Sports

Junior varsity Black Knight Adair Panama sprints away from the Swain County defense during the Oct. 14 season finale. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Junior varsity Black Knight Adair Panama sprints away from the Swain County defense during the Oct. 14 season finale. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Strong finish

Kevin Hensley
Wednesday, October 20, 2021
Robbinsville – Defensive positives were spurned out of several offensive negatives. The Oct. 14 regular-season finale between the junior varsity Robbinsville Black Knights (3-2) and Swain County featured a combined six fumble recoveries, but just one interception.

True grit

Kevin Hensley
Wednesday, October 20, 2021
Robbinsville – Never, ever count the Lady Knights out. Recent adversities notwithstanding, Robbinsville (No. 2 seed) has found itself paired up with Murphy in the Smoky Mountain Conference tournament finals tonight, following a 28-30, 21-25, 10-15 slugfest with Cherokee (No.
Black Knights senior Cody Cline connects for the game-winning, 42-yard field goal Friday at Murphy. The kick sealed a 23-20 victory for Robbinsville. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Black Knights senior Cody Cline connects for the game-winning, 42-yard field goal Friday at Murphy. The kick sealed a 23-20 victory for Robbinsville. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Field goal frenzy

Kevin Hensley
Wednesday, October 20, 2021
Murphy – Cody Cline will never have to pay for a meal in Robbinsville again.
The Robbinsville Lady Knights gather in celebration, moments after defeating Murphy in four sets Wednesday night to win the 2021 Smoky Mountain Conference tournament. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

The Robbinsville Lady Knights gather in celebration, moments after defeating Murphy in four sets Wednesday night to win the 2021 Smoky Mountain Conference tournament. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights enter tournament finals, playoffs

Kevin Hensley
Tuesday, October 19, 2021
Robbinsville -- The Lady Knights put everything together at the right time. Wednesday's Smoky Mountain Conference tournament finale pitted Robbinsville (No. 2 seed, 19-3) against Murphy (No.
Yeika Jimenez (left) stretches to block a tip by Murphy’s Torin Rogers during Oct. 7’s conference match. Photos by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Yeika Jimenez (left) stretches to block a tip by Murphy’s Torin Rogers during Oct. 7’s conference match. Photos by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights unable to vanquish Murphy

Kevin Hensley
Friday, October 15, 2021
Robbinsville – Things didn’t go according to plan. The Robbinsville Lady Knights (16-3, 7-2) held all the cards entering Oct. 7’s Smoky Mountain Conference home match against Murphy (17-1, 9-0); a chance to erase a road sweep at the hands of the Bulldogs on Sept.
With Cherokee’s Elijah Watty (25) closing in, Robbinsville senior quarterback Dasan Gross scans the field for an open receiver during Friday’s 20-7 loss to the Braves. Photos by Scot McKie/Cherokee One Feather

With Cherokee’s Elijah Watty (25) closing in, Robbinsville senior quarterback Dasan Gross scans the field for an open receiver during Friday’s 20-7 loss to the Braves. Photos by Scot McKie/Cherokee One Feather

13-second swing

Kevin Hensley
Friday, October 15, 2021
Cherokee – Entering the fourth quarter of Friday’s Smoky Mountain Conference opener, Robbinsville and Cherokee were in a 7-7 deadlock.  Neither team had scored since the second quarter, and the game seemed destined to go to whoever struck next.
Junior varsity Black Knight Tanner Hedden (right) evades capture during the Sept. 23 home game against Murphy. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Junior varsity Black Knight Tanner Hedden (right) evades capture during the Sept. 23 home game against Murphy. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Knights roll past Wildcats

Kevin Hensley
Wednesday, October 6, 2021
Andrews – After coming out on the wrong end of a shutout, the junior varsity Black Knights got back up and trudged forward. Robbinsville (2-1) overcame some early adversity Sept. 30 at Andrews, eventually pulling ahead and ultimately prevailing 38-18 over the Wildcats.
Robbinsville sophomore Cuttler Adams (4) escapes the clutches of a Centurion defender Friday night. Adams had four touchdowns and a two-point conversion in the Knights’ 46-43 loss to Broome, S.C. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville sophomore Cuttler Adams (4) escapes the clutches of a Centurion defender Friday night. Adams had four touchdowns and a two-point conversion in the Knights’ 46-43 loss to Broome, S.C. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Rude return home

Kevin Hensley
Wednesday, October 6, 2021
Robbinsville – Not only did Friday evening’s festivities include the crowning of a school queen, but it was also a different type of “homecoming” for the Black Knights.
With senior Kelsey Waldroup (2) looking on, Robbinsville sophomore Delaney Brooms fires a shot back to Cherokee during Tuesday’s Pink Game against the Lady Braves. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

With senior Kelsey Waldroup (2) looking on, Robbinsville sophomore Delaney Brooms fires a shot back to Cherokee during Tuesday’s Pink Game against the Lady Braves. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights eye divisional showdown

Kevin Hensley
Wednesday, October 6, 2021
Robbinsville – Admittedly, the last time the Lady Knights faced Murphy, Robbinsville was not where it needed to be.
Andrew Adams wraps up Murphy’s Will Shore during Robbinsville’s loss to the Bulldogs on Sept. 23. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Andrew Adams wraps up Murphy’s Will Shore during Robbinsville’s loss to the Bulldogs on Sept. 23. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Black Knights stymied by Bulldogs

Kevin Hensley
Tuesday, October 5, 2021
Robbinsville – Squandered opportunities. That’s the biggest takeaway from Robbinsville’s junior varsity loss to Murphy on Sept. 23. The Knights were deep in Bulldogs territory on several occasions, but were unable to cash in and ultimately fell 22-0.