West stuns top-ranked Smoky Mountain

Published: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 at 4:30 a.m.

By Jeremy Trantham
Times-News Staff Writer

West Henderson’s 72-55 victory over Smoky Mountain wasn’t just an outcome nobody outside the locker room saw coming. Not many inside the Falcon locker room saw Tuesday’s home victory over the state’s top-ranked 2-A team coming either.

“Smoky Mountain was on top of the (Western Athletic) conference,” said senior Daniel Hyatt after West’s Senior Night. “We felt over-matched.”

“We,” said senior Adam Troutman, “were doubtful. We didn’t know.”

They know now. Both of the senior starters at forward admitted that after the first quarter, which ended with a 13-4 West lead, everybody started believing.

The win moves West to 10-11 and 5-4 in the league and was all the more stunning because it came on the heels of a three-game losing streak.

“Maybe we just got tired of not playing well,” said West coach Rob Bliss.

From start to finish on Tuesday, West played very well.

Buoyed by the emotions of Senior Night, the Falcons held previously unbeaten Smoky Mountain (20-1, 8-1) to just two first-quarter field goals and took an 11-point lead into the second on Matt Roberts’ double-clutch 3-pointer at the buzzer.

The momentum carried over as West threatened to stretch the lead to 20 before the Mustangs closed the half with a 5-0 run to pull within 26-13 at the break.

Behind leading scorer Colton Hunt, who scored all of his game-high 20 points in the second half, the Mustangs pulled to within 30-22 with 4:30 left in the third quarter. West answered with a 13-2 run.

The Falcons were content to trade baskets in a high-scoring fourth quarter, racing past the Mustangs’ full-court press time and again for easy scores.

“We were able to take advantage and turn (the press) into some points,” Bliss said. “I think that was the difference.”

Junior guard Keenan Young led West with 14 points and 10 rebounds. He was one of four Falcon underclassmen in double figures.

Roberts had 11 points and five assists, Kagan Williams had 12 while sophomore Kevin Thomas added 11 points.

“We had some kids that hadn’t been playing well who really stepped up,” Bliss said. “I guess the stars just aligned for us.”

Troutman (11 points, nine rebounds and three steals) and Hyatt (8 points, 12 rebounds and three steals) battled a bigger Smoky Mountain front line to a standstill.

Jackson Simmons, a 6-foot-8 sophomore, had 14 points for the Mustangs. Six-foot-five senior Cort Smith added nine.

“To come together on Senior Night with help from the underclassmen was big for us,” Troutman said. “I’d like to thank the juniors for helping us go out with a win in probably the last home game for Dan, Aaron (Embler) and myself.”

West’s girls were also threatening to pull an upset on Senior Night after one quarter. But the Lady Mustangs pulled away for a 55-35 conference win.

The Lady Falcons, who trailed 15-14 at the end of the first quarter, were held without a field goal in the second.

In the second and fourth periods combined, Smoky Mountain allowed just one field goal and 10 total points.

“Overall I’m proud of my girls,” said West coach Stephanie Scott-Gaddy. “You have to give Smoky credit, they’re a really good team but for one half of the game, we played with them.”

Smoky Mountain’s Ashley Robinson answered every West charge and finished with a game-high 23 points.

Ashley Rogers led the Lady Falcons (6-15, 4-5 WAC) with 15 points.

Senior Erica Cantrell added nine points for West while classmates Chelsea Turlington and Danielle Dinardo added two points apiece.

West will close the regular season on Thursday at rival North Henderson.

Summaries

BOYS

SMOKY MOUNTAIN (55) — Dunford 5, Colton Hunt 20, Hodgin, George 3, Carter 5, DeGraffenreid, Cauley 1, Davis, Smith 9, Jackson Simmons 14.

WEST HENDERSON (72) — Embler, Thelen 5, Keenan Young 14, Matt Roberts 11, Kagan Williams 12, Shaw, Reeves, Adam Troutman 11, Kevin Thomas 11, Hyatt 8, Van Wingerden.

Halftime: West, 26-13.

GIRLS

SMOKY MOUNTAIN (55) — Junaluska 8, Jackson 1, Tyalor, Ashley Robinson 23, Parton, Cagle 4, Spiro 4, Johnson 7, Nardello 6, Moore, Henson 2.

WEST HENDERSON (35) — Kremer 2, Cantrell 9, Burton 1, Turlington 2, Bishop 2, Stewart, Ciaramitaro 2, Ashley Rogers 15, Dinardo 2.

Halftime: Smoky Mountain, 32-19.