Robbinsville – After a 4-game road trip, the Robbinsville Middle School basketball program returned to the friendly confines of home Tuesday.
Stops at Andrews on Dec. 12 and Murphy on Monday – plus games at Cullowhee Valley and Martins Creek – meant Robbinsville had not played a home game since Nov. 25, until Tuesday’s clash with Hiwassee Dam/Ranger.
The Lady Knights (8-1) came out of the hectic slate with a trio of wins, while the Black Knights (7-2) defeated Andrews and Hiwassee Dam/Ranger, but lost in overtime to Murphy on Monday.
Girls
Robbinsville knocked off the Andrews Lady Wildcats, 39-9.
Zoie Shuler led the crowded Lady Knights scoreline with 10 points. Also scoring was Claire Barlow 6, Aubrie Wachacha 6, Olivia Stewart 4, Abby Wehr 3, Jozlyn Garland 3, Noelle Orr 2, Liz Carpenter 2, Memory Frapp 2 and Karlee Stewart 1.
At Murphy, Robbinsville prevailed 53-32.
Barlow unleashed 19 points on the Lady Bulldogs. Others to score were Karlee Stewart 14, Shuler 13, Wachacha 5 and Frapp 5.
The Lady Knights then capped off the perfect week with a 36-25 win over Hiwassee Dam/Ranger.
Robbinsville overcame a 9-6 mark at the end of the first quarter by correcting costly turnovers and building immensely on the momentum of back-to-back pick-and-steals by Shuler and Barlow early in the stanza, surging ahead 17-15 by the half and pulling away in the fourth.
Shuler led the Knights with 15 points, six steals and two assists. Also scoring was Wachacha 11, Barlow 8 and Garland 2.
Boys
The Black Knights started the 3-game stretch with a 60-56 win at Andrews.
Xander Wachacha’s 21-point effort led the Robbinsville scoreline.Also scoring was Donovan Carpenter 12, Roman Jones 11, Bryce Adams 7, Tytan Teesateskie 4, Quinn Jumper 3 and Zeke Silvers 2.
Robbinsville came back from a 31-24 deficit at Murphy to force overtime, but ultimately dropped a 60-59 heartbreaker to the Bulldogs.
Wachacha led the Knights with 23 points. Others to score were Carpenter 17, Adams 8, Jones 7, Silvers 2 and Hugh Forbes 1.
What started as an early shootout with a break-neck pace evolved into a blowout second-half Tuesday against the Eagles, as Robbinsville picked up a 66-29 win.
Carpenter’s 16 points led the crowded Black Knights scoreline. Also posting offense was Jones 12, Adams 10, Forbes 10, Wachacha 9, Teesateskie 3, Jumper 3, Austin Collangelo 2 and Luke Lovin 1.
Following today’s home ledger against Swain, Robbinsville will resume the seaason by welcoming Cullowhee Valley on Monday, Jan. 6.