by Bart Moss for the FCT

The Tharptown Wildcats score two wins over the Cherokee Indians Friday night.  The varsity girls won 47-36 and the varsity boys won 63-46.

The Lady Wildcats had three players in double figures in the girls game.  Jessica Wilson led the way with 16 points.  Haley Malone added 13 points and Ameliah Dawson scored 10 points.

Tharptown jumped out to a 15-7 first quarter lead over the Indians and led 20-12 at the half.  The Wildcats were without their leading scorer, Kaitlyn Vandiver, who was out with an injury.

Others scoring for Tharptown were Savannah Hamilton (3), Shaylee Wieting (3), and Kathy Alfaro (2).

In varsity boys action the Tharptown Wildcats jumped out to a 19-10 lead over the Cherokee Indians.  Cherokee battled back in the second quarter outscoring Tharptown 15-9 and cutting the Wildcats lead to 28-25 at halftime.  Tharptown regained control of the game in the third quarter outscoring Cherokee 19-9 and taking a 47-34 lead into the final period of play.

Max Nolen led Tharptown with 17 points.  Drake Lawson added ten points in the win.  Others scoring for the Wildcats were Bailey Motes (9), Blake Gray (7), Eric Odell (7), Heath Hatton (5), Mikey Rosson (4), Nathan Chaney (3), and Allen Gaston (1).

The Wildcat struggle from the free throw line and their coach acknowledged they were going to have do much better as they had into tournament play.

“We have got to better with the little things like free throws,” said Tharptown coach Jonathan Odom. “We have some big games coming up plus area play.  I’m afraid things have too easy for us.  We can’t shoot thirty percent from the line and expect to have a chance against good teams.  Mars Hill has gotten better and Hatton will give us everything they’ve got in area tournament play.  We can’t be on one night and off the next.  We have to play more consistent.  That is what is giving us fits right now- lack of consistency.”