Go to the homepage for the Sylva Herald and Ruralite

Wheatley, Roper lead Mustangs past Blue Ridge to open season

By Carey Phillips
Smoky Mountain's Anthony Dyer - Herald Photo by Carey Phillips

Anthony Dyer shoots for two points for Smoky Mountain in last week's 76-66 win at Blue Ridge. The basket was one of three, including a three-pointer, Dyer had early in the second half helping the Mustangs take control. The Mustangs are 2-1 through Tuesday's games.

Michael Wheatley pumped in 29 points, and Justin Roper had 20 leading Smoky Mountain to a 76-66 win at Blue Ridge in the basketball season-opener Nov. 30. Anthony Dyer added 11 for the Mustangs.

Dusty Biller scored 20 points for the Bobcats while Jeremy Robinson and Max Lanning had 10 apiece.

"We survived Blue Ridge's excellent outside shooting," Coach Scott Hartbarger said. "They're a very much improved team. We had some breakdowns on our press that gave them some easy baskets."

"The guys played pretty well, but we just didn't hit our free throws (14 of 28)," Blue Ridge Coach Arnold Nicholson said. "Smoky Mountain basically wore us down." Wheatley started off with the hot hand as his eight points sparked SM to an 11-5 lead with 5:32 to go in the first quarter.

The Bobcats responded with seven straight points to take their first lead, 12-11, on Lanning's follow shot at the 4:29 mark. Blue Ridge finished the period with 10 unanswered points, including four by Biller, for a 25-20 advantage.
Blue Ridge's biggest lead was 32-25 on Brandon Henson's three-pointer with 6:12 to go in the half. The Mustangs finished the half on an 8-1 spurt, including four each by Wheatley and Roper, as they moved back on top 43-41.

Dyer had seven points in a 10-2 spurt building the margin to 56-46 on Wheatley's three-point play with 5:46 remaining in the third stanza. The quarter ended with SM in front 62-53. The Mustangs held a 66-54 lead on a driving layup by Roper with 5:35 left in the game.

The Bobcats fought back and closed within 68-63 on a Biller free throw at the 2:17 mark. The Mustangs regained control with eight straight points for their biggest lead, 76-63, with 28.1 seconds on the clock.

"I was disappointed with our effort the first quarter, but I was pleased that we were able to overcome our mistakes, come together as a team and play much better in the second half," Hartbarger said. "We played more team basketball than we have in a long time."

Wheatley hit 10 field goals, including a trio of three-pointers, and was six of six at the foul line. Roper also had three treys among his eight field goals and made a free throw. Dyer's points all came from the floor and included one three-pointer. Jason Bennett added eight points for SM, Phillip Wade and Allen Sutton both had three and Luke Bell scored two.

Biller hit eight field goals and four free throws. Lanning had three field goals and four foul shots. Robinson connected on four field goals, including two three-pointers. Henson followed with nine points, Jesse Walsh netted seven, Jeremy Stewart finished with six and Mike McCall had four.

The Mustang JVs rolled to a 78-14 win. Jeff Davis scored 17 points, and Lance Gabbard had 15. SM led at quarter breaks by scores of 17-4, 42-6 and 60-10. "We got a chance to see everybody," Coach Jim Hartbarger said. "We're learning who can play and who can't."

Back to Sports.

Back to Archive: 12-09-99.