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DeGraffenreid scores 36 points as Lady Mustangs defeat Erwin
Trying to defend Smoky Mountain guard Cetera DeGraffenreid can literally be hazardous to your health.
That's what two Erwin players found out the hard way Friday when they collided as DeGraffenreid slipped through a double team in the closing seconds of SM's 62-48 Mountain Athletic Conference win at Erwin.
The collision sent blood from both defenders onto the court and medical personnel to the locker room to evaluate the Lady Warriors, neither of whom was transported by an ambulance, which was called to the scene.
DeGraffenreid already had inflicted plenty of damage on Erwin as she scored a season-high 36 points to go with eight rebounds and four steals.
Teammate Kristine Webb clogged up the middle by blocking eight shots and pulling down 10 rebounds. She also came up with five steals.
The Lady Warriors were led by Brooke Maloy with 21 points and Jessica Honeycutt with 14.
"It was a good road win against a quality opponent," Coach Cindi Simmons said. "Our kids stepped up to the challenge."
Erwin held a 5-2 edge on Maloy's basket two and a half minutes into the game.
DeGraffenreid converted a three-point play, hit a three-pointer, then scored on a steal and layup – all within a span of 50 seconds – putting SM up 12-5 with 4:15 on the clock.
The Lady Warriors finished the first quarter on an 8-2 run, including four by Honeycutt, cutting the gap to 14-13.
DeGraffenreid had all but two points in an 11-2 spurt to start the second period giving the Lady Mustangs (7-2, 4-1) a 25-15 lead with 5:21 to play in the half.
The margin reached 32-19 on Webb's basket at the 1:37 mark, and it was 32-22 at intermission.
Siarra Suttles' three-point play brought Erwin within 35-29 with 3:50 to play in the third stanza.
SM regained control with a 9-2 spurt, including four by DeGraffenreid, to lead 44-31 with 23 seconds on the clock.
The lead was 44-33 entering the fourth quarter.
The game's biggest margin was 49-33 on a three-pointer by Leslie Mathis with 6:27 to play.
Erwin came no closer than 10 the rest of the game.
DeGraffenreid hit 11 of 15 field goals, including two three-pointers, and 12 of 15 foul shots.
Mathis and Ashley Coggins both finished with six points, Webb, Laury Brown and Jenna Carpenter all had four and Amy Haggard scored two.
Led by DeGraffenreid's effort, the Lady Mustangs shot 55.3 percent from the field.
"Kristine was dominant inside with her rebounding and blocks as well as her steals," Simmons said. "Cetera controlled the game from the beginning and had a tremendous performance. She shot the ball very well."
Erwin won the JV game 37-28. The Lady Warriors led at quarter breaks by scores of 12-4, 15-9 and 29-17.
Cayla Cucumber led SM (4-5) with 12 points.
"We just couldn't get a shot to fall," Coach Kim Hardy said. "We probably missed 20 shots underneath the basket. We played good defense. We rallied at the end, but we ran out of time."
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