Lady Knights now No. 7 in state rankings
Robbinsville – For a moment, it appeared the limited audience gathered inside the Robbinsville High School gymnasium Tuesday night might get two games for the price of one.
In a manner of speaking.
The Robbinsville Lady Knights (10-1, 8-1) and the Cherokee Lady Braves (6-3, 6-3) ended regulation in a 57-57 deadlock, then were tied 65-65 after overtime. A second overtime concluded with the two entangled in a 68-68 knot.
But in the end, stamina and poise won out. Robbinsville put up nine points in a third overtime period – with seven of those coming on free throws – and held the Lady Braves to a single bucket to attain the very definition of a hard-fought victory, 77-70.
“Proud is an understatement,” touted a hoarse Lady Knights head coach Lucas Ford. “These young ladies learned some life lessons tonight. They were up, they were down, they overcame and they never quit.”
Cherokee knocked off Robbinsville 70-57 in the first pairing Jan. 15; it is the only blemish on the Lady Knights’ record. There is little doubt that Robbinsville needed to avenge the loss, as the Knights continue to battle for a division title.
“If we can pull Friday (the home, regular-season finale against Swain), we’ll be golden,” said Lady Knight Kensley Phillips.
Phillips pulled down five rebounds in the first quarter of the victory, eventually finishing with 12 points and eight boards to her credit. Combined with the sharp outside shooting of Desta Trammell and some early inside buckets by Yeika Jimenez, Robbinsville found itself with a 17-10 lead at the end of the segment.
A 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer from Leilaya McMillan later completed a Cherokee comeback, as the game entered the break in a 30-30 stalemate.
Robbinsville found its second wind to begin the fourth, going on a 13-3 run that ended with Halee Anderson tying the game 54-all on a layup. With the game later tied 57-57, Cherokee grinded the game to a halt with 2:30 left, staying outside and passing the ball around, to run precious time off the clock. It was of no use, as the Lady Braves’ strategy to score at the buzzer was later thwarted by some stubborn Robbinsville defense.
Anderson scored six points for the Knights in the first overtime, and Robbinsville seemed destined for victory after Trammell drove inside and put up a floater that sank through the net with 13 seconds left. But McMillan soon drew a foul and went 1-for-2, deadlocking the game once more.
The Knights had six rebounds in the second overtime, but produced little offense. Jimenez had a resounding block early in the third free stanza, with Gabby Hooper soon drawing a foul that shifted the momentum in Robbinsville’s favor. She made both foul shots, and the Knights never looked back.
“By halftime, our heads were down,” Phillips admitted. “Coach Ford really talked us up in the locker room and we were able to step it up and get back ahead. I’ve never played three overtimes before, but we were prepared for it.”
The Lady Knights had little trouble with Nantahala (1-7) on Friday, piling 24 points onto the Lady Hawks in the first quarter alone and later finishing off a 72-14 victory.
Jackets toppled
Hayesville – Robbinsville scored early and often during Saturday’s make-up conference game at Hayesville, holding the Lady Jackets (4-7, 3-6) to just 15 first-half points to pick up a 56-43 victory.
“Teams like Hayesville try to really slow things down and even though you try not to get caught up in their tempo, sometimes it happens,” Ford explained. “But we were able to separate down the stretch.”
Much of the Knights’ success Saturday can be attributed to their success with foul shots. Robbinsville shot 93 percent (14-of-15) from the charity stripe.