swain took the early lead, but Smoky found its rhythm for a 21-9 lead after one quarter. The Mustangs then used a 12-5 run to take a 33-14 lead with 4:40 to play in the second quarter.
Both teams showed strong offensive play in the third quarter with Smoky putting the game out of reach with a 30-18 run for a 78-45 lead after three quarters.
A 9-0 run in the fourth quarter gave Smoky an 87-45 lead on the way to victory. The Mustangs will be a strong contender in the 3-A Mountain 7 conference before likely being classified as a 5-A school in the 2025 NCHSAA realignment.
Swain was led by Jaden Wade with a strong 24 points, Druw Cody with nine, Sylas Stanberry and Owen Medline with six points each while Jon Stephenson and Zeke Glaspie chipped in two points each.
“We’re down some, but these kids have the best attitude,” said Maroon Devil Head Coach Scotty McMahan, now in his 12th year leading Swain varsity basketball. “These guys show up and work hard every day at practice, and they are a joy to coach. We’re still finding our way defensively as we get ready for conference play.”
Swain hosts Hayesville this Friday and Murphy next Tuesday in the always rugged Smoky Mountain Conference.
“Our league has so much parity as every team has its strengths, so every conference game will be tough,” said McMahan.
Not making the season easier is the loss of Drew Scaggs, an inside force at 6’-5” who is considered the best inside player in the Smoky Mountain Conference. Scaggs tore a ligament in his right foot late in the football playoff game vs. Eastern Randolph.
Scaggs, in attendance to show support for his teammates, was on crutches with his right foot in a strong brace following surgery, wants to be on the hardwood.
“I want to play, but I have to listen to my doctor during rehab that will last about 3 months,” said Scaggs. “I’d really like to make it back before the season is over.”