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Warriors pull away late after strong effort from Mustangs

By Carey Phillips
SMHS's Anthony Dyer Herald Photo by Carey Phillips

Anthony Dyer lays the ball up for Smoky Mountain in last week's 67-51 loss to Erwin The Mustang fell to 6-11 overall and 2-6 in the Western Athletic Conference.

Smoky Mountain played Western Athletic Conference co-leader Erwin tough for three quarters before the Warriors pulled away for a 67-51 victory Jan. 25 at the SM gym.

Ronnie Boyd paced the Warriors with 18 points. Rashad McCants followed with 15, and Stephen Swanger netted 10.

The Mustangs received 12 points each from Michael Wheatley and Derrick Hawk.

"I was proud of our kids' effort," Coach Scott Hartbarger said. "For three quarters we played as good as we can play. We just didn't score the first six possessions of the third quarter. If we continue to work hard, we're still in the hunt for a playoff spot."

There were four lead changes in the first quarter, which ended in an 11-11 tie after Hawk hit three free throws with no time on the clock following a foul on a long three-pointer.

Michael Ritchie received credit for a basket on a goal tending call giving SM a 14-13 edge with 6:29 to go in the half.

A three-point play by Roy Lusk just four seconds later gave Erwin the lead for good, 16-14. It also started a 10-2 run, including five by Boyd, for a 23-16 margin at the 5:23 mark.
Hawk's four points keyed an 8-2 spurt cutting the gap to 27-26 with 1:38 on the clock.

Erwin was in front 31-28 at intermission.

SM's slow start in the third stanza allowed Erwin to open the half on a 9-2 spurt. The result was a 40-30 advantage on a Lusk free throw with 3:31 on the clock.

The Warriors built the lead to 45-34 on a Boyd trey with 49 seconds left and were up 47-36 entering the fourth quarter.

Eight unanswered points gave Erwin its biggest lead, 67-48, on a Ricardo Reid basket with 27 seconds left.

Wheatley made five field goals and two free throws. Hawk hit four field goals, including a three-pointer, and three of three free throws.

Anthony Dyer added nine points, Ritchie and Justin Roper both finished with six, Phillip Wade scored four and Luke Bell had two.

Erwin held off a rally to win the JV game 69-56. The Warriors led at quarter breaks by scores of 24-10, 36-30 and 48-44.

The Mustangs fell behind 24-4 before storming back. Joe Smarr scored 15 points while Josh Day had 14 and Jeff Davis added 10.

"From about the two-minute mark of the first period for the rest of the game we played well," Coach Jimmy Roper said.

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