Black Knights trump Bobcats
Cashiers – The Black Knights are having to readjust their program, a little over midway through the season.
Down to eight players, Robbinsville has struggled to find its identity as of late, often faltering in the late stages of games the team seemingly had in hand.
So to hold an opponent to 10 first-half points and finish with a 75-30 victory under your belt – no matter who the opposition is – felt vindicating.
Robbinsville (5-9, 1-4) made the trek to Cashiers on Friday for action against the Blue Ridge Bobcats (2-13) and opened a 28-point lead at the break, before racing away with the 45-point win.
Emerging from the pack was freshman Bryce Adams, who put up 21 points against the Bobcats and also mixed in eight rebounds, five steals and an assist. In his first start of the season, Dasan Gross dropped 18 points on Blue Ridge and added seven rebounds, four steals and one block, while Brock Adams had 10 points, three assists, three steals and two rebounds.
Also scoring for the Knights was Kamdyn Jordan 9, Bo Rattler and Xander Wachacha with five each, Donovan Carpenter 4 and Brandon McLucas 3.
Second-half woes
Cherokee – Robbinsville led 39-32 at halftime of the Jan. 13 road game against the Cherokee Braves, but were outpaced 47-23 in the second half, ultimately falling 79-62.
The Braves were plagued by turnovers in the second quarter, with Brock Adams and Wachacha forming a quick duo in transition.
But Donald Bradley came to life for Cherokee (7-7, 3-1) – including a pair of desperation buzzer-beaters to cap off the second and third stanzas – and finished the game with 28 points.
For Robbinsville, Jordan topped the scoreline with 19 points, while also tallying six rebounds, four steals and three assists. Bryce Adams had 12 points, two rebounds, two assists and a steal, while Wachacha posted 12 points, four steals, two rebounds and two assists.
Other Black Knights to score were Carpenter 8, Gross 6 and Brock Adams 5.
Junior varsity
Robbinsville (1-7) could not get into a groove in the junior-varsity game at Cherokee, dropping the affair 63-17.
Hugh Forbes led the scoreline with six points. Nathaniel Shope had five, while Isaiah Brown and Logan Callaway posted three each. Quinn Jumper also had a first-quarter basket to his credit.