Robbinsville swept in 3-game road appointment
Weaverville – The final varsity basketball action of 2024 proved to be a tough assignment.
Robbinsville traveled to North Buncombe High School for a 3-game tilt Friday, with the Blackhawks collecting victories in each outing: the Lady Knights fell 58-31, while the Black Knights faltered in the second half to lose 65-52.
The first half of the nightcap stayed consistently even, although North Buncombe (3-4) kept the pressure on from the opening tip. Robbinsville (5-3) kept pace nicely and with 3:45 left in the second, took its only lead on a 3-pointer from the returning Kenyon Swimmer. The Blackhawks strung together a quick burst to undo the damage, however: Aidrian Allen tipped a putback through the net moments later, before Trent Clark nabbed the ball and deposited a transition basket.
North Buncombe was unable to build any breathing room until the third. Coming off slim leads of 18-17 and 36-32 before halftime, the Blackhawks ran away with a 15-7 segment. Refusing to go quietly, senior Roman Jones swished a trey to cut the deficit to 56-48, with five minutes left in the game. The shot was the closest Robbinsville managed to get before the final buzzer, as turnovers reared their ugly head down the stretch and North Buncombe took full advantage of the gifts.
Bryce Adams and Roman Jones both posted 14 points in the loss to lead Robbinsville. Adams mixed in nine rebounds, two assists and two blocks to his stat line; Jones added seven boards.
Also scoring was Swimmer 8; Dane Knott and Luke Lovin, 3 each; and both Nathan Frederick and Quinn Jumper hit one basket apiece.
Trent Clark led North Buncombe’s attack with 19 points.
Lady Knights
The Lady Hawks soared to an 8-0 start in the game, with Robbinsville’s Suri Watty clinging to the wing and breaking the drought on a long-distance shot at the 3:50 mark of the first. North Buncombe (6-2) built a 19-8 advantage regardless, then expanded its game to the perimeter and raced to a 40-19 halftime nod on the strength of 3’s from Lily Metcalf, Grace Parker and Kadence Penley.
Both offenses struggled in the second half, with the Blackhawks outgaining the Knights 10-6 in the third and 8-6 in the fourth.
Liz Carpenter was the only Robbinsville (4-3) player in double digits, recording 11 points and tacking on five rebounds, one block and a steal. Watty finished with nine points, one rebound and one steal, while Abby Wehr tallied four points, three rebounds and one block.
Rounding out the effort was Bentley Riggins 3; and both Maleah Cox and Zaelyn Phillips, 2 each.
Gracie Edmonds was the leading contributor for the Lady Hawks, finishing with 12 points.
Junior varsity
Friday’s opener resulted in Robbinsville’s JV Black Knights suffering their first loss of the year to North Buncombe, 64-33.
Elijah Kirkland led Robbinsville (5-1) with 12 points.
Others to score for the Knights were Eli Lambert 9, Landon Eddings 6, Tucker Jones 5 and Khayton Swimmer 1.
Robbinsville will resume action Jan. 7, traveling to Smoky Mountain.
The JV Lady Knights will tip-off the 4-game docket at 4 p.m.