News

Don't adjust your sets; that's a basketball score

Kevin Hensley
Friday, January 20, 2023
Murphy – Well, that’s one way to send a message to the rest of the field. Robbinsville (No. 3 seed, 9-4) shutout Swain County (No. 6) in the first half of the Smoky Mountain Conference Middle School Tournament quarterfinal Monday, heading into the locker room with a 35-0 advantage at the break.
Brock Adams takes flight Monday at Highlands. Robbinsville’s senior point guard was one of three Black Knights to reach double digits in the victory. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Brock Adams takes flight Monday at Highlands. Robbinsville’s senior point guard was one of three Black Knights to reach double digits in the victory. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Ain’t no mountain high enough

Kevin Hensley
Friday, January 20, 2023
Highlands – From the opening tip, it was all Robbinsville. With Friday’s trek to Hiwassee Dam postponed due to inclement weather, the Black Knights’ only action of the week came at another Little Smoky Mountain Conference school Monday: a trip to Highlands.
Robbinsville senior Desta Trammell launches an outside shot Monday at Highlands. Trammell hit a pair of 3-pointers in the Lady Knights’ loss to the Lady Highlanders. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville senior Desta Trammell launches an outside shot Monday at Highlands. Trammell hit a pair of 3-pointers in the Lady Knights’ loss to the Lady Highlanders. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Too little, too late

Kevin Hensley
Friday, January 20, 2023
Highlands – To begin Monday’s road game, seniors Desta Trammell and Kensley Phillips hit respective 2- and 3-point shots, to give Robbinsville the opening salvo. From there, Highlands proved to be rude hosts.
An SUV was pulled from Lake Santeetlah around 5 p.m. today, after crashing into the water overnight. The N.C. Highway Patrol confirmed to The Graham Star on Thursday evening that 23-year-old Robbinsville resident Jose Alfredo Moreno-Romero passed away in the accident. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

An SUV was pulled from Lake Santeetlah around 5 p.m. today, after crashing into the water overnight. The N.C. Highway Patrol confirmed to The Graham Star on Thursday evening that 23-year-old Robbinsville resident Jose Alfredo Moreno-Romero passed away in the accident. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Local man passes away, two survive wreck into Lake Santeetlah

Randy Foster
Thursday, January 19, 2023
Lake Santeetlah – A Robbinsville man was killed – but two others survived – when an SUV crashed into Lake Santeetlah off Thunderbird Mountain Road early Thursday morning.
Members of the Robbinsville wrestling program gather with the 2023 James Orr Memorial Invitational runner-up trophy, clinched after hosting their signature tournament Saturday. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Members of the Robbinsville wrestling program gather with the 2023 James Orr Memorial Invitational runner-up trophy, clinched after hosting their signature tournament Saturday. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

The show must go on

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 19, 2023
Robbinsville – Things did not go exactly to plan. The 2023 James Orr Memorial Invitational is normally a massive, daylong tournament, drawing programs from around the tri-state area to Graham County.

Health board meeting short, contentious

Randy Foster
Thursday, January 19, 2023
Robbinsville – Graham County commissioners summoned the Graham County Health Advisory Board for a special meeting on Jan. 10, but it didn’t go quite like expected and lasted around five minutes.
Robbinsville’s Eli Lambert (12) splits a pair of Maroon-Devil defenders during the Black Knights’ win over Swain County on Jan. 5. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville’s Eli Lambert (12) splits a pair of Maroon-Devil defenders during the Black Knights’ win over Swain County on Jan. 5. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Middle school hoops splits final slate

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 12, 2023
Lady Knight Chloe Adams pulls away from a Swain County defender for a second-half transition basket Jan. 5. Robbinsville – Both of Graham County’s middle school basketball programs kickstarted 2023 with a bang, overcoming tight deficits to pick up a pair of home victories.
After one of his nine steals, junior shooting guard Xander Wachacha weaves between the defense of Pisgah’s Sawyer Belue (3) and Aaron Clark (back) during Monday’s loss to the Black Bears. Wachacha had 20 points in the game, 10 of which came in transition. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

After one of his nine steals, junior shooting guard Xander Wachacha weaves between the defense of Pisgah’s Sawyer Belue (3) and Aaron Clark (back) during Monday’s loss to the Black Bears. Wachacha had 20 points in the game, 10 of which came in transition. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Boys’ lead slips away late, rally bid falls short

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 12, 2023
Canton – The Black Knights pulled away from an early 4-4 knot and led until the fourth quarter. But the spirited effort was not enough. Coming off a tough 63-53 loss at Cocke County, Tenn.
Junior Aubrie Wachacha eyes a second-quarter basket Monday at Pisgah. Robbinsville’s center had 13 points against Cocke County, Tenn., on Friday. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Junior Aubrie Wachacha eyes a second-quarter basket Monday at Pisgah. Robbinsville’s center had 13 points against Cocke County, Tenn., on Friday. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville cannot thwart sharp shooters

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 12, 2023
Newport, Tenn. – Coming off head coach Lucas Ford’s 100th win Jan. 3, the Lady Knights embarked on a pair of long road trips for non-conference action. Robbinsville (9-4) admittedly had a tough draw, facing a pair of 3A powerhouses in Cocke County, Tenn., on Friday and Pisgah on Monday.