Sports

Xamuel Wachacha (1) attempts to evade the defense of Murphy's Abram Twiggs and shoot a 3-pointer during Feb. 12's Smoky Mountain Conference title game. Photos by Bella Eddings/The Graham Star

Xamuel Wachacha (1) attempts to evade the defense of Murphy's Abram Twiggs and shoot a 3-pointer during Feb. 12's Smoky Mountain Conference title game. Photos by Bella Eddings/The Graham Star

Black Knights upset in tournament semifinals

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 19, 2026
Murphy – There was little doubt that Feb. 18's semifinal match-up would be a doozy. The first team to hand the Black Knights a conference loss this season was Cherokee. Even though Robbinsville split the series with a Senior Night victory Feb.
Robbinsville senior Abby Wehr splits the defense of Murphy's Kennedy White (3) and Emma Hensley (23) for a second-half lay-up attempt Feb. 12. Photos by Bella Eddings/The Graham Star

Robbinsville senior Abby Wehr splits the defense of Murphy's Kennedy White (3) and Emma Hensley (23) for a second-half lay-up attempt Feb. 12. Photos by Bella Eddings/The Graham Star

Lady Knights fall in tournament quarterfinals

Kevin Hensley
Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Bella Coats shoots a foul shot during Feb. 12's junior varsity game at Murphy. Murphy – The Lady Knights entered the Smoky Mountain Conference tournament with vindication in mind. Sadly, the chance for redemption slipped away in the waning seconds of Feb. 17's quarterfinal clash with Andrews (No.
Brayden Lane manhandles Bonnie Cone Leadership Academy's Achilles Ochoa during the second round of the dual-team postseason Tuesday. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Brayden Lane manhandles Bonnie Cone Leadership Academy's Achilles Ochoa during the second round of the dual-team postseason Tuesday. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Tarred and feathered

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 12, 2026
Robbinsville – It took less than 10 minutes of total bout time for the Black Knights to advance to the third round of the dual-team postseason. Showing that they were not being paid by the hour – or even the half-hour – Robbinsville (No.
Robbinsville's Nathan Frederick leads a pack of runners during the 1,000-meter run at Jan. 28's meet in Mill Spring. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville's Nathan Frederick leads a pack of runners during the 1,000-meter run at Jan. 28's meet in Mill Spring. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Tryin' on a new championship

Kevin Hensley
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Mill Spring – Leave it to Robbinsville to carve out a new chapter in its long-standing lineage of sports dominance. For the first time in school history, the Black Knights were named Smoky Mountain Conference Indoor Track champions, besting Swain County 112-105 at Jan.
Kristian Bauzo (left) attempts to evade the defense of Andrews’ Braylen Maennle on Jan. 27. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Kristian Bauzo (left) attempts to evade the defense of Andrews’ Braylen Maennle on Jan. 27. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Flying high

Kevin Hensley
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Hiwassee Dam – Dampened by four postponements – the result of Winter Storm Gianna sweeping across western North Carolina – the Black Knights only hit the hardwood once last week. Robbinsville traveled to the westernmost high school in the state Jan.
Robbinsville’s Micah York was the Black Knights’ leading scorer in Jan. 12’s season wrap-up: the semifinals of the divisional tournament, which was contested against Hayesville. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville’s Micah York was the Black Knights’ leading scorer in Jan. 12’s season wrap-up: the semifinals of the divisional tournament, which was contested against Hayesville. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Knights eliminated from middle school tournament

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 29, 2026
Andrews – The hopes of adding another year to the championship banners inside the Robbinsville Elementary School gymnasium will have to wait at least one more season.
Senior Abby Wehr (3) manuevers past the outstretched hand of Andrews' Juliet Holloway for a first-half basket attempt Tuesday. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Senior Abby Wehr (3) manuevers past the outstretched hand of Andrews' Juliet Holloway for a first-half basket attempt Tuesday. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights split divisional slate

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 29, 2026
Robbinsville – The Lady Knights pounced on Murphy early in Jan. 22's home appointment and never looked back, going on to down the Lady Bulldogs 53-31. Robbinsville (8-7, 2-4) led 11-5 after the first quarter – though the visitors made things interesting by trimming the deficit to 20-15 at halftime.

Black Knights reign on Cats and Dogs

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 29, 2026
Black Knights guard Dane Knott – shown launching a long-range shot Tuesday against Andrews – is averaging 21 points per game this season. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.