Hiwassee Dam – The Robbinsville Middle School boys will play on.
Behind the high-scoring effort of Tillman Adams (24 points) and Luke Lovin (17), the No. 4-seeded Black Knights disposed of the No. 5-seeded Andrews Wildcats 57-48 on Saturday in the quarterfinals of the Smoky Mountain Conference Tournament at Hiwassee Dam.
“Luke and Tillman had themselves a game,” Robbinsville head coach Warren Knott said. “I’m so proud of the boys playing with that Black Knight pride.”
Also scoring for the Knights was Kasen Buchanan 5, Owen Blevins and Kyzik Teesateskie with 4 each, and Xamuel Wachacha 3.
Robbinsville (9-4) will meet the winner of Murphy (No. 1 seed) and Martins Creek (No. 8) – which is being played today – in the tournament semifinals at 7:45 p.m. Saturday.
The win was a nice rebound from a sour end to the regular season Jan. 12, a 67-23 road loss to Murphy. Scoring was handled by Lovin 8, Adams 6, Teesateskie 5, Bam Nelms 3 and Blevins 1.
Lady Knights
Robbinsville (No. 7 seed, 1-10) saw its middle school girls season come to an end in the tournament opener Saturday, dropping a 45-20 game to Hayesville (No. 2).
Abby Wehr’s eight points led the Lady Knights. Also scoring were Chloe Adams 5; Zachlan Chekelelee, Maleah Cox, and Katie Lyn Gross and with two each; and MyKayla McGuire 1.
The Lady Knights’ regular season ended with a 61-33 road loss to Murphy.
Adams posted a team-best eight points in the game.
Also contributing to the final outcome for Robbinsville was Wehr 7, Chasity Jones and Gross with 4 each, Daphne Barlow 3, Zaelyn Chekelelee, Cox and Zaelyn Phillips with 2 each, and Cassidy Sudderth 1.