Sports

Lina Pagan (left) and Yeika Jimenez Diaz’s love for basketball has came full circle, with both playing against each other at the collegiate level – something neither could have dreamed would be a reality while growing up in Puerto Rico. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Lina Pagan (left) and Yeika Jimenez Diaz’s love for basketball has came full circle, with both playing against each other at the collegiate level – something neither could have dreamed would be a reality while growing up in Puerto Rico. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Aprovechando el momento

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 26, 2023
Athens, Tenn. – They competed against each other before coming to the United States. So it is only appropriate that Yeika Jimenez Diaz and Linaysha Pagan dress out in opposing uniforms today. Their story is unlike any you have ever heard.
Exhausted, Koleson Dooley (220) rises to a knee after securing a 3-2, sudden-death overtime win over Swain County’s Blake Sain on Jan. 19. Dooley went to overtime with Sain during the James Orr Invitational on Jan. 14 and went to ultimate-tiebreaker in Saturday’s conference Tournament. Dooley triumphed on all three occasions. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Exhausted, Koleson Dooley (220) rises to a knee after securing a 3-2, sudden-death overtime win over Swain County’s Blake Sain on Jan. 19. Dooley went to overtime with Sain during the James Orr Invitational on Jan. 14 and went to ultimate-tiebreaker in Saturday’s conference Tournament. Dooley triumphed on all three occasions. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Conference conquered

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 26, 2023
Robbinsville – When a program has won 25 Smoky Mountain Conference titles in just 46 years of existence, the term “powerhouse” is certainly applicable. But this year was supposed to be different, critics said. Of the six state champions Robbinsville Wrestling produced last year, just two returned.
Donovan Carpenter glances down at his handiwork in the closing seconds of Tuesday’s comeback victory at Cherokee. Carpenter’s dunk resoundingly affirmed a 58-48 win for the Black Knights. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Donovan Carpenter glances down at his handiwork in the closing seconds of Tuesday’s comeback victory at Cherokee. Carpenter’s dunk resoundingly affirmed a 58-48 win for the Black Knights. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Slow and steady wins the race

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 26, 2023
Cherokee – It was time to take the Braves to school.

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.
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.
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.