Robbinsville – The Lady Knights pounced on Murphy early in Jan. 22's home appointment and never looked back, going on to down the Lady Bulldogs 53-31.
Robbinsville (8-7, 2-4) led 11-5 after the first quarter – though the visitors made things interesting by trimming the deficit to 20-15 at halftime. However, a dominant second-half from Zaelyn Phillips helped lift the Lady Knights to a 35-25 nod by the end of the third; before Murphy (8-7, 2-4) faltered in the wake of an 18-5 run by Robbinsville down the stretch.
Overall, Phillips led the Knights with a double-double: 17 points and 11 rebounds. She also had two assists, two steals and a block. Zayleigh Chekelelee finished with 13 points, five assists, four rebounds and three steals, while Bentley Riggins added 10 points, four rebounds, one assist, one block and a steal.
Also scoring was Zachlan Chekelelee 5; Abby Wehr and Aaliyah Wolfe, 3 each; and Haizleigh Driver 2.
Emma Laney and Kennedy White both led Murphy with seven points apiece.
Cats pounce
The Lady Knights faltered after going full-tilt with Andrews (12-6, 5-3) on Tuesday, with the Lady Wildcats pulling away in a 16-4 second quarter and going on to clinch a 58-33 win.
Drea Cutshaw proved tough to defend inside for Robbinsville, as she hit a team-high 21 points for Andrews. Following the opening stanza, the Cats tightened down their interior defense – which stymied multiple Robbinsville drives and forced a bevy of turnovers.
Zayleigh Chekelelee led the Lady Knights with 12 points in the loss. Others to score for Robbinsville were Wehr 9; Phillips 7; Riggins and Wolfe, 2 each; and Novie Dutcher 1.
Junior varsity
Robbinsville (5-3) fell in Jan. 22's junior-varsity opener to Murphy, 40-29.
Brooklyn Cox kept up her recent offensive flurry, dropping 15 on the Bulldogs. Also scoring was Driver 11 and Emory Chekelelee 3.
Tuesday's opener went in favor of Robbinsville, as the Knights picked up a 35-29 win over Andrews.
Cox piled 20 points onto the visitors. Closing out the scorebook was Emery Beasley 6; Driver 4; Chekelelee 3; and Hannah Lynn 2.
Due to the threat of inclement weather, Friday, Saturday and Monday's respective road games at Nantahala, Swain County and Hiwassee Dam were postponed.
Action begins at 4 p.m., today at Hiwassee Dam, while the Nantahala game will be made up at 6 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 7.
The Lady Knights now tip-off in Bryson City at 6 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 31.