Highlands – The first half of Jan. 8's trip to the Plateau was a shocker, both on paper and to the fans in attendance.
Typically an offensively-potent team right out of the gate, Robbinsville struggled to get locked in during the first two quarters of the return showdown with Highlands – which led to the hosting Highlanders taking a 27-16 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Black Knights head coach Jake Beasley invoked the North Carolina High School Athletic Association's "flex" rule in the second half, which allows players to participate in both JV and varsity games on the same night – provided they see limited time in the JV contest. With Jan. 8's opener wrapped up before it really got started, Elijah Kirkland and Eli Lambert rested for the second half of the JV game.
The strategy paid off. Both sophomores proved they could hang on the big stage, injecting new life into Robbinsville (8-2) with a flurry of steals and baskets that quickly shifted the tide.
Highlands' dreams of an upset soon faded: the Black Knights rallied to win, 65-55.
Dane Knott led Robbinsville with 15 points, five steals, four assists and three rebounds. Kirkland's efforts off the bench resulted in 13 points, two steals and a rebound; while Nathan Frederick capped his evening by posting 12 points, three rebounds and an assist.
Also scoring for the Black Knights was Xamuel Wachacha 8; Lambert 7; Kristian Bauzo 6; and Luke Lovin 4.
Paolo McRae emerged as the leading scorer for Highlands (4-9), dropping 16.
Divisional dub
Robbinsville – The Black Knights continued to stay perfect in conference play Tuesday, buzzing the Hayesville Yellow Jackets (7-7, 2-2), 72-48.
Robbinsville (2-0 in league play) was led by Knott's 23 points, which included seven from beyond the arc. Others to score for the Knights were Frederick 13; Lovin 11; Bauzo 8; Kirkland and Kyzik Teesateskie, 4 each; Kasen Buchanan, 3; and Lambert, Bam Nelms and Wachacha, 2 apiece.
Brady Reynolds recorded a team-best 20 points for the Jackets.
Junior varsity
In just 42 minutes, the JV Black Knights disposed of Highlands on Jan. 8, 70-16.
Landon Eddings led Robbinsville (6-1) with 17 points. Both Cameron Allison and Lambert scored 15 each, while Kirkland hit nine.
Rounding out the scoreline was Trevor Jenkins 5; and Nelms. Khayton Swimmer and Kenai Wolfe, 3 apiece.
The Black Knights also succeeded in Tuesday's home opener, downing Hayesville 54-21.
Lambert scored 18 to pace Robbinsville in the victory. Also scoring was Allison 12, Eddings 9, Kirkland 8, Nelms 4 and Swimmer 3.