Robinette showing triple-double dominance for New Miami

The monster stat line didn’t come as a shock to New Miami High School girls basketball coach Kevin Lakes.

Senior forward Alyssa Robinette put up 28 points, 27 rebounds and a school-record 12 steals last Monday in the Vikings’ 39-14 triumph over visiting Oyler.

“She’s as good as any of the basketball players we’ve had in the last 15, 20 years,” Lakes said. “And she didn’t play the last four minutes of the game. We took her out because the situation dictated it.

“She’s tough as nails and gets on the floor more than any kid I’ve ever had. I started coaching her in the eighth grade, and you could just tell the first minute in the gym that she had a nose for the ball.”

The 5-foot-11 Robinette said the Oyler game was just one of those days where everything clicked.

“I was like, ‘We have to win this game,’ ” she said. “I just went after it and started going and finally I was like, ‘Well, there’s 10 points. Let’s make it 20 points,’ and just kept fighting, fighting, fighting.

“The points really weren’t a surprise, but I didn’t think I had 27 rebounds. I knew I had the steals.”

Lakes conceded that Oyler won’t be mistaken for a state championship team, but the Hatmakers “are a D-IV team just like we are. They were very athletic.”

Robinette, who has undergone two major knee surgeries during her prep career, has scored 66 points in the last three games. She’s averaging 15 points, a Miami Valley Conference-leading 12.8 rebounds and 4.6 steals per contest.

“She gets a lot of attention,” Lakes said. “We’ve already seen the box-and-one a few times, but she’s smart. She knows how to position her body.”

The Vikings are 2-3 overall and 0-3 in the MVC Gray Division. They’ll host Cincinnati College Prep Academy in nonconference play Tuesday.

Robinette believes New Miami still has a shot at the Gray championship. Individually, her goals are simple.

“Just play harder than ever,” she said. “Don’t give up. Play every game like it’s your last.”

Senior Allison Rapier is the Vikings’ point guard. There are times when Robinette has to help with bringing the ball up the court, prompting Lakes to call her “a point center.”

Senior center Faith Parker is averaging 6.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.

“We’ve got good size. We’re just not very fast,” Lakes said. “We’ll get better. We’ll keep working. They’re great kids. I love coaching these girls.”

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