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Donnavin Groenewold scored 12 points in the first half
Hannah Styles
hstyles@thesmokymountaintimes.com
Last Tuesday night, Swain basketball took on the Hayesville Yellow Jackets at home. As the number one and two ranked teams in the conference came together, there was sure to be fireworks.
Between disputable calls, ejections, and smack talk, tempers flared and several fans got escorted out of the gym that night.
Things started off looking well matched for the teams, with the teams going neck and neck until the half, but in the third quarter things blew up.
Swain fans seemed to have had enough of repeated foul calls on Swain and the lack thereof on Hayesville’s trash talking as refs seem to keep turning a blind eye to repetitive over-the-backs. One Devils fan was escorted out after apparent comments toward officials as Swain’s entire stands booed.
Swain was down five points at halftime, thanks to a 3-point buzzer beater by Hayesville.
At the end of the third quarter, Donnavin Groenewold, who had been sinking three pointers in the first half, was thrown out as he was entering the huddle during a time-out, shocking fans, who were given no reason. As Groenewold shed his jersey and vanished into the locker room, the gym roared with disapproval, as the same ref shook his finger in Coach McMahan’s face.
Later on, Cooper Hyatt got pushed by one of Hayesville’s players to which he responded and was then waved off by the ref, but Swain’s fans weren’t so calm.
The Devils’ team and coaches should be commended as they kept their cool during the game, despite rising tension between fans, coaches, and officials. The team played with dignity and gave it 110% even though fighting an uphill battle. As fouls were thrown toward Swain at every turn, it seemed as though they couldn’t breathe too close to a yellow jacket, without giving them a free foul shot.
By the beginning of the final quarter, the Jackets were ahead by 18 points, but that didn’t stop Swain from putting up a fight.
Isaiah Collins was the highest scoring player of the night with 17 points and 13 rebounds, while Groenewold scored 12 points just in the first half.
The scoreboard said otherwise with an 80-55 win for the Jackets, but in my opinion Swain is the true winner of this game, playing with heart and integrity.
Close game ends in loss
on Senior Night
Last Friday, Swain basketball teams took on the Murphy Bulldogs at home on Senior Night for two disappointing losses.
Swain started out hot against Murphy but the Bulldogs brought it back closer after the half. In the last couple seconds of the game, the Devils were leading 72-70 but Murphy broke away and ran down for a three pointer that bounced off the backboard and broke hearts as it fell through the net at the buzzer went off, ending the game with a 73-72 final for a Murphy win.
Before the game, 11 retiring seniors and their families were honored by coaches and teammates with gift bags and flowers: Carter Kirkland, Donnavin Groenewold, Taligwo Walker, Cooper Hyatt, Cameron Blankenship, Gavin Lanning, Dylan Cochran, Trevor Jones, Andrew Kitchens, Isaiah Collins, and Will Jenkins.