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Champions return home to heroes’ welcome
See photo gallery here
From the time they left school Friday morning until they returned nearly 54 hours later as state champions, members of Smoky Mountain’s women’s basketball team spent three days they will never forget.
The Lady Mustangs departed the school campus around 8:30 a.m. Friday with officers from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Sylva Police Department and the N.C. Highway Patrol providing an escort with help from the Sylva Fire Department.
At noon Saturday they took the court at the Dean Smith Center on the University of North Carolina campus in Chapel Hill. An hour and a half later, the Lady Mustangs became the first Jackson County high school team to win a state basketball title as they topped Graham 85-62 for the 2-A crown.
By finishing 30-2, SM set a school record for wins.
Cetera DeGraffenreid was named the game’s most valuable player. The All-American scored 36 of her 42 points in the second half as she set a state record for most points in a women’s 2-A final. Her 16 made foul shots and 19 attempts both set marks for women’s state finals in any classification.
She finished her career with 3,081 points, second only to Clinton’s Danyel Parker, who had 3,225.
If not for an elbow injury that cost her six games and most of a seventh, she likely would have broken Parker’s career record.
Amy Haggard also earned an individual honor by being named SM’s outstanding player in the game. She made eight of 10 field goals, including two of three from three-point range, for 18 points.
With tears of joy flowing, each player received a medallion prior to the presentation of the state championship plaque.
The team returned Sunday and reached the county line at Balsam around 4 p.m. Deputies from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and several fans were waiting to escort the bus into Sylva. Trucks from the Sylva Fire Department joined the motorcade at the city limits.
With assistance from the Sylva Police Department, the players received an escort through downtown before heading out N.C. 107. Several hundred fans were waiting on the team at the high school.
It was 4:20 p.m. The state champions were home, but the celebration was just beginning.
The fans waited patiently in the gym where the Lady Mustangs are undefeated the past two seasons. Then everyone came to their feet as public address announcer David Proffitt began the pre-game music that has greeted the players so many times. The Lady Mustangs entered the gym from the locker room just as they do for games, but this time they were introduced individually as state champions.
The last to be announced was Coach Cindi Simmons who received a rousing ovation as she displayed the championship plaque.
“There’s no place like home,” Simmons told the fans, who obviously are part of a mutual admiration society with the players. “We always felt we had an extra person on our team. You are that extra person. They wanted to bring this back to the high school, to Sylva, to the county.”
Assistant coaches addressed the crowd, and several players spoke to the fans and their teammates.
“It’s been some ride these special young ladies have taken us on,” said assistant coach Ollin Dunford.
“I want to thank these girls for giving it everything they had all season,” assistant coach Shaketia Barnes said.
“The seniors did a great job setting an example for the underclassmen,” assistant coach Eric Toedtman said.
“This is the coolest team I’ve ever been on,” tri-captain Kelli Woodard said. “We’ll all be best friends for life.”
Haggard, also a tri-captain, dew attention late in the season for a word or phrase she would write on her hand and the hand of each teammate for inspiration before every game. For Saturday’s final, the words were “leave it all.”
“We wanted to go out with a win together,” Haggard said. “We had to leave it all on the court. Everyone left it all there. Even our fans left it all there.”
DeGraffenreid will be playing in All-American games sponsored by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association and McDonald’s, but it was clear Sunday where her heart is.
“The WBCA, that happens, but there’s nothing like winning a state championship,” the tri-captain said. “There’s nothing like Mustang blue.”
“These girls are my family and always will be,” senior Laury Brown said.
Addressing the seniors, junior Brittany Gilbert said, “You guys have taught me so much. These are memories I will remember forever.”
Then turning to Coach Simmons, Gilbert said, “I remember when my cousin played for you (eight years ago) and idolizing you then.”
“I think I feel like a state champion,” said junior Kayla Cooper. “I love each and every little girl on this team.”
“I’ve already cried so I’m not going to cry anymore,” said junior Paige Brooks before breaking into tears.
“The plans were already in place before I got to Smoky Mountain.” Athletic Director Mutt DeGraffenreid said. “I’m elated to be a part of this.”
“Seniors, you will always be Mustangs,” said Principal Alex Bell. “Underclassmen, you know the way to Chapel Hill now.”
Bell accepted an engraved marker from James Nations of Nations Sandblasting denoting the Lady Mustangs as state champions. The principal pointed out that Nations displayed extreme confidence as the marker was dated March 8, two days before the title game.
Later that evening, Simmons took time to reflect on what the crown meant to her personally.
‘“It’s very special and very humbling,” she said. “It doesn’t just happen. So many things have to go right and fall into place.”
Simmons record is 433-213 in 24 seasons. Her team lost in the 1994 state 3-A finals, and she played on a state 1-A runner-up team at Hayesville.
She coached the Lady Mustangs to three straight state 3-A volleyball crowns from 1991-93.
Simmons said she has heard from approximately 50 former players and assistant coaches since the title game.
“The former players feel a part of it,” she said. “That’s what it’s all about.”
“It was very special to get the reception we received when we got back to Jackson County, Simmons said. “The support has meant so much to us all season. The girls really wanted to bring this home to Jackson County.”
Much has been made about the championship being won at UNC where DeGraffenreid will play the next four years. For those who believe things are destined to happen, there’s even more evidence that the basketball gods were at work. In a way, the journey began where it ended.
One of the first times Simmons got the core group of this year’s squad together was four years ago this summer at team camp in Chapel Hill. Five current seniors and one junior were there, and some of the games were played on the Smith Center court.
“When these kids were coming into high school, we went to team camp at Chapel Hill,” the coach said. “It just seemed like everything fell into place.”
Last year’s season ended in disappointment with a loss to Salisbury in the Western Regional finals. Had the Lady Mustangs won, the title championship game would have been in Raleigh rather than Chapel Hill.
“The attitude in the playoff games was they had a task ahead,” Simmons said. “They were focused and knew what they needed to do. They didn’t get overly excited. They were happy after winning each game, but they weren’t euphoric. They were on a mission.”
For those still wondering whether the basketball gods were involved, there’s one more piece of evidence to consider. The final margin of the state championship game was 23 points. DeGraffenreid wears # 23.
The road to Chapel Hill
game-by-game with the Lady Mustangs
Opponent Score Result
Veritas 77-29 W
Tuscola 71-20 W
Enka 68-52 W
Enka 64-58 W
Franklin 77-44 W
Cherokee 68-27 W
Tuscola 78-53 W
Swain 94-39 W
Cherokee 94-35 W
Swain 65-38 W
Wake Forest 73-42 L
Apex 53-42 L
Franklin 41-40 W
Brevard 67-43 W
Robbinsville 57-42 W
East Henderson 46-34 W
North Henderson 49-25 W
West Henderson 73-58 W
Pisgah 64-35 W
Brevard 79-44 W
East Henderson 76-39 W
North Henderson 72-34 W
West Henderson 67-57 W
Pisgah 69-34 W
*Brevard 73-44 W
*West Henderson 72-57 W
**North Lincoln 96-45 W
**Bunker Hill 75-54 W
**Mitchell 67-38 W
***Salisbury 73-65 W
***East Davidson 66-52 W
****Graham 85-62 W
* conference tournament
** sectionals
*** regionals
**** state finals
final record 30-2
2006-07 state 2-A women’s basketball champions
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