Black Knights climb back atop Smoky Mountain Conference
Robbinsville – For the second time in three seasons, the Black Knights have claimed bragging rights in the Smoky Mountain Conference.
Tuesday’s 55-46 win over Cherokee wrapped up the regular-season championship for Robbinsville (17-5, 8-1), which has not lost a game since Jan. 8. Winners of 12 straight, the Knights look to dispose of Hayesville (12-11, 5-4) in tonight’s season finale, before entering the divisional tournament – also being held at Hayesville – as the No. 1 seed.
But that’s a few days down the road. Moments after regaining the crown Tuesday, nothing could erase the smile from head coach Jake Beasley’s face.
“They deserve it,” Beasley said, still soaked after the team greeted him in the locker room with enough water for a baptism. “I told them before the game, ‘Go get it. You’ve earned it.’ They’re great kids. They bust their tails every single night. Nothing has been given to them.”
Bryce Adams turned in his second consecutive 18-point evening Tuesday, also mixing in 13 rebounds and three assists. He is now the second-highest scorer in program history and needs just 15 to tie the all-time documented mark, which was set by Robbie Wiggins (1,188).
Also scoring in Tuesday’s title-clinching victory was Darion Ledbetter 17, Dane Knott 9, Luke Lovin 5, Isiac Collins 3, Nathan Frederick 2 and Quinn Jumper 1.
“They care more about this team instead of the ‘me,’” Beasley added. “We’ve had that posted on our door since the summer, ‘Me vs. We.’ That’s what has pulled us through down the stretch.”
Robbinsville survived a Senior Night scare from Swain County on Friday. Winless in the conference this season, the Maroon Devils breathed a stronger fire into the game than what was shown in Jan. 21’s 81-54 Knights triumph in Bryson City, but Robbinsville prevailed nonetheless in a 55-52 thriller.
A tightly-knit, back-and-forth game throughout, Swain County (7-14, 0-9) tilted the odds in its favor with 26 seconds left. Owen Medlin drained a pair of free throws to shove the Devils out front, 52-51.
But it was Robbinsville that won the battle of the wits: Adams dropped a set of foul shots with 6.3 to go, capping his monster showing of 18 points and 19 rebounds. Swain failed to generate a reply before the final horn.
“It doesn’t matter if we’re at the top or at the bottom, everybody wants to beat Robbinsville,” said Beasley. “It doesn’t matter what sport it is: if they can hang their hat on beating Robbinsville, then it’s a successful season.
“That’s a testament to our continued success.”
In addition to Adams, scoring was handled by Jones and Kenyon Swimmer, both of whom each dumped eight; Jumper and Knott, 6 apiece; Lovin 5; and Collins and Ledbetter, 2 each.
Everybody scores
Cashiers – In a make-up game Saturday, Robbinsville visited the high country and squashed Blue Ridge School (2-16), 85-28.
Adams deposited 13 points to lead the packed scoreline. Others in the output were Collins 11; Jones 9; Knott and Swimmer, 8 each; Kasen Buchanan 7; Logan Callaway, Frederick and Kyzik Teesateskie, 6 apiece; Jumper 4; Trey Lambert 3; and Ledbetter and Lovin, 2 each.
Junior varsity
Robbinsville (14) clinched the JV boys Smoky Mountain Conference title by disposing of Swain County 64-36 on Friday and Cherokee 51-37 on Tuesday.
Xamuel Wachacha’s 15-point evening took center stage for the Knights’ offense against the Devils. Also scoring was Elijah Kirkland and Eli Lambert, 11 each; Bam Nelms 9; Landon Eddings 8; Tucker Jones 5; Elliott Beasley 3; and Slade Freeman 2.
Nelms energized things Tuesday, providing 16 points to lead Robbinsville. Others Knights to score were Lambert 13; Eddings 10; Wachacha 8; and both Jones and Kirkland, 2 each.