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DeGraffenreid scores 37 as SM downs Erwin
Cetera DeGraffenreid scored 36 points powering Smoky Mountain to a 65-55 non-conference basketball victory over Erwin on Dec. 27 at the SM gym.
Amy Haggard added 17 for the Lady Mustangs.
Erwin’s Whitney Ferguson scored 13 points, and Brooke Maloy had 10.
Smoky Mountain’s Ashley Robinson takes the ball to the basket in last week’s 65-55 win over Erwin. – Herald photo by Carey Phillips
“We had good offensive execution most of the game,” Coach Cindi Simmons said. “During a key stretch late in the first half, it was our defense that got us going. We did a good job shutting down Erwin’s perimeter players.”
The Lady Warriors got off to a fast start as Maloy’s three-pointer capped a 9-2 run for an 11-4 advantage with 3:41 to go in the opening period.
Three-pointers by Haggard and Ashley Coggins fueled a 10-2 spurt as SM took its first lead, 14-13, at the 2:18 mark.
Courtney Davis’ free throw with 5.4 seconds on the clock gave Erwin a 19-18 edge at the quarter break.
The second stanza produced nine lead changes until the Lady Mustangs reeled off the half’s final 11 points, including eight by DeGraffenreid, for a 39-29 lead.
DeGraffenreid hit a trio of three-pointers along with a three-point play in the third quarter, which ended with SM on top 54-46.
The game’s biggest lead was 65-49 with 1:46 to play following nine unanswered points, including six by DeGraffenreid.
DeGraffenreid hit 13 field goals, including four three-pointers, and six foul shots. Haggard made eight of 11 field goals, including a trey.
Coggins finished with six points, Ashley Robinson scored four and Brandi Anders had two.
DeGraffenreid pulled down 12 rebounds and handed out seven assists.
In addition to being the leading scorers, DeGraffenreid and Haggard were recognized for winning the Hammer Award for hustle stats.
“Cetera and Amy both had solid performances,” Simmons said.
The Lady Mustang JVs lost their first game of the season 48-43. They were up 10 points in the third period before Erwin scored 12 in a row.
“We were a little flat and missed a lot of layups,” Coach Ollin Dunford said. “If we had made half of them, we wouldn’t have been in that spot. We stepped up at the end, but there just wasn’t enough time.”
SM led at quarter breaks by scores of 15-7, 25-20 and 33-27.
Cayla Cucumber scored 13 points.
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