Sports

Senior quarterback Donovan Carpenter gives instruction to the Robbinsville Black Knights’ offense prior to a first-half play in the third round of the 1A state playoffs Friday against Swain County. Carpenter heavily credited the perseverance of the Knights in the 30-24 win to the program’s main theme this year: “brotherhood.” Photo by Fala Welch/The Graham Star

Senior quarterback Donovan Carpenter gives instruction to the Robbinsville Black Knights’ offense prior to a first-half play in the third round of the 1A state playoffs Friday against Swain County. Carpenter heavily credited the perseverance of the Knights in the 30-24 win to the program’s main theme this year: “brotherhood.” Photo by Fala Welch/The Graham Star

Brotherhood

Kevin Hensley
Tuesday, November 21, 2023
Robbinsville – What. A. Comeback. The Black Knights could have easily thrown in the towel after Swain County punched ahead 24-8 in the third round of the 1A state playoffs Friday. The Maroon Devils never led in the Smoky Mountain Conference title game Oct.
Chase Calhoun (2), Quinn Jumper (12) and Kellen Ensley drop Swain County's Joshua Collins for a loss during Robbinsville's 30-24, third-round playoff victory Friday. Photo by Fala Welch/The Graham Star

Chase Calhoun (2), Quinn Jumper (12) and Kellen Ensley drop Swain County's Joshua Collins for a loss during Robbinsville's 30-24, third-round playoff victory Friday. Photo by Fala Welch/The Graham Star

Shout at the Devils

Kevin Hensley
Saturday, November 18, 2023
Robbinsville – What. A. Comeback. The Black Knights could have easily thrown in the towel after Swain County punched ahead 24-8 in the third round of the 1A state playoffs Friday. The Maroon Devils never led in the Smoky Mountain Conference title game Oct.
Daphne Barlow (22) cuts between the defense of Cherokee’s Cambry Stamper (1) and Lilly Lossiah during a fourth-quarter, fast-break Monday. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Daphne Barlow (22) cuts between the defense of Cherokee’s Cambry Stamper (1) and Lilly Lossiah during a fourth-quarter, fast-break Monday. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Black Knights off to 3-0 start

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 16, 2023
Robbinsville – It did not take long for the pieces to fall into place. Rather than carrying a negative attitude on the first road trip of the season, the Robbinsville Middle School Lady Knights left a stunning 47-46, season-opening loss to Murphy in the rearview mirror.
Tillman Adams (24) lowers the boom on Mountain Island Charter’s Caleb Shin during Robbinsville’s second-round playoff victory Nov. 9. Photos courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Tillman Adams (24) lowers the boom on Mountain Island Charter’s Caleb Shin during Robbinsville’s second-round playoff victory Nov. 9. Photos courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Preying for relief

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 16, 2023
The box score from Robbinsville's second-round playoff victory over Mountain Island Charter on Nov. 9, 2023. Robbinsville – Through the first two games of the postseason, the Black Knights have outscored visitors 95-14.
Smiles broke out all around Nov. 8, moments after Lady Knights senior Zoie Shuler signed her National Letter of Intent to play softball for the University of Tennessee. Shuler was surrounded by her father Michael (seated, left) and mother Kylie. Standing in back are her siblings: Trace, Taylor (holding Zoie’s niece Ayla) and Jeb. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Smiles broke out all around Nov. 8, moments after Lady Knights senior Zoie Shuler signed her National Letter of Intent to play softball for the University of Tennessee. Shuler was surrounded by her father Michael (seated, left) and mother Kylie. Standing in back are her siblings: Trace, Taylor (holding Zoie’s niece Ayla) and Jeb. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Rocky Top bound

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 16, 2023
University of Tennessee-signee Zoie Shuler began  seeing the positive impact she could have on the next generation of softball stars during her junior season. When she signed with the Vols on Nov.
Quinn Jumper is shown rushing for one of his two touchdowns last week against Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy. Jumper did not find the end zone Thursday against Mountain Island Charter – but his defense kept the Raptors rocked throughout Robbinsville's 40-7 triumph in the second round of the state playoffs. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School

Quinn Jumper is shown rushing for one of his two touchdowns last week against Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy. Jumper did not find the end zone Thursday against Mountain Island Charter – but his defense kept the Raptors rocked throughout Robbinsville's 40-7 triumph in the second round of the state playoffs. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School

Raptors prey for relief

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 9, 2023
Robbinsville – Through the first two games of the postseason, the Black Knights have outscored visitors 95-14. Thursday’s second-round playoff appointment with the Mountain Island Charter Raptors played out much like the round-one showdown with Thomas Jefferson on Nov.
Members of the Robbinsville Black Knights erupt in celebration of Peyton Brooks’ late-game bucket in Monday’s season opener against Murphy. From left are Peyton Weaver (24), Bam Nelms (11), Landen Eddings, Eli Lambert, Carsan Snider (22) and Xamuel Wachacha (15). Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Members of the Robbinsville Black Knights erupt in celebration of Peyton Brooks’ late-game bucket in Monday’s season opener against Murphy. From left are Peyton Weaver (24), Bam Nelms (11), Landen Eddings, Eli Lambert, Carsan Snider (22) and Xamuel Wachacha (15). Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Welcome to our house

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 9, 2023
Robbinsville – There are times words are briskly typed onto a keyboard as a way to gently inform the public how a particular game turned out for either the home team or the visitors.
Cuttler Adams (4) takes the handoff from Robbinsville quarterback Donovan Carpenter during the 2023 playoff opener Friday against Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy. Adams broke both the all-time rushing record for the Black Knights and the Smoky Mountain Conference early in the game. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School

Cuttler Adams (4) takes the handoff from Robbinsville quarterback Donovan Carpenter during the 2023 playoff opener Friday against Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy. Adams broke both the all-time rushing record for the Black Knights and the Smoky Mountain Conference early in the game. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School

Record keeper

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 9, 2023
The box score from Friday's game. Robbinsville – When Rylee Anderson hung up his jersey for the final time in 2019, he did it on perhaps the biggest high possible for a running back: fresh off a state title and fully cemented as the school (and Smoky Mountain Conference) all-time rushing leader.
The Robbinsville Mites make it official Saturday, gathering around the 2023 Cracker Bowl Championship trophy to soak up the moment after winning their fourth title in a row. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

The Robbinsville Mites make it official Saturday, gathering around the 2023 Cracker Bowl Championship trophy to soak up the moment after winning their fourth title in a row. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Making a bowl statement

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 9, 2023
The box score from the Mites' 2023 Cracker Bowl championship game. Murphy – Saturday’s Mites championship game proved that the deeply chronicled rivalry between Swain County and Robbinsville shows no signs of slowing down.