Termite, Mite Knights conquer year-end tournament
Ranger – When the teams reached the end of the road, one stamped an undefeated season; the other ended a 4-year winning streak.
Both walked out of the Smokey Mountain Youth Conference Tournament on a high note.
The Robbinsville Termites and Mites knocked off Hayesville on Saturday, in the finals of the almost two-week showcase. With an overflow crowd looking on inside the cramped gym at Ranger School – the host site for this year’s tournament – the Black Knights took care of the Yellow Jackets in the Termites finale, 37-26; later, Robbinsville took down Hayesville 44-38 in the conclusion to the yearly extravaganza.
“It was an amazing season, with a special group of kids,” said Termites head coach Seth Mullinax. “Anytime you have a group of 15 players like this – that have played, practiced and worked together for years – it really shows on the court. They all trust each other and know how to play with each other – and that makes a huge difference.”
“I am extremely pleased with the way these young men gave all in the final game of their season,” Mites head coach Corey Snider said. “I challenged them, ‘How bad do you want it?,” and they rose to the challenge.”
In the Termites’ win, Elijah Allison led the scoreline with 12 points, two steals and one rebound. Canyon Gross had eight points, five rebounds, one block and one steal, while Mekhi Dominguez finished with five points and seven rebounds.
Daylon Anderson, Kyson Carpenter and Jax Mullinax each connected twice from the field to round out the scoring.
Robbinsville finished the year 11-0 in Termites action.
“I can’t thank coaches Ben Thacker and Jacob Nelms for the help they provided this season; the team loved getting a chance to learn with them,” coach Mullinax added. “We are already moving on to baseball with this same group and I think that’s a testament to how much these young men love getting out and playing together, and just how bright the future of Robbinsville sports is.”
For the Mites, Brayden Allison started Robbinsville off on the right foot, with three straight transition baskets.
He finished with a Knights-leading 24 points, while mixing in seven steals and a rebound. Carsan Snider recorded 12 points, five assists, two steals and a rebound; Micah York added four points, six rebounds and three steals. Draylen Hill sank a second-quarter shot to flesh out the scorebook.
The Knights’ only loss this season came against a Jackets team that had not lost in almost four years.
Robbinsville’s Mites went 10-1 across the 2023-24 calendar; two exhibition wins in the Christmas Tournament bumped them to an overall mark of 12-1.
“I think this speaks well for upcoming years of Black Knights basketball,” coach Snider added. “I have coached this young men for three or more years and they have really improved with my teaching of fundamental basketball, which was my goal. They are a great group of young men and I can see each one succeeding in life.”
In the other two tournament finales, Copper Basin edged Hayesville 19-18 to win the Termite Girls championship; Andrews beat Hayesville 27-26 in overtime to capture the Mite Girls crown.
Third-place games played out as follows:
* Robbinsville over Murphy (Termite Girls);
* Andrews over Murphy (Termite Boys);
* Snowbird over Murphy (Mite Girls) and
* Murphy over Ranger (Mite Boys).