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Members of “The ‘Ville” bask in the moment of winning the program’s inaugural state invitational tournament team title Saturday. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Members of “The ‘Ville” bask in the moment of winning the program’s inaugural state invitational tournament team title Saturday. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

State champs, take 2

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 22, 2024
Greensboro – After this weekend’s individual state tournament concluded, Robbinsville can safely remove the adverb “never” from in front of the phrase “won a state invitational team title.” Leading up to the final tournament of the year, head coach David Haney told The Graham Star on Feb.
Members of "The 'Ville" bask in the moment of winning the program's inaugural state invitational tournament team title Saturday. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Members of "The 'Ville" bask in the moment of winning the program's inaugural state invitational tournament team title Saturday. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville adds 1st state invitational team title to resume

Kevin Hensley
Saturday, February 17, 2024
    Greensboro -- "Never" is viewed as a long time.     But after this weekend's individual state tournament concluded, Robbinsville can safely remove the adverb from in front of the phrase "won a state invitational team title.
The Robbinsville Black Knights’ regional finalists display the 2023-24 1A Western Regional Runner-Up plaque at the end of the two-day invitational. All names are listed from left. Kneeling in front: Lleyton Hooper, Skyler Anderson and Adair Panama. Back row: Alexis Panama, Loxston Hooper, Kage Williams, Koleson Dooley, Kellen Ensley and Avery Phillips. Photo by Audrey Colvin/The Graham Star

The Robbinsville Black Knights’ regional finalists display the 2023-24 1A Western Regional Runner-Up plaque at the end of the two-day invitational. All names are listed from left. Kneeling in front: Lleyton Hooper, Skyler Anderson and Adair Panama. Back row: Alexis Panama, Loxston Hooper, Kage Williams, Koleson Dooley, Kellen Ensley and Avery Phillips. Photo by Audrey Colvin/The Graham Star

9 tickets punched to state

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 15, 2024
Robbinsville – Avery County continues to be a thorn in the side of the Black Knights’ wrestling team.
Junior forward Bryce Adams rises above the defense of Cherokee’s Savian Davis (12) and Samuel Hernandez (10) for a second-half basket Tuesday. Including Adams, four Robbinsville players scored in double digits – but could not stop the Braves from winning the Smoky Mountain Conference title. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Junior forward Bryce Adams rises above the defense of Cherokee’s Savian Davis (12) and Samuel Hernandez (10) for a second-half basket Tuesday. Including Adams, four Robbinsville players scored in double digits – but could not stop the Braves from winning the Smoky Mountain Conference title. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

No Knights off in SMC

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 15, 2024
The final Smoky Mountain Conference standings for the 2023-24 boys basketball season. Cherokee – In a span of two days, the Robbinsville Black Knights watched their Smoky Mountain Conference title defense slip away. Though Feb.
It was smiles all around for the Lady Knights during their regular-season home finale Feb. 7 against Blue Ridge School, as clearly illustrated on this throw-in from Claire Barlow (4) to Suri Watty. Photo by Audrey Colvin/The Graham Star

It was smiles all around for the Lady Knights during their regular-season home finale Feb. 7 against Blue Ridge School, as clearly illustrated on this throw-in from Claire Barlow (4) to Suri Watty. Photo by Audrey Colvin/The Graham Star

Lady Knights take 3rd

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 15, 2024
The final Smoky Mountain Conference standings for the 2023-24 girls basketball season. Cherokee – A home playoff game is still up for grabs for the Robbinsville Lady Knights, after finishing the regular season ranked third in the Smoky Mountain Conference.
Lady Knights senior Zoie Shuler takes flight during the finals of Saturday’s state indoor track triple jump competition. Shuler claimed her 4th triple jump state championship on her final attempt. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights senior Zoie Shuler takes flight during the finals of Saturday’s state indoor track triple jump competition. Shuler claimed her 4th triple jump state championship on her final attempt. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Best for last

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 15, 2024
Zoie Shuler stands atop the awards podium at the conclusion of Saturday's 1A/2A state indoor track meet, proudly displaying the gold (triple jump) and silver (long jump) medals she collected during the competition. Winston-Salem – Zoie Shuler earned every bit of her ninth state championship.

Brush fire stopped close to home

Marshall McClung
Thursday, February 15, 2024
Sweetgum – The Graham County 911 Center received a report of a brush fire on Berts Creek Circle around 2:20 p.m., Feb. 8. The caller stated that the fire had spread into the woods and was growing larger. Firefighters with the Graham and Santeetlah Fire departments, N.C. Forest Service, and U.S.

New intercom system coming to school district

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 15, 2024
Robbinsville – The safety of students remains a top priority for Graham County Schools. At Feb. 6’s board of education meeting, assistant superintendent Robert Moody provided a promising step toward ensuring consistent safety at both campuses. Thanks to a $300K grant from the N.C.
No matter the age, G.D. Phillips and Blaze Powers have already solved one equation: there is never a bad time to give flowers to their respective wives, Woody and Aubrey. Photos by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

No matter the age, G.D. Phillips and Blaze Powers have already solved one equation: there is never a bad time to give flowers to their respective wives, Woody and Aubrey. Photos by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Forever Valentines

Latresa Phillips
Thursday, February 15, 2024
Aubrey and Blaze Powers have been best friends since she was 7 and he was 9. On Feb. 24, G.D. Phillips and his wife Woody will celebrate their 63rd year of marriage. They were in high school when they met.