Middle school girls advance to semifinals
Robbinsville – Inclement weather has thrown the 2023-24 Smoky Mountain Conference Middle School Tournament into chaos.
All six of the scheduled quarterfinal games took place Saturday, but the semifinals have been placed on ice – not once, but twice.
The fifth of the quarterfinal slots pitted the Robbinsville Lady Knights (No. 4 seed, 7-6) against Hayesville (No. 5). The Jackets had seceded the season series to the host school, but had no plans of going down for a third time this year to Robbinsville.
Five quarters were needed to determine a winner Saturday, with late-game heroics taking the fans gathered inside the Robbinsville Elementary School gym on an emotional roller-coaster ride. The Lady Knights eventually had the last laugh, buzzing by the Lady Jackets 36-35.
Both teams struggled with shooting throughout the affair; foul counts began to pile up, but the programs were off-point from the charity stripe as well (Robbinsville shot 40 percent from the line; Hayesville, 49).
Ironically enough, it was free throws that ended up being the difference maker.
Hayesville clung to a 27-26 lead with 15 seconds to play in regulation when Aaliyah Wolfe powered her way inside and put up a hopeful floater that sank through the net. Drawing a foul, she connected on the and-1 to push Robbinsville ahead 29-27. Persevering, the Jackets forced extra basketball when Micalynn McClure enjoyed a trip to the foul line with 1.9 to play and made both of her attempts.
The see-saw battle continued in overtime, but came down to Daphne Barlow visiting the line for Robbinsville with 8.9 seconds on the clock. Her 2-for-2 mark heaved the Knights back out front 36-35; Robbinsville sealed the deal on the ensuing inbound, which Zaelyn Phillips smacked away from Hayesville and into the clutches of Barlow. She aired out a 3 that missed, but point guard Zayleigh Chekeleelee reeled in the board and although her insurance layup at the buzzer was unsuccessful, the Knights advanced.
Barlow dropped 13 to lead Robbinsville in the win. Chekeleelee had 10, while Phillips connected for seven.
Rounding out the scoreline was Wolfe’s 3-point play; a basket from Cassidy Sudderth; and a Bella Coats’ free throw.
Tourney delay
The semifinals were mapped out to take place Monday, but the incoming snow dwindled the scheduled 4-game slate down to just one: Murphy’s girls advancing to the tournament finals by edging Andrews 45-44.
The remaining games were pushed back to Wednesday, but the cancellation of the school day rendered the move moot. The other three semifinal games will now begin at 4 p.m. today; the championship duels themselves have been stretched to a 5 p.m. tip-off Wednesday, Jan. 24.