Winston-Salem – A magical run for Lady Knights basketball came to a disappointing end March 11.
Robbinsville fell 58-44 to Wilson Preparatory Academy in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association's 1A state championship game, which was held on the campus of Wake Forest University's Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem.
"Coming into this game, we talked about being able to embrace the moment and having fun," said first-year Lady Knights head coach Brooklyn Lester. "We wanted to play for each other and most of all, leave it all out on the court. I think our girls showed spurts of leaving it all out there, but we also drew back some."
Entering the postseason as the No. 9 seed, Robbinsville (17-12) thrived during a hectic road schedule that saw the Lady Knights log an exhausting 1,609 miles to reach the finals – with 934 of those coming in the second, third and fourth rounds, played over the course of five days. The Knights had six days off between the regional championship and the state championship, which was the first in program history; in fact, it was the school's initial foray into the basketball finals, for that matter.
"I knew coming in, we were going to building a standard," Lester said. "What better way than to make it to this state championship game – even to be runners-up. Making history the first time? That is what we wanted. I know Robbinsville's been known to be (a) football, softball (school), but we're making a change."
The opposition was a familiar name. Wilson Preparatory Academy (26-3) was the No. 2 seed in the East; the Lady Tigers looked on from the stands in December as their male counterparts pulled off a 9-8 upset in the 1A football title game over Robbinsville. Wilson Prep enjoyed home-court advantage until winning the regional championship March 5, by defeating Falls Lake Academy (No. 1 East seed, 19-3) at East Carolina University.
Gametime
Once March 11's pomp and circumstance wrapped up, Wilson Prep wasted little time opening up an 8-0 lead. Robbinsville found itself unable to match size inside with the Tigers' 6'5" center, MyAngel Brimage; as well as the speedy defense of point guard Paris Best, who plucked away a team-high six steals for Wilson Prep in the game.
Yet, the Lady Knights did what they've done all season: they adjusted. Zayleigh Chekelelee hit a patented trey to get Robbinsville on the board with 4:20 to go in the opening segment, with the Knights completing the rally bid when Zaelyn Phillips hit a 3-pointer of her own at the 30-second mark. The shot later sent the affair into the second quarter, tied 12-12.
The game evolved into a back-and-forth battle in the second, with Robbinsville seizing its only lead of the afternoon when Bentley Riggins deposited a putback with 1:20 remaining before halftime to push the Lady Knights out front 24-23. Chloe Murphy ultimately paid dividends for the Tigers, however – as her pressure at half-court led to transitional baskets and a 28-24 Wilson Prep lead at the break.
"It's unfortunate that we couldn't get into our rhythm," Lester added.
The Tigers stayed one step ahead in the third – opening up a 39-33 lead in the process – but the Knights displayed the same tenacity and grit that carried the program all season regardless.
Chekelelee is the team's freshman point guard and has been clutch from outside throughout the campaign. Needing some critical shots to drop, Robbinsville turned to her in the fourth and she delivered a swish from beyond the arc that cut the deficit 39-36 with six minutes left.
"This has been really fun," Chekelelee said. "I honestly didn't expect us to make it this far, in all honesty, but I eventually had faith in every single one of us. I love these seniors very much and I had to trust them out on the court; being a freshman, that's scary. I'm not going to lie.
"As a young team, working in the offseason will help build our program. We'll be ready for next year and hopefully make the same run."
Her blast was the final threat the Lady Knights made in the game – as in response, Wilson Prep went on a 12-0 run that Robbinsville simply could not overcome in the final minutes of the game. Aaliyah Wolfe scored the final points of the game for the Knights.
Reflections
"A potential building block is for us to settle," said Lester. "Coming to state can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I don't want my younger classmen to settle. I don't want them to be ok with, 'Oh, we went once.' I want them to continue to have that attitude of, 'I'm going to continue to do whatever it takes.' I don't want them to shy away from anything."
Senior guard Abby Wehr – who was also afforded the Farm Bureau Sportsmanship and the Army National Guard Most Outstanding Player awards at the game – led the Knights with a double-double: 11 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and one steal.
"This is really special," Wehr said. "I'm really excited to see what the underclassmen will do in the future. I love all my girls and I'm going to miss them."
Both Zayleigh Chekelelee and Wolfe had 10 points each, while Phillips capped her evening with seven points. Also scoring for Robbinsville was Riggins 4 and Zachlan Chekelelee 2.
"The fact that we made history is big," an emotional Riggins said. "I've always wanted to be that teammate that everybody can come to. I love supporting my girls. That's one thing about us: we're not selfish. We praise other people's successes. I'm happy for everybody right now. Being here and seeing Wilson Prep get it, too. We both wanted it and we both fought so hard for it, so someone has to go home with the title at the end of the day."
Paris Best paced Wilson Preparatory Academy with 21 points.
Other Tigers to score were Brimage 11; Murphy 10; Kaidyn Brown 8; Mahalia Thomas 6; and Tykira Artist 2.
* Next week: All-Conference players for Robbinsville are revealed.