News

Lady Knights senior Desta Trammell shoves the ball toward the net on a breakaway in Friday’s Smoky Mountain Conference Tournament finals. Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights roll after shaky playoff start

Kevin Hensley

Friday, February 24, 2023

Robbinsville – It took the Lady Knights a full quarter to get their offensive engines roaring. Starmount was left in their dust. In what could be the final home game for Robbinsville (No.

Koleson Dooley won his first 1A state championship Saturday, last besting Pamlico County’s Tyler Stevens 5-2 in the 220-pound finals. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Triangle of terror

Kevin Hensley

Friday, February 24, 2023

Black Knights senior Willie Riddle hung tough with defending 145-pound state champion Lorenzo Alston (Uwharrie Charter Academy) in the finals Saturday, before incurring a majority-decision loss.

Fontana council back to full strength

Kevin Hensley

Friday, February 24, 2023

Fontana Dam – It has became a light-hearted question around the small resort town: why the constant turnover on the Fontana Dam council? The question answers itself – it’s literally a one-horse town, with Fontana Village Resort and Marina being the only business within its limits. Residents are 99.

Brush fire follows rain

Marshall McClung

Friday, February 24, 2023

Wolf Creek – In spite of recent heavy rainfall, a few days of wind and sun has dried the woods enough to burn already. The Graham County 911 dispatch received a report of a brush fire out of control around 3:15 p.m. Sunday.

Dr. David Booth (center) officially cuts the ribbon outside the re-opened urgent-care facility in Robbinsville on Feb. 16. With Booth are (from left) Graham County Board of Commissioners Chairman Jacob Nelms, nurse Dedie Barker, commissioner Connie Orr, receptionist Brianna Elkins, interim county health director and nurse practitioner Meggan Smith, urgent-care advocate Juanita Colvard, commissioner Natasha Williams and interim county manager Kim Crisp. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

‘It’s a win-win’

Kevin Hensley

Friday, February 24, 2023

Robbinsville – With a quick snip, Graham County Urgent Care was deemed officially ready to receive patients. County dignitaries joined staff at the front entrance to the former location of Smoky Mountain Urgent Care (21 S. Main St., Robbinsville) on Feb.

Brock Adams prepares to shoot a foul shot during Feb. 16's Smoky Mountain Conference Tournament finale against Murphy. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Black Knights maintain home-court advantage

Kevin Hensley

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

Robbinsville -- The "Heart Attack Knights" were up to their old tricks Thursday night. A 14-point lead in the fourth quarter slipped away from Robbinsville (No. 6, 23-5) in the second round of the 1A state playoffs and Swain County (No.

Robbinsville senior Kensley Phillips pulls away on a fast break during overtime of Feb. 16's Smoky Mountain Conference finals against Cherokee. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights hit the road for playoffs

Kevin Hensley

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

Albemarle -- Playing the role of underdog Thursday, the Robbinsville Lady Knights went on the road for the second round of the playoffs. And for the second time in three seasons, Robbinsville (No. 13, 19-8) knocked off a higher-seeded team.

Sophomore small forward Liz Carpenter had 17 points for Robbinsville in the Lady Knights' tournament-semifinal win over Murphy on Tuesday. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights’ forwards make life hectic

Kevin Hensley

Friday, February 17, 2023

Anna Williams eyes a breakaway basket during the closing seconds of Tuesday’s lopsided JV tournament win over Hayesville. Andrews – Admittedly, it took Robbinsville’s inside game over half the season to become confident.

Robbinsville juniors Xander Wachacha (left) and Donovan Carpenter erupt in celebration after Wachacha drew the and-one after completing a transition basket Monday. Wachacha and Carpenter accounted for 30 of the Black Knights’ 47 points in the Smoky Mountain Conference semifinals against Hayesville. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Black Knights’ next goal is one win away

Kevin Hensley

Friday, February 17, 2023

Logan Callaway shoots a free throw during the second half of Robbinsville’s tournament exit against Murphy. Callaway’s presence off the bench gave the Knights a huge shot in the arm. Andrews – It was a nail biter, but the Black Knights got the job done.

The Robbinsville Black Knights take a moment to soak in their 1A Western Regional Championship victory, after prevailing over the rest of the field at Mitchell High School last weekend.

Best in the West

Kevin Hensley

Friday, February 17, 2023

Nothing could erase the smile off Robbinsville head coach David Haney's face, after the Black Knights captured the 1A Western Championship on Saturday. It was the storied coach's first-ever regional title.