Knights score 81, still fall to Cherokee
Cherokee – A nice first-half pace was not enough for Robbinsville.
The Black Knights’ only trailed by two at the end of the first segment Friday night at Cherokee – and were down 47-40 at the break – but an explosive second-half by the Braves (3-1, 3-1) proved to be the Knights’ (2-3, 1-3) undoing, as Cherokee prevailed 100-81.
“Cherokee shot the ball well; they had 10, 3-pointers at halftime,” noted Robbinsville head coach Jake Beasley. “We adjusted to take away the 3-pointer and when we did that, they started making more layups. At the end of the game, they hit 13, 3-pointers and we hit four.
“We just didn’t play the defense we’re supposed to play.”
The loss came three days after the Knights took care of business at home Jan. 12, downing the Hiwassee Dam Eagles (1-1) in a non-conference match-up, 66-47.
“We played really well,” Beasley said. “The first half was kind of scrappy, but the second half, we forced a lot of turnovers and played defense the way we should.”
Robbinsville then traveled to Swain County on Tuesday night, dropping an 83-60 affair to the Maroon Devils (3-1, 3-1).
Junior varsity
Robbinsville’s junior varsity Knights (3-0) was the only Graham County team that found success at Cherokee, defeating the Braves 48-45. Donovan Carpenter dropped a team-high 18 points onto the Braves.
Against Hiwassee Dam on Jan. 12, the Knights picked up a 51-26 victory. Xander Wachacha’s 16-point night led Robbinsville’s offense against the Eagles.