Barring a major upset after Wednesday's press deadline at Rosman, the Black Knights are in line to claim their third Smoky Mountain Conference championship in the last four seasons.
After a huge Senior Night win over Cherokee on Monday, Robbinsville (18-3, 9-1) will travel to Murphy (16-3, 8-1), to determine who will capture the divisional crown tonight. The game will be live-streamed exclusively through grahamstarsports.com.
The road to the championship game has been arduous. A myriad of postponements led to the Knights having to play five contests in a six-day period recently, including a home/away series with Swain County between Feb. 4-5; road trips to Hayesville and Nantahala on Friday and Saturday; and the aforementioned triumph over the Braves on Monday – which had previously handed the Black Knights their only conference loss to date.
Robbinsville would not be denied in its quest to even up the season series with Cherokee (16-6, 8-3), jumping ahead in the first quarter and prevailing 59-53.
Nathan Frederick led the Knights' output with 17 points. Also scoring were Dane Knott 13; Luke Lovin 10; Kristian Bauzo 7; and both Kyzik Teesateskie and Xamuel Wachacha, 6 each.
Samuel Hernandez paced the Braves with 15 points.
The slate began with a resounding 74-56 win over Swain County (8-14, 2-10).
Frederick again led the effort with 25 points. Others to contribute were Knott 18; Lovin 8; Teesateskie and Wachacha, 7 each; Bauzo 5; Buchanan 2; and both Elijah Kirkland and Bam Nelms, 1 apiece.
Andruw Cody put up 35 for the Maroon Devils.
Robbinsville also ran away with the return battle one night later, prevailing 82-55 in Bryson City.
Knott emerged as the scoring leader, finishing with 24 points, five assists, four rebounds and two steals. Also scoring were Lovin 17; Bauzo 15; Frederick 11; Teesateskie 7; Wachacha 4; and both Dane Daniels and Kellen Ensley, 2 each.
Cody again led the Devils, hitting 18.
Bauzo turned in a 26-point showing at Hayesville (11-12, 4-7) on Friday, helping boost Robbinsville to a 65-44 victory. He also mixed in three steals and two rebounds for good measure.
Knott had 20, while Lovin recorded seven. Rounding out the scoreline were Frederick 5; Wachacha 3; and both Daniels and Teesateskie, 2 each.
Rhett Sellers scored 14 to lead the Yellow Jackets.
In varsity-only action Saturday, Robbinsville defeated Nantahala (10-13), 79-44.
Knott led the crowded scoreline with 23 points. Also scoring were Wachacha 16; Landon Eddings and Frederick, 10 apiece; Cameron Allison, Easton Shuler and Teesateskie, 5 each; Lovin 3; and Buchanan 2.
Cole McCoy hit 13 to pace the Hawks.
Junior varsity
Robbinsville (15-1) stayed hot in junior varsity action, going 4-0 across the recent schedule.
The Black Knights began the slate by defeating Swain County on Feb. 4, 59-36. Eddings had a team-high 13 points for Robbinsville.
Also scoring were Kirkland 9; Allison 8; Trevor Jenkins, Lambert and Nelms, 7 each; Shuler 5; and Khayton Swimmer 3.
The Knights then unloaded a barrage Feb. 5, trouncing the Maroon Devils 77-44.
Both Allison and Kirkland had 18 points for Robbinsville. Others to score were Lambert 12; Eddings 11; Nelms 8; Shuler 7; and Jenkins 3.
Friday at Hayesville, Robbinsville picked up a 60-34 win.
Shuler led the Knights with 12 points. Also scoring were Allison 11; Eddings and Nelms, 10 each; Lambert 9; Kirkland 6; and Jenkins 2.
Robbinsville capped the hectic stretch by downing Cherokee, 63-41.
Lambert topped the scoreline with 19 points. Others to round out the book were Kirkland 11; Allison 9; Eddings and Shuler 8; Nelms 5; and Kenai Wolfe 3.