17-0

Robbinsville – Unmatched. Unparalleled. Unrivaled.

Somewhere along the way, the 2023-24 Robbinsville Middle School Black Knights embarked on a mental mission to ensure those three descriptors prefaced any discussion about the damage they inflicted on the opposition.

In 17 games this year (including a forfeit triumph in the quarterfinals of the divisional tournament), Robbinsville poured 921 points on the opposition (for bean counters, that averages to 64.1 per game); while only surrendering 448.

The starting five – Cameron Allison, Bam Nelms, Eli Lambert, Xamuel Wachacha and Elijah Kirkland – had their way from the opening tip of each outing. Rebounds, steals, assists, layups, 3’s; there really was no weak spot to be found, even when the deep talent pool trotted onto the floor to relieve the starters for quick breathers.

In fact, only one team gave Robbinsville a scare this year: Hiwassee Dam/Ranger. In what looks to be the final year of a combined basketball program on the westernmost tip of North Carolina – Cherokee County Schools recently voted to consolidate Ranger into Hiwassee Dam – the Eagles welcomed the Black Knights on Nov. 9. It was the second game of the year for the Knights – and the first road trip.

Robbinsville prevailed 52-44, then solidified their claim as the cream of the crop by clipping the Eagles in Dec. 7’s return match, 66-22.

How fitting that Hiwassee Dam/Ranger peered across the floor at the Black Knights in Jan. 24’s Smoky Mountain Conference Tournament Final. With the showcase being played on Robbinsville’s home court this year, the Black Knights took until the second quarter to burst out with their patented razzle-dazzle attack.

A 12-0 run to begin the segment established who was in charge of things on the hardwood, as Robbinsville finished a perfect campaign with a 64-46 trouncing of the visitors.

Vindication for last year’s finals loss to Cherokee was finally in the Knights’ grasp.

“I’d like to thank Jesus for His grace and love,” said head coach Jonathan Allison. “These boys set a goal after the championship-game loss last year to make it back to the championship game and to take it home.

“At the start of the season in October, I told them to give me five weeks and everything they had of pure heart. We did conditioning, shooting and repeat over and over, from medicine balls to six seconds to make it from half-court to baseline and back – until everyone made it back. To have such a large 8th-grade class really helped the younger classmates buy in and push themselves as well.”

The fearsome fivesome controlled 99.9 percent of the scoring in the game. With Robbinsville’s well-rounded assault on full display, Cameron Allison finished just 27 points shy of 500 in middle school, leading Robbinsville with 15 points, six rebounds, four steals, two assists and two blocks. Kirkland recorded a double-double (13 points, 10 rebounds) with a nice compliment of six steals, five assists and one block; Lambert matched Kirkland’s output, amassing nine rebounds, six steals and an assist.

Nelms posted 12 points, two rebounds, two steals and an assist; while Wachacha had six points, three steals, two assists, one block and one rebound. Rounding out the scoreline was Payton Weaver, with five points, two rebounds and a steal.

Coach Allison is quick to recognize the special group of talent assembled together this year. Though a mass exodus of players will occur in the offseason – Allison, Braylon Blevins, Peyton Brooks, Landen Eddings, Kirkland, Lambert, Nelms, Klayton Swimmer and Wachacha all graduate to high school – there are still plenty of capable players to fill the void.

“I’ve seen a lot of growth from the younger group between October-January,” coach Allison observed. “For the 8th graders, I will truly miss them next year; 17-0 doesn’t come around that often.”