Black Knights slash home opponents; streak now at 23
Robbinsville – With three straight road games against Little Smoky Mountain Conference schools on the docket ahead, the Black Knights’ resounding defense of their home court will be put on ice.
Robbinsville (9-2, 3-0) has captured divisional titles, triumphed in playoff games and combined a lethal mixture of heart-stopping contests that went down to the wire with outcomes that were in the bag from the opening tip.
Fans were able to witness both in the Knights’ latest action, which featured a 59-33 trouncing of Highlands (2-11) on Jan. 4 and a wild 51-43 extinguishing of Hayesville (7-6, 0-3) on Friday.
“My expectations of these kids are really high, but I don’t think they see their true potential yet,” Robbinsville head coach Jake Beasley said. “We’re 9-2 right now, and we’re nowhere near our peak – which is a good thing.”
The tone was set from the word “go” against the Highlanders, with Robbinsville ensuring the final score would be a bit more decisive than when the Knights prevailed 61-48 at Highlands on Dec. 8. The first quarter alone featured a 26-4 start for the defending Big Smoky Mountain Conference champions; the stubborn defense that has expelled 23 straight on Robbinsville’s home court limited the visitors to just 16 before intermission.
“That first quarter is the way we should be playing,” Beasley said. “I’ve been trying to tell them that we need to push; we have way too many athletes just to be walking the ball up the floor and playing slow, per se.”
A back-and-forth theme played out when the Knights opened the door for the Yellow Jackets to inhabit Friday. Robbinsville’s biggest surge came at the outset of the second half, when the Black Knights pulled away from a slim 23-18 nod at the break with an 11-0 run to start the third.
Just two seasons removed from winning the 1A state championship – a 28-0 campaign that included handing Robbinsville its last home loss, a 51-44 defeat on Jan. 7, 2022 – Hayesville thundered back in the final segment. Impact players left from the state-title run helped buzz the deficit away. Jacob McClure swished a 3-pointer that capped a 12-0 start for the Jackets in the fourth, which cut the Knights’ once-comfy lead to 39-38.
Robbinsville did not allow Hayesville to get any closer. Kenyon Swimmer dropped a layup for the Knights to provide some breathing room; down the stretch, Robbinsville outscored the Jackets 10-3.
“I had a really good feeling before tonight, but that goes to show you what feelings will do for you,” Beasley said. “We didn’t play the way we’re capable of during the first half; I feel like we played right into their hands and exactly what they wanted to do. They’re a fundamental, well-coached, disciplined basketball team and they execute very well.”
Robbinsville travels to Nantahala (3-5) today, Blue Ridge School (2-8) on Friday and caps the road trip by visiting Hiwassee Dam (2-9) on Tuesday.
Junior varsity
Robbinsville improved to 4-1 in junior varsity play last week, drubbing Highlands 43-8 and defeating Hayesville 43-39.
Nathan Frederick’s 15 points led the Knights in the win over the Highlanders. Also scoring was Isiac Collins 12; Kyzik Teesateskie 10; Everett Taylor 4; and Levi Roberts 2.
Friday’s victory over the Jackets saw Frederick record 17 points, five rebounds and four steals. Collins finished with eight points, eight rebounds, six assists, two steals and one block, while Teesateskie and Tucker Jones put up seven apiece.
Tristen Blevins and Tyler Patton each scored a basket to close out the book.