Dustin Johnson (#22), Braves senior point guard, shoots over Hayesville’s Vance Rhyne (#10) during an away game on Friday, Jan. 30. Johnson led Cherokee with 16 points, four rebounds and a steal. (SCOTT MCKIE B.P./One Feather)
By SCOTT MCKIE B.P.
ONE FEATHER STAFF
HAYESVILLE – The Cherokee Braves (18-1) lost their first game of the season at Hayesville on Friday, Jan. 30 as the Yellow Jackets took the win 84-52. Dustin Johnson, Braves senior point guard, led Cherokee with 16 points, four rebounds and two steals.
“We got beat every way you can get beat,” said Braves head coach Willis Tullos after the game. “They (Hayesville) shot the ball extremely well. They just played a great basketball game.”
On the night, Hayesville shot 69 percent (18/26), 41 percent from three-point range (11/27) and 63 percent from the free throw line (15/24). Cherokee shot 41 percent (11/27) from the floor, 33 percent (9/27) from three-point range and 50 percent (3/6) from the free throw line.
Cherokee fell behind early trailing 11-2 at the 6:03 mark in the first period. They climbed back into it though behind three three-point shots by Jason McMillan who ended the game with 14 points. By the end of the first, Cherokee had chipped away at the lead and only trailed 25-17.
Hayesville extended its lead though in the second period outscoring the Braves 22-10 to take a 47-27 lead into the locker room.
The second half was closer with the Braves only being outscored by six points each period (19-13 in the third and 18-12 in the fourth). In the end, the Yellow Jackets took the 84-52 win.
Other Braves scorers included: Brock Powell 3, Brandt Sutton 2, Steven Straughan 3, J.J. Benjamin 4, Logan Teesateskie 6 and Eli Littlejohn 4.
Hayesville scorers included: Owen Gibson 3, Josh Cottrell 5, Vance Rhyne 11, Rich Honeycutt 5, Hunter Reaux 2, Braxton Cox 19, Tyler McClure 4, Josh Harris 4, Carc Baybee 2, Grant Arencia 9 and Zach Cottrell 20.
To view or purchase photos from this game, visit https://onefeather.smugmug.com/SPORTS/BASKETBALL/BRAVES-BASKETBALL-201415/At-Hayesville-January-30/
