Middle school boys look to wrap up share of conference title
Rosman – Who is going to stop the Robbinsville Middle School Black Knights?
Road victories over the last week at Hiwassee Dam/Ranger, Hayesville and Rosman have everyone in the Smoky Mountain Conference asking that question.
“We’re starting to play the way I like to play,” head coach Warren Knott said.
The Knights (8-1), who are on an eight-game winning streak, are tasked to host Swain today and Cherokee on Monday to wrap up the regular season.
Robbinsville rallied to defeat the Maroon Devils 68-62 in a Jan. 27 road game. The Braves are the only team thus far to defeat the Black Knights – and that was in the season opener, a 63-51 loss Jan. 13.
Robbinsville has not lost since, so a win over undefeated Cherokee would lead to the two programs sharing the Smoky Mountain Conference title.
“I feel good (about the games). Everybody’s healthy,” Knott said. “I’m a defensive coach, but I’ve told these boys that if they win out, they’ll be the first team that I’ve coached that has won by outscoring everybody. But if we’ll also defend people, we’ll be all right.
“I think I have the best team in the conference, but I also think – hands down – I have the best player in the conference.”
Knott was alluding to Bryce Adams, who has emerged as the Knights’ most prolific scorer, averaging 21 points across each of Robbinsville’s nine games thus far.
“These kids have played together their whole life, but players evolve different,” Knott added. “From last year to this year, Bryce literally grew a foot. That’s the biggest component (to his success).
“He’s really figured out how to play smart basketball. Sure, he could go in and try to score 5-on-1, or he could kick it out to someone. It’s rare that you have a kid that averages 21 points a game in middle school.
“This team has also had to learn its roles. I told Roman Jones the other day, ‘When you get five-plus steals, you look really good.’ That’s his role. I told Bryce that there is a correlation between 30 points and 15 rebounds. In the Cherokee game, we had 0 rebounds and 24 turnovers. You’re not going to win like that.
“Luke Lovin was trying to defer early on, so I’ve had to make it clear that he’s the point guard; he needs to be the point guard. As the season has went on, they’ve came into their own and accepted their roles.”
Adams dropped 29 at Hayesville on Feb. 4, as the Black Knights defeated the Jackets 59-28.
Also scoring in the victory was Dane Knott 10, Lovin and Quinn Jumper with 7 each, Jones 6, Tytan Teesateskie 4 and Hugh Forbes 2.
Monday’s venture to Rosman resulted in a 68-32 Robbinsville victory.
Adams led the effort with a 30-point game. Others to score were Jones 17, Knott 7, Lovin 5, Tytan Teesateskie 2, Kisek Teesateskie 2 and Tyler Patton 2.
The Knights’ travels began this week with a makeup game at Hiwassee Dam/Ranger on Feb. 3, with Robbinsville knocking off the Eagles 53-39.
Adams scored 16 to lead the Knights in the victory. Jones and Knott had 10 points each, with Lovin (8 points), Teesateskie (6 points) and Jumper (3 points) also contributing to the cause.
Lady Knights
Robbinsville fell in the middle school girls game against the Lady Eagles 57-38.
Abby Wehr’s 11 points led the Lady Knights (2-6) offense. Also scoring was Jozlyn Garland 8, Anna York 8, Novie Dutcher 4, Olivia Stewart 3, Katie Lyn Gross 2 and Liz Carpenter 2.
The Knights fell 54-5 at Hayesville on Feb. 4. Wehr recorded three points, while Maleah Cox hit a pair of free throws.
Robbinsville then dropped a 47-6 contest at Rosman. Wehr had four points in the game, while Carpenter had two.