Enka, Tuscola play for 3rd time
by admin on Feb.22, 2012, under Other
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WAYNESVILLE — No one ever told Nathan Messer that rebuilding Tuscola’s boys basketball program could be this redundant.
For the third time in four games, the Mountaineers (19-7) will play an opponent they’ve beaten twice previously when Enka (16-11) comes to Haywood County for tonight’s second round of the NCHSAA 3-A playoffs.
Tipoff is set for 8 p.m.
Tuscola is enjoying its best season in more than a decade under Messer, a third-year coach who saw his team defeat the Jets, 85-83, on Nov. 22 and 96-87 on Dec. 2.
“It’s going to be one of those hard-fought games that is hopefully decided in the last quarter,” Messer said.
“Enka plays physical. The big kid (Taylor McCurry) down low is pretty much unstoppable. It’s going to be tough. Sometimes you play a team three times and you may blow them out. But both our games with Enka have come down to the fourth quarter, so I’d say it could go either way.”
Coming into the 3-A playoffs, Tuscola had lost to Pisgah in the Western North Carolina Athletic Conference tournament’s semifinals after sweeping the regular-season rivalry for the first time in 17 years.
Logan Hardin (25 points) led the Mountaineers past Erwin, 74-56, in Monday’s first round of the playoffs. Thomas Hay (14 points) and Carter Page (13) chimed in with a combined 27 points.
Enka was able to fend off visiting Foard, 68-56, in Monday’s 3-A game in Candler.
McCurry scored 21 of his team-high 28 points in the first half, while Nathan Bull added 11.
“We’ve got our hands very full,” Jets coach Brian Carver said.
“Tuscola is a solid, solid team. They’ve got kids all over the place who can score, and they rebound the ball exceptionally well. I’m not sure how you defend them.”
The Jets let double-digit leads slip away in both their games this season with Tuscola. McCurry continues to lead WNC in scoring with 27 points per game.
Cherokee, Sequoyah notch playoff upset
Tsalidi Sequoyah has not ripped down his last rebound for the Cherokee boys.
The 13th-seeded Braves went on the road Monday to take down No. 4 Alleghany, 55-49, in the first round of the NCHSAA 1-A basketball playoffs behind Sequoyah’s 20 points, 17 rebounds and five blocks.
Article source: http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20120222/SPORTS/302220039/High-school-notebook-Enka-Tuscola-play-3rd-time
