Rounded effort pushes Robbinsville past Murphy
Murphy – In a game that literally came right down to the wire, Robbinsville came out on top.
In the final 30 seconds of Tuesday’s varsity-boys clash at Murphy, Donovan Carpenter, Xander Wachacha and Brock Adams each hit key baskets that helped hold off the Bulldogs in a thrilling 68-64 victory.
“We just played our hind-ends off. Our boys refused to lose,” said Robbinsville head coach Jake Beasley. “They played excellent, team basketball.
“We’re coming, I promise. We’re starting to get our basketball legs and we’re going to be tough to handle.”
Wachacha had 18 first-half points and though Murphy solved the puzzle – holding the sophomore guard to just one foul shot in the second half – Robbinsville (3-4, 1-1) more than carried the load with an explosive defensive effort from Kamdyn Jordan and hot shooting courtesy of Brock Adams, who finished the game with 25 points.
In addition to his team-high point total, Brock Adams also recorded four rebounds, three steals and three assists.
Wachacha had four steals to go with his 19-point evening, while Jordan tallied nine points, five rebounds and four steals.
Also scoring was Carpenter 7, Eddie Brooms 4, and Bryce Adams and Bo Rattler with 2 each.
Christmas tournament
Tellico Plains, Tenn. – A stagnant first-quarter doomed the Knights in their Tellico Plains Christmas Tournament opener Friday, as Robbinsville dropped a 58-45 affair to Walker Valley (Cleveland, Tenn.).
Brock Adams led the Knights with 20 points against the Mustangs. Also contributing for Robbinsville was Carpenter 9, Wachacha 8, Jordan 4, and both C.J. Ornelas and Bryce Adams with a bucket each.
Robbinsville outpaced Polk County (Tenn.) 18-14 in the first quarter of its second tournament game Saturday, but a 20-point segment for Polk helped open up a 34-26 halftime advantage. The
Knights would ultimately fall, 71-52.
Both Jordan and Wachacha had 16 points in the loss. Bryce Adams scored 11, with Brooms adding four. Brock Adams and Bo Rattler posted a bucket each, while Ornelas made a foul shot.
The Black Knights salvaged the three-day showcase with a 66-47 victory over the Copper Basin (Tenn.) Cougars.
Jordan posted a team-best 19 points in Robbinsville’s victory.
Others filling out the scoreline were Bryce Adams 12, Brock Adams and Rattler with 10 each, Carpenter 7, Brooms 4, and both Wachacha and Ornelas with 2 apiece.
Junior varsity
Robbinsville (0-3) fell in its lone junior-varsity contest of the week at Murphy, 49-36.
Quinn Jumper led the Knights’ effort with 12 points, seven rebounds, one steal and one assist. Others to score for Robbinsville were Hugh Forbes 11, Logan Callaway 7, and both Isaiah Brown and Austin Crisp with 3 apiece.