Highlands – In the very definition of a "roller-coaster ride," Robbinsville came out on the winning end.
Even if it took an extra quarter of basketball to cinch the victory.
In its lone road game of the week, the Lady Knights traveled to Macon County and split the season series with Little Smoky Mountain Conference program Highlands (9-4), conquering the Lady Highlanders in overtime 45-41 on Jan. 8.
Robbinsville (5-5) jumped ahead 9-0 in the first quarter, thanks largely to the inside presence of sophomore Zaelyn Phillips – who crashed the boards on both ends of the floor, setting up the Knights for scoring opportunities.
The Knights eventually built an 18-4 lead in the second, but Highlands' Jordyn Borino helped trim the deficit by going a flawless 6-for-6 at the foul line during the segment.
Robbinsville led 23-14 at halftime, but a turnover-filled third period from both programs led to the advantage only being extended to 28-23 by the outset of the fourth.
Highlands grabbed its first lead of the game with 6:14 to go, when Taylor Hays deposited a basket. A back-and-forth battle for the nod commenced, with the Lady Highlanders forcing overtime after a Borino three swished through the net with under a minute to play.
Perhaps fueled by the desire to not be upstaged by the hosts, Robbinsville played an almost-perfect four minutes of free basketball to secure the win. The Knights applied heavy defensive pressure to force turnovers and shot perfectly from the free-throw line.
In turn, Highlands only went 1-of-6 from the charity stripe and failed to piece together any momentum.
Zayleigh Chekelelee led Robbinsville with 17 points, five steals, four rebounds and three assists. Aaliyah Wolfe finished the evening with eight points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals; while both Novie Dutcher and Bentley Riggins had seven points each.
Phillips recorded four points and Abby Wehr posted three, to round out the Knights scoreline.
Borino finished with a Lady Highlanders-best 22 points.
Sting of defeat
Robbinsville – The return to conference play left the Lady Knights still looking for divisional win No. 1, as Robbinsville dropped to 0-2 in the Smoky Mountain Conference following a tough 54-53 home loss to Hayesville (8-6, 3-1) on Tuesday.
The Knights entered the fourth quarter with a 44-41 lead, before surrendering the defeat.
Chekelelee once again paced the offense, scoring 19 for Robbinsville. Also scoring were Riggins and Wehr, 12 each; Phillips 8; and Wolfe 2.
Ava Shook led the Lady Jackets with 21 points.