By SCOTT MCKIE B.P.
ONE FEATHER STAFF
Tahnee Arkansas (#23) contests a shot by an Andrews player during the 1st round of the Smoky Mountain Conference Basketball Tournament held at the Cherokee Central Schools Arena on Wednesday, Feb. 17. Arkansas led the Lady Braves with 19 points as they cruised to a 70-37 victory. (Photo by Scott McKie B.P./One Feather)
The Lady Braves opened up the 2010 Smoky Mountain Conference Basketball Tournament in style and with a statement – they came to win. Led by Tahnee Arkansas, who made her own statement and early claim for tournament MVP, with 19 points, Cherokee beat the Andrews Lady Wildcats 70-37 in the first conference basketball tournament held at the new Cherokee Central Schools arena.
Cherokee actually trailed early in this game, and after several minutes Andrews led 7-2. But, then the Lady Braves found their range, got over their early game jitters, and the points began to roll in.
Cherokee went on an 11-3 run late in the first period and led 13-10 at the end of the first. They never looked back. The Lady Braves took a 42-21 lead into the locker room and then outscored the Lady Wildcats 13-4 in the third period to extend their lead to 55-25 after three.
Ten different players scored for the Lady Braves with some getting their first tournament experience. In addition to her 19 points, Arkansas had eight rebounds. Jordyn Thompson added 10 points of her own and point guard Elizabeth Wahnetah scored 6 points and added 6 assists. Rayna Davis scored 5 points with 4 assists and 4 steals.
Other Lady Braves scoring included: Paige Jackson 5, Celine Lambert 4, Alexis Maney 7, Hannah Youngdeer 6, Kayla Smith 5, and Tashina Martin 3.
To view more photos of this game, please visit:
https://www.nc-cherokee.com/onefeather/photo-galleries/?album=57&gallery=59
