Knights continue hot 6-0 start
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Robbinsville’s Quinn Jumper ducks around Andrews’ Gabe Clark during the Black Knights’ win over the Wildcats on Tuesday. Photo by Fala Welch/The Graham Star
Robbinsville – Head coach Jake Beasley has seen the best of times and the worst of times for the Black Knights’ varsity program.
Right now definitely leans on the “best” side of the fence; perhaps the best Robbinsville has seen in its existence.
The program struggled for wins until recently; for example, the 2019-20 run resulted in a 3-20 mark. Just three seasons later, Robbinsville had reversed its fortunes enough to capture the Smoky Mountain Conference divisional and tournament championships, as well as book a third-round playoff appearance.
But where they are now is where they were during the magical run last year: undefeated, with the Smoky Mountain Christmas Classic tournament looming next week. Robbinsville was 6-0 when the post-Christmas trip to Sylva took place; its first opponent booked was the hosting Mustangs, a team the Knights had jousted 64-54 in the 2022-23 opener.
Smoky Mountain won the tournament opener 71-65. Now, the Knights are set to return to the classic and face the same three teams from last year’s showcase (Veritas Christian Academy and Brevard are also on the docket).
That first loss still lingers, however. Even after taking care of business Tuesday by limiting Andrews (5-1, 1-1) in a 43-35 win, Robbinsville (6-0, 2-0), the Knights are looking forward to returning to Sylva for the tournament.
Just so they can right last year’s wrong.
“All of our returning kids – especially Donovan Carpenter and Bryce Adams – both told me in the locker room tonight, ‘Coach, we’re not going to let that slip up on us again this year,’” said Robbinsville head coach Jake Beasley after Tuesday’s win. “All three of those teams are good, but they set a goal to go 3-0 in the Christmas tournament.
“That came from them, not from me.”
Tuesday’s showdown with the Wildcats was highly-touted: the No. 6-ranked Knights against No. 10-ranked Andrews.
In perhaps the most methodical game in recent memory, both programs meticulously played out the 32 allotted minutes. Intensity was evident when it came to working in the paint, but the two conference titans were careful on shot selection and rebounding.
Maybe too careful, because Robbinsville and Andrews both struggled to generate offense. Following an 11-8 run for the Knights in the first, the two sides turned in a 7-6 second quarter – with the visitors outscoring Robbinsville, albeit posting every point of the segment from the charity stripe.
The most prime example of how closely the teams mirrored one another took place when the third quarter ended after Cameron Rattler drained a trey with eight seconds left; undeterred, Robbinsville’s sophomore point guard Dane Knott sprinted up the floor just enough to unleash a long-range 3; it found the inside of the rim as the buzzer sounded.
“I wish we’d have hit a few more (shots) than we did, but I told the guys after the game, ‘If you shoot less than 20 percent from the field – but hold a team to 35 points – and come out with a win, that means you’re going to be a special group of boys,’” Beasley said.
“We’ve got a really good bench and we are deeper this year for sure; we’ve got a lot of kids that can go in and give us big minutes. And they have; that’s a big reason we’re 6-0.”
Adams led Robbinsville with 14 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 blocks and an assist.
Kenyon Swimmer dropped 12 points, 2 rebounds and a block on the Wildcats; while Knott finished with 9 points, two assists, two rebounds and a steal.
Carpenter rounded out the stat line with 8 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal.
Dogs silenced
Murphy – A highly-emotional trek to Cherokee County on Friday profited a 67-60 win over the Murphy Bulldogs.
The adrenaline of the two divisional foes meeting should have been enough motivation for the thriller to play out; another unpleasant memory from last year – a skirmish in the conference-tournament finals – had fans and players alike ready for anything.
But a lot of on-court maturity has taken place since the February dust-up; so Friday’s game did nothing but exhibit the talents of the two top programs in the hunt for a divisional title this year.
“When we start executing like we’re supposed to do – like we did Friday at Murphy – that looks more like the team that we are going to be moving forward,” Beasley said. “It’s going to be a great year.”
Carpenter shined brighter than the golden theme of the Bulldogs’ gymnasium, unleashing a 26-point drubbing for Robbinsville. Adams posted 12, with Knott contributing 11.
Fleshing out the scoreline was Darion Ledbetter 6; Roman Jones and Swimmer, 5 each; and Quinn Jumper 2.
Junior varsity
Robbinsville (2-1) shook off a season-opening loss for its JV team in a fine manner, picking up respective 29-22 and 34-22 wins over Murphy and Andrews.
Both Isiac Collins and Tyler Payne turned in a team-high 9 points each against the Bulldogs. Kyzik Teesateskie had 6, while Nathan Frederick recorded 5.
The latter ran past the Wildcats for 13 points on Tuesday, which led Robbinsville.
Also scoring was Collins 10; Teesateskie 8; Payne 2; and Tucker Jones 1.