BY ANTHONY STEVENS
for the Daily Telegraph
LEBANON, Va. — It was the Tanner Robinette show at Charles C. Long Gymnasium on Friday. The 6-foot-6 transfer from Honaker was there when Lebanon needed a basket. Robinette posted a double-double with 26 points, 13 rebounds and four blocked shots to lead the Pioneers to a 78-64 Southwest District victory over Tazewell.
“We would love to have that kind of weapon,” said Tazewell coach William Lester. “He’s a hoss.”
The Bulldogs trailed by 10 at intermission. They kept battling. With Lebanon leading 45-34 Malik Davis scored on a drive and was fouled. Davis converted the fouls shot for a 3-point play. After a Lebanon miss, Davis scored on a drive to the basket to cut the lead to six. Juwan Jordan had a put-back the next possession to cut the Pioneer advantage to 45-41.
Lebanon then began to pound it inside to Robinette. They also received a couple of big 3s from Austin Bollinger and led by nine going to the fourth period. Tazewell couldn’t cut into the lead any further.
“You can’t be disappointed when you score 79 points,” Lebanon coach Thad Lambert said. “I thought we played hard, the effort was there. The only thing I was disappointed in was our free throw shooting. But we still have time to improve it.”
The Bulldogs definitely showed improvement. They had lost to Lebanon on their home floor 84-46 earlier in the month. The Pioneers are second only to Virginia High in the SWD.
“Offensively we settled for some shots we shouldn’t have taken,” Lester said. “Defensively I’m proud of my boys, they gave some effort tonight. We took a 38-point beating the first time, so this is a big improvement.”
Jesse Mountain came off the bench to lead Tazewell with 13 points. Malik Davis (12 points) and Tanner Catron (10 points) were also in double figures.
Bollinger was potent for Lebanon with 20 points, including five 3s. Owen Slate added 12 points.
Tazewell will host Virginia High in SWD play on Tuesday.

TAZEWELL (7-9)
Davis 4 4-6 12, Catron 3 3-3 10, Hancock 3 0-0 8, Jordan 4 0-1 8, Hagy 3 2-2 9, Elkins 1 2-2 4, Samaniego 0 0-0 0, Mountain 4 3-5 13. Totals 22 14-19 64.
LEBANON (13-3)
Sexton 1 2-4 5, Smith 3 1-6 7, Bollinger 7 1-4 20, Slate 4 3-9 12, Robinette 10 6-9 26, Helton 0 0-0 0, Stamper 1 6-6 8, Long 0 0-0 0. Totals 26 19-38 78.
Tazewell..........................16 17 18 13 — 64
Lebanon.........................22 21 17 18 — 78
3-point goals – Tazewell 6 (Catron 1, Hancock 2, Mountain 2, Hagy 1), Lebanon 7 (Sexton 1, Bollinger 5, Slate 1). Total fouls – Tazewell 26, Lebanon 16. Fouled out - Davis. JV game – Lebanon 44-43.