Sports

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.
As his father Coy celebrates, Cuttler Adams speaks on the phone with Yale head coach Tony Reno, who helped Adams announce his college selection at a special Feb. 7 signing. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

As his father Coy celebrates, Cuttler Adams speaks on the phone with Yale head coach Tony Reno, who helped Adams announce his college selection at a special Feb. 7 signing. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

From Atoah to Yale

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 15, 2024
Robbinsville – Outside of his immediate family, Cuttler Adams did an excellent job keeping his college football plans hush-hush. Really, the decision was made months ago. Adams still weighed his options until just three weeks ago, when he informed his family that Yale University in New Haven, Conn.
Kyler Branham hooks Mitchell's Jayden Burleson for an eventual near-fall in the second round of the state dual-team tournament Saturday. Branham went on to score the second majority decision for Robbinsville in the match. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Kyler Branham hooks Mitchell's Jayden Burleson for an eventual near-fall in the second round of the state dual-team tournament Saturday. Branham went on to score the second majority decision for Robbinsville in the match. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Knights ousted by Vikings

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 8, 2024
Newland – The quest for another 1A dual team championship will have to wait at least one more year. Despite holding the No. 1 Western seed, Robbinsville (32-3) had to travel to Avery County (No. 2) for regional competition in the state postseason Jan. 31.

Woes of the road

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 8, 2024
Hayesville – Try as they may, the Lady Knights could only serve one cold plate of revenge during a 3-game road trip. Robbinsville went 1-2 away from its friendly confines this week, with a season split Friday against Andrews wedged between a non-conference loss at Hiwassee Dam on Feb.
The Black Knights erupt, moments after Robbinsville’s Darion Ledbetter hit the buzzer-beating winner Friday at Andrews. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

The Black Knights erupt, moments after Robbinsville’s Darion Ledbetter hit the buzzer-beating winner Friday at Andrews. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Better safe than sorry

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 8, 2024
Isiac Collins breaks away during the first half of Friday’s JV boys showdown in Andrews. Andrews – With 10 seconds left in Friday’s divisional game, Bryce Adams batted down the go-ahead jumper from Ty Clark.