The Cherokee Lady Braves (24-2) beat Rosman in the second round and Robbinsville in the finals to win the Smoky Mountain Conference tournament last week. The Lady Braves, who are ranked #3 in the latest Maxpreps.com 1A basketball poll, had already won the conference regular season title. Following are the scores and stats of their tournament games:
2nd Round
Cherokee 80 Rosman 62
The Lady Braves continued their unbeaten streak against Smoky Mountain Conference teams this year with a 80-62 win over Rosman in the second round of the conference tournament on Tuesday, Feb. 19. The Lady Braves earned the top seed in the tournament and a first-round bye.
Kendall Toineeta led Cherokee with 20 points followed by Jordyn Thompson with 18. Cherokee jumped out to an early 18-6 lead after the first period and led 47-29 at the half. The second half was completely even with both teams scoring 33 points, and Cherokee took the game by 18.
Other Lady Braves scorers included: Deija Burgess 4, Brianna Jumper 4, Alexis Maney 16, Avery Mintz 12 and Bree Stamper 6.
Lady Tigers scorers included: Lexy Aiken 1, Baylee Bagwell 13, Callie Chappell 12, Bethany Green 2, Selina Hoxit 14, Janah McCall 2 and Candace Petit 18.
Finals
Cherokee 67 Robbinsville 52
The Lady Braves came to the finals to win, and they made that statement early as they jumped out to a 24-6 lead after the first period in the championship game on Friday, Feb. 22. They kept it up in the second period and led at halftime 39-16.
Robbinsville attempted a comeback in the final period, outscoring Cherokee 26-14, but the gap was too wide and the Lady Braves took the game and the championship.
Kendall Toineeta led the way for Cherokee with 30 points . Other Lady Braves scorers included: Deija Burgess 9, Alexis Maney 9, Avery Mintz 9, Miranda Smith 2, Bree Stamper 3 and Jordyn Thompson.
Lady Black Knights scorers included: Lynsey Crisp 17, Amber Long 16, Erin Maennle 2, Sydney Moody 5, Cheyenne Orr 2, Kinsley Orr 2 and Desiree Williams 4.
BOYS
First Round
Cherokee 87 Andrews 71
The Cherokee Braves varsity basketball team beat Andrews 87-71 in the first round of the Smoky Mountain Conference tournament on Monday, Feb. 18.
Dustin Johnson and Darius Thompson led Cherokee with 18 points each. The Braves led the Wildcats 26-13 after the first period and 35-27 at the half. Both teams scored 23 in the third period, and Andrews edged Cherokee 21-19 in the final period, but it wasn’t enough as the Braves took the win.
Other Braves scorers included: Raven Frankiewicz 5, Derrick Ledford 8, Seth Littlejohn 9, Eli Littlejohn 11, Silas Reed-Littlejohn 6, Chris Queen 4 and Jesse Toineeta 9.
Josh Oquendo led Andrews with 24 points. Other Wildcats scorers included: Logan Allen 7, Michael Carpenter 2, Aaron DeVore 10, Cameron Hancock 5, Chase Hardin 6, Zack Long 6 and Seth Pyle 3.
Second Round
Swain 58 Cherokee 52
Swain, whose team includes several EBCI tribal members, defeated Cherokee 58-52 in the second round on Wednesday, Feb. 20.
Seth Littlejohn led Cherokee with 20 points.
Cherokee fell behind early as Swain led 19-8 after the first period and 33-19 at the half. But, the Braves came back in the third period outscoring the Maroon Devils 16-9. Cherokee would also outscore Swain in the final period 17-16, but it was not quite enough.
Other Cherokee scorers included: Raven Frankiewicz 9, Dustin Johnson 7, Eli Littlejohn 6, Silas Reed-Littlejohn 4, and Jesse Toineeta 6.
Swain scorers included: Tanner Burrell 5, Matthew Maennle 20, Corbin Panther 12, Raymius Smith 8, Greg Tisho 6 and Clay Young 7.
Finals
Swain would go on to win the tournament with a 51-46 win over Hayesville in the finals on Friday, Feb. 22. EBCI tribal member Raymius Smith led the Maroon Devils with 22 points. Fellow tribal members Corbin Panther and Greg Tisho would add 12 and 6 points respectively.
– ONE FEATHER STAFF REPORT
