Sports

Robbinsville’s Delaney Brooms (1) springs to a kill attempt during Tuesday’s road conference match at Murphy. The Lady Knights dropped the match in four sets and are now tied with the Lady Bulldogs atop the divisional standings. Photo by Justin Fitzgerald/Cherokee Scout

Robbinsville’s Delaney Brooms (1) springs to a kill attempt during Tuesday’s road conference match at Murphy. The Lady Knights dropped the match in four sets and are now tied with the Lady Bulldogs atop the divisional standings. Photo by Justin Fitzgerald/Cherokee Scout

Crowded at the top

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, October 6, 2022
Murphy – It took a pair of grueling road matches to unseat Robbinsville from the top spot in the conference standings. The Lady Knights fell victim to a 5-set loss at Cherokee (13-6, 5-2) on Sept. 29, before traveling to Murphy (16-4, 5-2) and suffering a 4-set defeat.
Members of the JV Black Knights – Tillman Adams (12), Kasen Buchanan, Isiac Collins, John Dominguez-Romero (74), Matthew Phillips (7) and Kellen Ensley (52) – were all smiles while jogging off the field after Collins connected on a rare JV point-after during Robbinsville’s 59-6 romping of Andrews on Sept. 22. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Members of the JV Black Knights – Tillman Adams (12), Kasen Buchanan, Isiac Collins, John Dominguez-Romero (74), Matthew Phillips (7) and Kellen Ensley (52) – were all smiles while jogging off the field after Collins connected on a rare JV point-after during Robbinsville’s 59-6 romping of Andrews on Sept. 22. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Complete tune-up

Kevin Hensley
Friday, September 30, 2022
Robbinsville – Just six days prior to challenging for a piece of the pie, the junior varsity Black Knights put on a showcase.
Not a Trojan was found in the path of senior fullback Turner Jackson on Friday, as he began a 58-yard scoring sprint during the Knights’ 40-7 squashing of Alleghany. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Not a Trojan was found in the path of senior fullback Turner Jackson on Friday, as he began a 58-yard scoring sprint during the Knights’ 40-7 squashing of Alleghany. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Anything but a war

Kevin Hensley
Friday, September 30, 2022
Robbinsville – If you are a casual observer, you would have never known the Black Knights had not played a football game in two weeks. The Alleghany Trojans made a 4 ½-hour trip for Friday’s homecoming game at Robbinsville.
The Robbinsville Lady Knights surround head coach Kadey Phillips on Tuesday, moments after a 4-set victory at Swain County gave Phillips’ her 100th career win. All names are listed from left. Kneeling in front: Suri Watty and Delaney Brooms. Second row: Claire Barlow, Liz Carpenter, Tai Owle, manager Eden Orr, Kadey Phillips, Kensley Phillips, Desta Trammell, assistant coach Dede Brooms and Fala Welch. Standing in back is Aubrie Wachacha. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

The Robbinsville Lady Knights surround head coach Kadey Phillips on Tuesday, moments after a 4-set victory at Swain County gave Phillips’ her 100th career win. All names are listed from left. Kneeling in front: Suri Watty and Delaney Brooms. Second row: Claire Barlow, Liz Carpenter, Tai Owle, manager Eden Orr, Kadey Phillips, Kensley Phillips, Desta Trammell, assistant coach Dede Brooms and Fala Welch. Standing in back is Aubrie Wachacha. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Model of consistency

Kevin Hensley
Friday, September 30, 2022
Bryson City – It took Kadey Phillips just 130 matches to carve out 100 career wins. The clincher was a 4-set Robbinsville Lady Knights triumph at Swain County on Tuesday.
With Murphy’s Jude Pinkerton (78) in pursuit – and Robbinsville’s Owen Blevins (77) scanning the field for any signs of disruption – JV Black Knight Tillman Adams works his way upfield Sept. 15 at Murphy. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

With Murphy’s Jude Pinkerton (78) in pursuit – and Robbinsville’s Owen Blevins (77) scanning the field for any signs of disruption – JV Black Knight Tillman Adams works his way upfield Sept. 15 at Murphy. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Show up, show out

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 22, 2022
Murphy – It was a bad night to be a Bulldog. From the opening whistle on Sept. 15, the junior varsity Robbinsville Black Knights dictated control over Murphy, with a mixture of solid rushing and stubborn defense stalling the hosts in a 22-16 triumph.
Robbinsville senior Desta Trammell (6) could not contain her excitement after the final point of the Lady Knights’ 4-set victory at Smoky Mountain on Monday. Also soaking up the moment was Tai Owle (14), Kensley Phillips (4), assistant coach Dede Brooms, Aubrie Wachacha (16), Suri Watty (2) and Delaney Brooms. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville senior Desta Trammell (6) could not contain her excitement after the final point of the Lady Knights’ 4-set victory at Smoky Mountain on Monday. Also soaking up the moment was Tai Owle (14), Kensley Phillips (4), assistant coach Dede Brooms, Aubrie Wachacha (16), Suri Watty (2) and Delaney Brooms. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Righting the ship

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 22, 2022
Sylva – Twice the Robbinsville Lady Knights traveled to Jackson County last week. Twice, they returned home with victories. Coming off a tough sweep at Asheville Christian Academy on Sept.
With Kellen Ensley (52) running interference, JV Black Knights quarterback Luke Lovin rolls out for a pass Sept. 8 at Cherokee. Photo courtesy of Haden Key/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

With Kellen Ensley (52) running interference, JV Black Knights quarterback Luke Lovin rolls out for a pass Sept. 8 at Cherokee. Photo courtesy of Haden Key/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

JV Knights edge Cherokee

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 15, 2022
Cherokee – Much like their varsity counterparts would do the next night, the junior varsity Black Knights won a game on a post-touchdown play. Taking on Cherokee in a pivotal Smoky Mountain Conference showdown on Sept.

Tough at the top

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 15, 2022
Hayesville – The Lady Knights are still the team to beat in the Smoky Mountain Conference. Though the Hayesville Lady Jackets gave Robbinsville a tough road match Sept. 8, the Knights prevailed in a compact 28-26, 25-23, 28-26 sweep.
With the final outcome solidified on the scoreboard, Robbinsville’s Jude Campbell (32), Carson Lovin (9), Turner Jackson (7) and Haden Key (66) swarm Brock Adams after his victory-clinching interception Friday at Smoky Mountain. Photos by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

With the final outcome solidified on the scoreboard, Robbinsville’s Jude Campbell (32), Carson Lovin (9), Turner Jackson (7) and Haden Key (66) swarm Brock Adams after his victory-clinching interception Friday at Smoky Mountain. Photos by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Pickin’ and grinnin

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 15, 2022
Sylva – With 1:45 left in Friday’s game, Smoky Mountain quarterback Jed West aired out a long pass downfield.
JV Black Knight Tillman Adams (12) lays waste to a would-be Swain County defender during Robbinsville’s 12-8 loss to the Maroon Devils on Sept. 1. Photo courtesy of Carlos Lopez/Robbinsville High School

JV Black Knight Tillman Adams (12) lays waste to a would-be Swain County defender during Robbinsville’s 12-8 loss to the Maroon Devils on Sept. 1. Photo courtesy of Carlos Lopez/Robbinsville High School

Devils edge JV Knights

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 8, 2022
Robbinsville – A third-quarter lead slipped away late for the junior varsity Black Knights, who fell to 1-2 on Sept. 1 by dropping a 12-8 heartbreaker to conference foe Swain County at Modeal Walsh Memorial Stadium.