Robbinsville prevails in overtime opener
Robbinsville – If the season debut was any indication of things to come, Black Knights’ fans are in for another non-stop thrill ride this year.
Robbinsville jumped ahead 20-10 over the Smoky Mountain Mustangs in Nov. 30’s opener, before falling behind 43-37 by the end of the third.
But in what has became a signature of Knights’ basketball, Robbinsville forced overtime after a fourth-quarter rally and sprinted away during the free segment to win, 64-54.
“It’s just like Coach (Jake Beasley) says every week at practice: when it comes down late fourth-quarter, two minutes, overtime – it’s all about who wants it more,” senior point guard Brock Adams pointed out. “We had Xander shooting 3’s, Bryce taking care of the ball going up, (Nathanael) Shope rebounding and putting the ball up, everybody was doing the little things: playing defense and rebounding.”
Robbinsville (3-0) simply peaked too early – and it showed in the scoreline. Easy shots missed that would have fell in a late-season scenario – it does take a bit to get into basketball shape, after all – and the Knights only mustered five points in the second period.
More than willing to pick up the slack, Smoky Mountain (3-1) used a 15-5 split to tie things at 25-all by halftime. Robbinsville gathered its bearings during the break, but the Mustangs continued to lean on the hot work off the bench from Matthew Brown – who led their offense, with 16 points – as well as the keen shooting from Jed West.
The Knights refused to go down quietly, though, flipping the script by limiting Smoky Mountain to just seven points in the fourth. A 50-50 tie gave way to a 10-0 start for Robbinsville to the extra quarter, including a deep trey from Xander Wachacha.
Reeling, the Mustangs only supplied four overtime points.
“We looked really good, but I think everybody still has ‘football legs,’ since we haven’t ran up and down the court,” Brock added. “We’ve only had five days of practice (as a full team).”
Wachacha led the Black Knights with 19 points. Also scoring was Bryce Adams, 14; Brock Adams, 12; Nathanael Shope, 10; Bo Rattler, 7; and Quinn Jumper, 2.
Tuesday brought Highlands (1-3) to town. A 25-6 first quarter from Robbinsville set the mood for the evening, with the Knights cruising to a 61-27 victory.
Wachacha put up 22 on the Highlanders, leading Robbinsville’s offense.
Bryce Adams had 14, while Shope had eight.
Other Black Knights to score were Brock Adams, 6; Dane Knott and Jumper, 3 each; Caleb Draper and Rattler, 2 apiece; and Austin Crisp, 1.
Everybody scores
Nantahala – The Knights’ exploded in their first road foray of the season, piling on the Nantahala Hawks in an eventual 85-43 win.
All told, Bryce Adams emerged as Robbinsville’s leading scorer, credited with 22 in the win. Also scoring for the Black Knights was Shope, 13; Knott, 12; both Isaiah Brown and Wachacha, 7 each; Logan Calloway, 6; Brock Adams and Jumper, with 5 apiece; Draper, 4; Rattler, 3; and Crisp, 1.
Cole McCoy’s 25-point night led the offense for Nantahala.
Junior varsity
In a heartbreaker, Robbinsville (1-1) fell in its JV debut to Smoky Mountain, 51-47.
Knott unleashed 24 points on the Mustangs. Other JV Knights to score were Luke Lovin, 10; Isiac Collins, 6; Trey Lambert, 3; and both Javian Blair and Tanner Hedden, 2 each.
Robbinsville got the ship on course Tuesday, knocking off Highlands 48-36.
Knott again led the Black Knights, scoring 16 on the Highlanders. Collins posted 13, while Lovin and Brown put up seven each.
Lambert’s 3 and Hedden’s bucket finished out Robbinsville’s scoreline.