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Simmons wins 300th game as Lady Mustangs hold off Pisgah
SMHS Coach Cindi Simmons with Lady Mustangs Herald photo by Carey Phillips

The 300th career basketball victory for Smoky Mountain Coach Cindi Simmons wasn't secure until the final buzzer Friday as the Lady Mustangs survived to defeat Pisgah 48-46. The closeness of the game made the celebration even more special as the players presented her an autographed ball and the cheerleaders gave her a cake. Players enjoying the moment with Simmons are, from left: Cassie Proffitt, Christy Pruett, Nathalie Broom, Elexis Smith, Melissa Collins, Nichole Jones, Lindsey Lewis, Tara Green, Abi Woody, Courtney Bryson and Kaitlin Ritchie.

Number 300 didn't come easy.

Smoky Mountain Coach Cindi Simmons won her 300th career basketball game Friday, but Pisgah threatened to spoil the party. The Sugar Bears missed a three-pointer that would have won the game as the Lady Mustangs survived 48-46 to go 15-1 overall and 7-0 in the Western Athletic Conference.

No Jackson County coach has ever won more games in any sport. Simmons, who also has 284 volleyball victories, is in her 17th season.

"I'm pleased to reach that milestone, but it's a reflection of the players who have gone through this program over the years," Simmons said.
SMHS's Tara Green - Photo by Carey Phillips

Tara Green (23) scores two points for Smoky Mountain in the third quarter of Friday's 48-46 victory over Pisgah. Other Lady Mustangs pictured are Nichole Jones (33) and Lindsey Lewis (10).

Elexis Smith scored 14 points for SM, and Lindsey Lewis had 10.

Pisgah's Jennifer House led all scorers with 21, and Randi Knight added 12.

The Lady Mustangs were playing their first game without Kaitlin Ritchie, who sustained a hairline fracture in her right hand during the previous game against Enka.

"It was a great way to start the second half of the conference schedule," Simmons said. "Pisgah played us tough. We overcame adversity, and it seemed like we didn't get any breaks all night. We came up with big plays when we needed them."

Immediately after the game, the team presented Simmons a basketball autographed by her players. She was given a cake with a "300" on it by the cheerleaders. What would have happened to the cake if Pisgah had hit the late three-pointer to win the game?

"We probably would have stuck it in the freezer or in the snow at least," Lady Mustang Nichole Jones said. "I think somebody had some extra Saran Wrap."

The senior said being part of the 300th win was special.

"It was totally awesome," she said. "She's going to send the ball to the high school athletic association hall of fame, and we'll be a part of that."

The game was anything but a piece of cake as neither team led by more than six. There were five ties and 12 lead changes. However, in the end the Lady Mustangs got to have their cake and eat it too.
A three-pointer by Jones with 2:42 left in the game put SM ahead to stay 46-43. It was the only time all night SM scored other than on shots from the paint or the foul line.

"They extended everything out to eliminate our perimeter game," Simmons said of the lack of outside shooting. "They didn't give us any good looks at the basket from outside. Our players adjusted to that well."

Green's layup made it 48-43 at the 2:11 mark, and the Lady Mustangs appeared to be in good shape after regaining possession.

Before SM was able to cross midcourt, House swiped a pass and converted it into a three-point play cutting the gap to 48-46 with 1:41 on the clock.

The Sugar Bears had committed just three team foul, and the Lady Mustangs began to take time off the clock. By the time Pisgah had seven fouls and sent SM to the line, just 13.9 seconds remained.

A missed free throw opened the door for the Sugar Bears, who missed a shot but were fouled on the rebound. Pisgah also was not in the bonus and inbounded the ball with 6.6 seconds left.

House, who already had hit two three-pointers, launched a trey from the right wing. The ball hit off the rim and went out of bounds as the horn sounded.

House gave Pisgah a 39-37 edge on a three-pointer to start the fourth period. The Lady Mustangs never trailed after Nathalie Broom's follow shot put them up 43-41 at the 5:28 mark.

House tied it 43-43 with 2:55 on the clock, but Jones put SM back on top with her three-pointer 13 seconds later.

The Sugar Bears were up 28-25 after a House basket with 6:05 to go in the third stanza. Smith's layup with four minutes remaining in the period gave the Lady Mustangs a 33-32 edge, and they led 37-36 at the quarter break.

Lewis and Smith scored the game's first two baskets, but the 4-0 lead would be SM's biggest until late in the contest.

Consecutive buckets by House put Pisgah ahead 13-10 at the quarter break. Her three-pointer to open the second stanza made it 16-10.

The Lady Mustangs scored seven straight points, including four by Jones, for a 21-18 lead with 1:48 remaining in the half. They led 23-22 at intermission.

Smith and Lewis both scored all their points from the floor on seven of eight and five of seven shooting.

Jones and Green finished with nine points each while Broom, Abi Woody and Christy Pruett all had two.

Smith pulled down seven rebounds while Lewis and Green both had six. Jones handed out seven assists and came up with five steals. Green had four assists.

They Lady Mustangs had one of their best shooting nights of the year at 54.1 percent (20 of 37). Simmons said the reason for the low number of attempts was not turnovers. "It was the pace of the game," she said. "Our shot selection was good."

The Lady Mustang JVs fell to 6-9 with a 36-32 loss. Pisgah led at quarter breaks by scores of 6-5, 13-9 and 23-20.

Ashley Holmes scored 10 points for SM.

"We played hard," Coach Heather Broom said. "We just let Pisgah outhustle us. In the last minute, we didn't foul and stop the game."

Back to Archive: 01/27/00.