Lady Knights fall to .500 in conference
Hayesville – Try as they may, the Lady Knights could only serve one cold plate of revenge during a 3-game road trip.
Robbinsville went 1-2 away from its friendly confines this week, with a season split Friday against Andrews wedged between a non-conference loss at Hiwassee Dam on Feb. 1 and a shaky venture to Hayesville on Tuesday.
The final leg before a quick return home after Wednesday’s press deadline rolled along smoothly in the first half, with the Lady Knights carrying a 23-21 advantage into the break. Aiding the cause were a trio of trey’s from Suri Watty, as well as 11 points from Liz Carpenter.
Hayesville (17-5, 6-2) survived the first two segments on the strength of its 3-point game, as Ava Shook and Briley Clampitt dished a combined three attempts through the net. Shook connected for three more in the second – she finished with a game-high 24 – while Robbinsville (13-6, 4-4) came out flat in the third. Only a field goal from Claire Barlow and a pair of Watty free throws kept the Knights avoid a scoreless third.
In response, the Lady Jackets peppered its third 12-point quarter of the evening onto the scoreboard in the fourth to hold the Knights at-bay.
Carpenter finished the night with 13 points to lead Robbinsville. Watty cashed in 11, while Aubrie Wachacha put up six. Also scoring was Abby Wehr 3; both Barlow and Delaney Brooms had a basket each.
Not again, Cats
Andrews – It had been 23 years since Robbinsville’s varsity girls had lost to Andrews.
The Lady Wildcats erased the losing streak Dec. 18, stunning the Graham County faithful by edging the Knights 56-55.
Robbinsville seethed until Friday, which was Senior Night for Andrews. Playing the role of spoiler, the Lady Knights started on an 8-0 run inside the Ken Solesbee Athletic Center and never looked back, doubling its lead by halftime and cruising to a 55-41 win.
Carpenter put up 18 to lead Robbinsville, while adding in two rebounds and an assist. Watty swished 12 through the net, with a rebound and a steal to her credit as well; Wachacha again had six points, but piloted the interior with 13 rebounds, two blocks, an assist and a steal. Others scoring for the Knights was four apiece from Brooms, Wehr and Memory Frapp; Barlow and Bentley Riggins, 3 each; and Anna Williams 1.
Clipped at buzzer
Hiwassee Dam – Thanks to an Olivia McNabb jumper with two seconds left, a strong Lady Eagles program capped a sweep of Robbinsville this season with a 60-58 triumph Feb. 1.
Watty began the Lady Knights’ road trip with a 3-pointer off the opening tip. Undaunted, Hiwassee Dam (17-3) kept its dukes up for the duration, nipping at Robbinsville’s heels through a 33-30 halftime deficit until pulling ahead in the third.
But Carpenter had a resounding third to keep the game tightly-knit, accounting for eight of the Knights’ 10 points in the segment, pulling down three rebounds and blocking a shot.
In a race to the finish, Watty gave Robbinsville a 57-52 advantage with another three at the 1:30 mark. Brooklyn Hyde sank a long-range shot in response for the Eagles, but later missed a pair of technicals brought on by a not-so-friendly bump from Wehr in the closing moments. As overtime became more likely, a Brinkley Payne inbound found McNabb.
After surpassing the 1,000-point threshold two nights earlier, she plucked another feather in her cap by sinking the game-winner just a heartbeat later.
Carpenter led the way for Robbinsville, recording 20 points, nine rebounds and one block. Wachacha had 13 points, eight rebounds and two steals, while Watty turned in 12 points, two assists, two rebounds and a steal.
Filling out the scoreline was Brooms 7, Novie Dutcher 3, Williams 2 and Wehr 1.
Junior varsity
The Lady Knights split the difference in JV play, dominating Andrews in a 38-4 stampede, before slipping to Hayesville 29-24.
Dutcher led the winning effort over the Cats with 13 points, six steals, three rebounds and two assists. Ella McGuire finished with eight points, four steals, three rebounds and an assist, while Katie-Lyn Gross posted seven points and five rebounds.
Also scoring for Robbinsville (6-3) was Maleah Cox and Chasity Jones, 4 apiece; and MyKayla McGuire 2.
Dutcher again led the Knights’ offense at Hayesville, this time scoring 10 points. Others contributing to the final tally were Cox 6, Jones 5, Riggins 2 and Gross 1.