Lady Knights fall in quarterfinals
Hayesville – Even after ending the regular season on a sour note, the Lady Knights entered Saturday’s divisional tournament opener with a plethora of enthusiasm.
Pitted against Murphy (No. 5, 11-16) in the quarterfinals, Robbinsville (No. 4, 11-12) carried not only its higher seed onto the court at Hayesville High, but a pair of lopsided wins over the Lady Bulldogs this year: a 59-34 rout at home Dec. 13 and a 54-27 road drubbing Jan. 28.
However, instead of exiting “The Hive” with a semifinal berth, the Knights left with the sting of defeat – as Murphy opened the Smoky Mountain Conference showcase with a 46-44 upset.
The Bulldogs took full advantage of a sluggish start for Robbinsville, opening a 14-6 lead in the first.
The Lady Knights barely nicked the scoreboard during the second as well and if not for a pair of Suri Watty 3-pointers late in the segment, would have entered the locker room down by 14.
Instead, Robbinsville came to life in the third after returning to play in a 24-16 hole. Both Zaelyn Phillips and Liz Carpenter each plucked the ball away from Murphy and scored in transition to shift the tide, with the Knights threatening to tie the game more than once. However, the Dogs played copycat late in the segment and scored their own shots off turnovers to maintain a 36-31 nod.
Despite a late scramble – including Bentley Riggins depositing a layup with nine seconds to go – Robbinsville’s comeback bid fell short of the mark.
Carpenter led the Knights with 15 points, five rebounds, two steals and a block.
Riggins finished the afternoon with 13 points, six rebounds and an assist, while both Phillips and Watty each hit 6. Abby Wehr scored another 4 points.
Robbinsville also dropped the regular-season conclusion Feb. 13 at Hayesville (16-10), 55-50.
Carpenter recorded a team-high 17 for the Lady Knights. Others to score were Riggins 12, Watty 6, Phillips 5, Barlow and Williams, 4 each and Wehr 2.
Playoff seeding will take place Saturday. Follow The Graham Star on Facebook and X to find out Robbinsville’s postseason fate, as the first round will be held Tuesday.
Junior varsity
Robbinsville (No. 4, 6-7) also fell victim to a tournament quarterfinal upset.
After sweeping Cherokee (No. 5) in the regular season, the Lady Knights were plagued by turnovers in the second and fourth quarters of Monday’s showdown and fell 58-36 to the Lady Braves.
MyKayla McGuire almost posted a triple-double in the game, amassing 13 points, nine steals and eight rebounds. Novie Dutcher had 10 points, four rebounds, four steals and an assist, while both Chasity Jones and Ella McGuire each had five points.
Rounding out Robbinsville’s offense was Emory Chekelelee 2 and Bella Coats 1.
MyKayla McGuire accounted for over 80 percent of the Knights’ production in Feb. 13’s season wrap-up: a 35-23 loss to Hayesville. She had 19 points, while Dutcher put up 4.