Murphy – With portions of Graham County still blanketed in snow, Robbinsville’s basketball program embarked on a “4-for-4” slate over the course of the last week.
A perfect balance of conference and non-conference action resulted in the Black Knights trouncing Highlands in its only home game of the stretch Jan. 23, before traveling to Cherokee on Friday and delivering a defeat to the Braves; traveling across state lines and dishing out a win over the Copper Basin (Tenn.) Cougars on Monday; and capping the run by completing a season sweep of the Murphy Bulldogs on Tuesday.
Though things got interesting late at the “Dawg Pound,” Robbinsville (11-5, 4-1) held off a late rally bid to upend Murphy (9-7, 1-3), 60-55.
The Bulldogs gnawed away at the Knights’ 52-41 lead in the fourth, eventually cutting the festivities to 55-53. Dane Knott swished a clutch three to give Robbinsville a bit of breathing room, however and from that moment onward, Murphy would not get within three of tying the game.
Bryce Adams ran his career mark to 1,088 by knocking down a Knights-best 16 in the victory. Luke Lovin was close behind with 15, while Darion Ledbetter connected for 10.
Also scoring was Knott 9; Kenyon Swimmer 7; and Roman Jones 3.
Highlanders conquered
Robbinsville – In a game that featured exactly zero two-point field goals from Highlands (6-13), the Black Knights cruised to a 60-17 win.
Swimmer led the cause for Robbinsville (11-5, 4-1) with 15 points. Also scoring was Adams 10; Knott and Ledbetter, 8 each; Nathan Frederick 5; Jones and Quinn Jumper, 4 apiece; and Isiac Collins, Kyzik Teesateskie and Tytan Teesateskie, 2 each.
Brave rally
Cherokee – The Knights surged back from a first-half deficit Friday to dispose of Cherokee (7-5, 4-2), 57-48.
Down 25-24 at intermission, Knott took an inbound and drained a trey at the 5-second mark of the third quarter to give Robbinsville the 44-42 nod at the outset of the fourth. Channeling the momentum, the Black Knights started the final period on a 9-0 run and went on to outscore the stunned hosts 13-6 in the final eight minutes.
When the victory was in the books, Lovin emerged with a team-high 14 points. He also posted two assists, two steals and a rebound.
Knott finished with 13 points, while Adams recorded 12 points and nine rebounds.
Also scoring for Robbinsville was Ledbetter 9; Jones 3; and Collins, Frederick and Jumper, 2 apiece.
Cougars checked
Copperhill, Tenn. – From the opening tip Monday, the Black Knights let the hosts know who was in control of the game.
After picking apart the Cougars in the first meeting between the two programs this year 68-32 on Dec. 10, Robbinsville allowed Copper Basin (3-15) exactly two less points this go-around, while perfectly matching its offensive flurry from round one in the process.
Both Adams and Knott emerged with the team lead in points, hitting 11 apiece against the Cougars.
Adams also had four steals, three rebounds and an assist, while Knott mixed in three steals and a rebound.
Others adding to the dismantling were Lovin 8; Jumper 7; Swimmer 6; Logan Callaway 5; Collins and Ledbetter, 4 each; Kasen Buchanan and Lambert, 3 apiece; and Frederick, Jones and Tytan Teesateskie, 2 each.
Junior varsity
Robbinsville’s next generation of varsity stars kept busy as well, squeezing in three games.
The Black Knights (10-3) opened the run with a 55-30 win over Highlands. Bam Nelms led the outburst with 18 points, while Landon Eddings was close behind with 16.
Rounding out the effort was Eli Lambert 9; and Elijah Kirkland and Xamuel Wachacha, 6 each.
The fun continued Friday, as Robbinsville knocked off Cherokee 62-54.
Lambert took charge in the win, scoring 18 for the Knights. Nelms had 15, while Eddings hit 11.
The trio of Tucker Jones, Kirkland and Wachacha each put up six to close out the scoreline.
Robbinsville ended the flurry with a 69-32 trouncing of Murphy on Tuesday. Nelms exploded for 24 points in the victory, while Wachacha hit 17.
Also scoring was Lambert 13; Kirkland 11; and Eddings and Jones, 2 each.