Bryson City – Christmas was not kind to the Maroon Devil basketball team. The senior laden Devils were a preseason pick to finish near the top of the tough Smoky Mountain Conference. For their pair of games on Friday and Saturday the Devils were without 5 players, who were out injured, including 3 starters. Without two of their top three scorers the Devils fell to Rosman on Friday and then Franklin on Saturday.
On Friday the Rosman Tigers pulled away in the 2nd half on their way to a 64-56 win. One of Swain’s remaining starters, Bradley Vestal, did his part in keeping his team close. Vestal finished with a game high 27 points to go along with 5 rebounds and 6 steals. Fellow senior and starter Jesse Waldroup had 6 points and 7 rebounds despite limited minutes due to foul trouble.
Saturday the Maroon Devils troubles continued as they lost Waldroup to illness. While the Devils stayed close for the first half the 9-1 Panthers pulled away in the second half to take the win. Vestal paced Swain again, but fouled out of the game with 4:31 remaining in the 3rd quarter. Conner Hyatt scored 10 points and had 4 rebounds off the bench for Swain. Nick Millsaps finished with 7 rebounds.
Swain returns to the court on Tuesday as they host Hayesville.