By J.R. Carroll, Staff Correspondent
Robbinsville – The Lady Black Knights were not prepared for what transpired on their home court Dec. 19.
Hosting the Andrews Lady Wildcats, which took a 79-9 trouncing at the hands of Cherokee on Dec. 15 – Robbinsville was seeking a 6-0 start to the sequel from its historic run to the regional finals. However, the unthinkable happened: Andrews (5-2, 1-1) upset the Knights in a 56-55 shocker that left many silenced.
Andrews’ girls basketball program has languished in the Smoky Mountain Conference cellar since last clinching a playoff berth at the end of the 2018-19 season, a year that saw the Cats go 7-19.
In the four seasons that have followed, Andrews collectively won seven games. In turn, Robbinsville (5-1, 1-1) has had little troubling disposing of its Cherokee County neighbors; the closest scare took place Jan. 24, 2017, when the Tiffany Holloway-led Wildcats lost a 47-45 tussle in Robbinsville.
The last time Andrews’ girls beat Robbinsville was a 53-49 victory on Jan. 28, 2000 – on the road, no less.
How did it happen? Andrews hustled, and shots fell.
Junior point guard Kylie Donaldson celebrated her 17th birthday in perhaps the most memorable way a high-school basketball player could: snapping a lengthy skid against a divisional program and leading the Cats with 25 points on the night. To help pad her effort, inside threats Kinleigh Queen and Alexis Beasley remained stubborn enough on the boards and inside drives that their work resulted in respective 14- and 11-point evenings.
No. 6 ranked Robbinsville led No. 10 ranked Andrews 12-11 at the end of the first quarter, but the Wildcats emerged from a back-and-forth second with a 27-21 halftime advantage. The lead came thanks to an 8-0 run that Beasley sparked on a put-back for Andrews with 3:18 left on the clock.
The Lady Cats did not relinquish the lead thereafter, although the Knights did draw the affair to within two on a few instances. Knocking on the door of tying the game and forcing overtime, Suri Watty swished a 3-pointer with 1.5 left in the game that brought the score to its final outcome.
In the boys game, Robbinsville (6-0) defeated Andrews 43-35, giving the 6-1 Wildcats their first loss of the season.
Swain at Murphy
The Murphy boys basketball team (5-2) won the Dec. 18 home Smoky Mountain Conference game against Swain County 48-45.
In the girls game, Murphy lost to Swain 40-29.
Nantahala at Blue Ridge
Nantahala played well, but that wasn’t enough in a 76-65 loss to Blue Ridge Early College. The Hawks have lost six games in a row to Blue Ridge.
Nantahala’s loss came despite Cole McCoy scoring 22 points, a new season-high. Landon Neal added nine points, eight rebounds and six assists. The team had a season-high total of 13 assists.
The Hawks have lost five of their last six matches to drop to 3-5 on the season, while Blue Ridge improved to 2-8.
In the girls game, Nantahala (1-6) suffered its fifth straight loss, 50-32 from Blue Ridge Early College. Nantahala lost to Blue Ridge 100-49 last time. The Hawks only averaged 24.8 points per game in that span. It was the first win of the year for Blue Ridge (1-9).
Highlands at Hiwassee Dam
The Hiwassee Dam varsity boys basketball team won a tightly contested home conference game Dec. 15 against Highlands 68-64.
The Eagles upgraded their record to 2-5, while the Highlanders fell to 2-8 on the season.
In the girls game, Hiwassee Dam (7-1) also came out on top of Highlands, winning 60-52.