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Simmons wins 400th game as SM takes tourney
Friday was a memorable night for members of the Smoky Mountain’s women’s basketball team, their coaches and fans at the SM gym.
Not only did the Lady Mustangs (25-0) win the Western Athletic Conference Tournament, but they also gave Coach Cindi Simmons her 400th career victory by blasting West Henderson 77-48.
Cetera DeGraffenreid scored 37 points, pulled down 10 rebounds and came up with five steals to earn Most Valuable Player honors.
She was joined on the all-tournament team by Amy Haggard and Kelli Woodard. Haggard scored 14 points while Woodard had eight points and eight rebounds.
Smoky Mountain’s Cetera DeGraffenreid was named the most valuable player of the Western Athletic Conference Tournament after scoring 37 points in Friday’s 77-48 victory over West Henderson in the finals. – Photo by Mark Haskett
West’s Lindsey Pate scored 25 points.
“We were playing a very dangerous team,” said Simmons, who noted the Lady Falcons needed a win to continue their season. “West was very motivated and had been playing well. I was proud of our team. We did a great job on the boards.”
Beating a team for the third time in a season in the conference championship game is never easy.
“It’s very special to be both regular season and tournament champions,” Simmons said. “It speaks volumes about our kids.”
She deflected praise for her coaching milestone to her players.
“It’s all about the young ladies we’ve had come through our program over the years,” Simmons said. “I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to have worked with these young ladies and the assistant coaches that have helped me through the years.”
The Lady Mustangs led all the way as DeGraffenreid scored her team’s first seven points.
A three-pointer by Tasha Junaluska made it 18-11 with 2:42 to go in the first quarter, which ended with SM leading 22-15.
Amy Haggard shoots for two of her 10 points in Smoky Mountain’s tournament semifinal win over East Henderson last week. – Herald photo by Carey Phillips
The margin never dipped below double figures after baskets by Haggard and DeGraffenreid in the opening minute of the second period made it 26-15.
DeGraffenreid’s steal and layup late in the half sent the Lady Mustangs to the dressing room on top 40-24.
Haggard’s three-point play made it a 20-point game, 50-30, with 3:50 to go in the third stanza.
SM led 53-34 entering the fourth quarter.
DeGraffenreid scored 10 in a 13-2 run, capped by Ashley Robinson’s fast break layup, for a 72-40 lead with 3:30 on the clock.
DeGraffenreid hit 12 field goals, including two three-pointers, and 11 foul shots. Haggard made five field goals, including a trey, and three free throws.
Robinson finished with seven points, Junaluska followed with six, Jenna Carpenter scored three and Brandi Anders had two.
Junaluska handed out four assists, and Robinson blocked three shots.
DeGraffenreid and Woodard shared the Hammer Award for hustle stats. DeGraffenreid had six deflections, five loose balls, five steals, two offensive rebounds and one block. Woodard had six deflections, five offensive rebounds, two loose balls, two blocks and one charge.
SM advances
The Lady Mustangs reached the finals with a 71-27 rout of East Henderson on Feb. 15.
DeGraffenreid scored 25 points while Woodard and Haggard had 10 apiece.
East’s Morgan O’Rourke had seven points.
“We came out and took care of business,” Simmons said. “We jumped to an early lead and didn’t allow them to get back in the game.”
SM led from the start as DeGraffenreid scored seven quick points for a 9-2 lead with a little over two minutes left in the first period.
The margin was 17-5 at the quarter break.
The Lady Mustangs scored the last eight points of the half for a 35-15 lead following three-pointers from DeGraffenreid and Carpenter.
A 10-2 spurt, including four each from Woodard and Robinson, upped the margin to 45-19 with 4:34 to play in the third quarter.
SM finished the period on an 11-2 spurt, including seven by DeGraffenreid, to lead 56-23.
Carpenter had five points in a 9-1 spurt as the lead reached 69-25 at the 2:17 mark.
DeGraffenreid made 11 field goals, including a pair of three-pointers, and a foul shot. Woodard and Haggard both scored all their points from the floor.
Carpenter finished with eight points, Robinson and Junaluska both netted six, Laury Brown scored four and Sky Kanott had two.
Woodard was the top rebounder with nine. DeGraffenreid had six rebounds, five assists and four steals. Robinson pulled down six boards and blocked three shots. Haggard recorded four assists and three steals.
DeGraffenreid, Woodard and Junaluska shared the Hammer Award for hustle stats. DeGraffenreid had seven loose balls, six deflections and four steals. Woodard had six deflections, five offensive rebounds, two loose balls, two attempted saves and a steal. Junaluska had five deflections, two loose balls and two steals.
JVs win
The Lady Mustang JVs wrapped up a 21-2 season by downing East Henderson 59-31 in the finals.
Jordan Cagle and Cayla Cucumber both had 14 points.
SM led at quarter breaks by scores of 15-6, 23-14 and 45-20.
Smoky Mountain’s JV women’s basketball team won the Western Athletic Conference Tournament Friday with a 59-31 victory over East Henderson in the finals. The Lady Mustangs finished the year 21-2. – Herald photo by Carey Phillips
“What a tremendous season,” Coach Ollin Dunford said. “It was totally an honor to coach a group of talented young ladies like I had the opportunity with these girls. They made my season a blast.”
He said his entire starting lineup of Cagle, Cucumber, Brittany Gilbert, Kayla Cooper and Colleen Davis played well.
“Defense was our game,” Dunford said. “They stepped up and played like champions. Our offense came easy because our defense was so good.”
The JVs advanced to the finals with a 52-25 win over West Henderson. Gilbert scored 16 points, and Cucumber had 13.
SM led at quarter breaks by scores of 17-6, 21-11 and 41-20.
“They know the tournament is a whole different level, and they can’t take anybody lightly,” Dunford said. “They played that way. Continuous effort is our motto until the end.”
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