Andrews – The Andrews varsity basketball team kicked off 2026 with Smoky Mountain Conference play as they hosted Robbinsville.
The Wildcats split with the Black Knights as the Andrews girls got the win after a late rally, but the Andrews boys fell to a strong Knights squad on Friday night.
It was a jam-packed gym Friday as fans packed out both sides to cheer on their team.
Girls
It was a close game between the Lady Wildcats and the Black Knights, but a late rally for the Cats helped them start the year off with a win.
Robbinsville had a dominant first quarter as it scored 11 points and held the Lady Cats to only one basket by Alexis Beasley.
The Lady Cats got back into the game in the second quarter as they battled to bring it close. About halfway through the quarter, Andrews cut into Robbinsville’s sizable lead.
Andrews got some steam, forcing the Knights to call a timeout after the Cats cut their lead to three points with 58 seconds left before
halftime. They battled in the final minute of the first half, then Lady Wildcat Kimber Vaught made a
layup with one second left to bring them within one point. Andrews trailed 20-19 at halftime.
Less than 30 seconds into the second half, Andrews claimed its first lead of the game. The two teams then exchanged leads multiple times with neither leading by more than a few points. Late in the quarter, the Lady Knights regained the lead to hold a 36-35 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Robbinsville led, but the Lady Wildcats were hot on their heels heading into the final frame.
They exchanged leads again early in the fourth quarter, then just over three minutes into the quarter, the Lady Cats began to pull away.
The Wildcats extended their lead and with 2:30 left, made it a 10-point game. The Lady Wildcats then moved the ball around in the final minute as they secured the 55-46 win.
The Lady Wildcats were led by Knox Davis with 21 points, including 10 of those points in the fourth quarter and four 3-pointers Friday night.
Drea Cutshaw was also in double digits with 12 points. Juliet Holloway and Alexis Beasley had six points each.
The Lady Cats improve to 2-0 in the Smoky Mountain Conference.
After the game, head coach Tim Wood said it felt good to start 2026 with a win. He also said it was nice to get past the illness that most of the team had before winter break.
Wood added that the game against Robbinsville was “extremely crucial” heading into the second half of the season after the break.
He said the team’s goals for the second half of the season include putting things together, getting better at their system and pushing toward playing a complete game.
“In every win or less we have had this year, that consistency of playing all four quarters to our potential is something we haven’t done well,” Wood said.
“The ultimate goal is to get that together so the as we enter the end of the season and playoff time we are ready to make a run. If we can, our girls will be a tough out for anyone.”
Boys
It was a different story for the boys as they fell to Robbinsville 71-55 Friday night.
The Wildcats took an early lead, but Robbinsville quickly took the lead and increased it. The Knights took a 10-point lead late in the opening quarter. The Cats scored late points, but the Knight took a 20-13 lead to the second quarter.
Robbinsville continued to extend the lead in the second quarter. A buzzer beater 3-pointer extended the Knights’ lead to 34-24 at halftime.
They continued to pull away in the third quarter by putting up big points. Gabe Clark hit a 3-pointer to give the Wildcats some life late in the quarter, but the Knights led 53-39 heading to the fourth quarter.
Again in the fourth quarter, Robbinsville extended its lead. The Knights made it a 20-point game about halfway through the quarter. They held the Cats at a distance en route to the Wildcats falling 71-55.
Gabe Clark led the Cats with 24 points Friday night, including five 3-pointers with at least one in each quarter.
Brady Queen was also in double digits with 12 points, coming on two 3-pointers and three field goals.
Every Wildcats who played Friday had at least two points.
Up next
The Wildcats will return to the court with a big game as they host Murphy on Friday night. The girls start at 6:30 p.m., and the boys game will start right after.