Mills River – Kaycee Beyer has coached West (14-5; 8-0 M7) to an unbeaten first half of the 12-game Mountain Seven season. West is a game up on Pisgah (5-1) and 1.5 games ahead of Franklin (5-2). North Henderson (3-15; 2-4) and East Henderson (6-13; 1-7) can move up the standings in the season’s second half, to try to qualify for playoffs.
Last season, West (15-12; 8-4 M7) was in third place in the regular season — two games behind conference co-leaders Pisgah and Franklin, but a game ahead of Smoky Mountain.
This season, the Lady Falcons have risen past other contenders to lead the pack. They crushed Franklin 67-38 on Jan. 16, and won by 30 (64-34) earlier at SMHS. They won convincingly over the other three HCPS high schools — by 34 and 16 over Hendersonville, by 37 and 22 North Henderson, and by 31 over East Henderson.
The Lady Falcons are talented, disciplined, experienced, and swift. They press well, making up for not having a tall center. Two-thirds (10 of 15) of varsity players are juniors which foretells a special two-year run.
Foes think they’re seeing double when contending with twin guards Jaza Wilson (13.8 PPG) and Jania Wilson (9.5 PPG). Jaza drives exceptionally well to the basket. The Wilsons are aggressive in guarding and getting to loose balls. They shoot well outside.
So does spirited Kayden Lyda, another junior. She’s tough from playing one-on-one against her elder brother Jack at home. She set program records by scoring four of her career-best seven three-pointers in a row, in routing Franklin.
NH, East, HHS
North Henderson is developing a largely new lineup. Sophomore Amy Rhymer (11 PPG) is among key Lady Knight scorers. Their head coach is Charles Bratu. His assistant is Nicki Fauntleroy McDaniel, the strong center when East Henderson won a state title in 2000. Her sons have starred for NHHS in football and basketball.
Her alma mater, East, thrashed NHHS 61-36 at home on Jan. 12 for its first conference victory and to gain momentum. Kaylee Foushee, a junior, averages 13.8 points to pace East in scoring.
East head coach Tammy Gilliam George led the Lady Eagles to the 3A basketball championship game as a junior in 1987-88. She was a premier three-point shooter for UNC-Charlotte, and coached collegiately.
Hendersonville (10-6; 4-1 MFC) is second behind East Rutherford (6-0) in Mountain Foothills standings. HHS hosts ERHS on Feb. 6. HHS beat East 43-38 and 39-34, defeated NHHS 48-39 and 38-28, but lost twice to West.
Key Lady Bearcats include senior guard A.J. Jackson, with emergence of freshman Eleanor Pavao and others. Their head coach, Stephen Rogers, was a sharpshooting Brevard guard.