Sports

Ryn Hooper prepares for a serve Oct. 23 at Bethany Community School. The Lady Knights’ setter is the only player Robbinsville will lose to graduation. Photo courtesy of Brooklyn Cox/Contributing Photographer

Lady Knights fall in 4th-round appearance

Kevin Hensley

Tuesday, November 4, 2025

Kernersville – For just the second time in program history, the Lady Knights volleyball team advanced to the fourth round of the state playoffs. Robbinsville (No. 5 seed, 15-12) upended the No. 4-seeded Bethany Community School Lady Wolves (No.

Robbinsville's Eli Lambert leaves an ambush of Tigers in his wake Friday at Rosman. Lambert had a career night, reeling in two scoring receptions and also returning a punt for a touchdown in the Black Knights' rout. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Black Knights joust Tigers

Kevin Hensley

Friday, October 24, 2025

The box score from Oct. 17, 2025's game between Robbinsville and Rosman. Rosman – The host school had one chance to make a good impression – and swiftly failed. In response, Robbinsville scored early and often to dismantle Rosman 61-0 at Silversteen Memorial Stadium on Friday.

Reality sets in for members of the Robbinsville Lady Knights, moments after completing a sweep of Rosman in the second round of the state playoffs Tuesday. Pictured are Kynadee Spencer (2), Ryn Hooper (8), Zaelyn Phillips and Daphne Barlow (3). Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

3rd-round bound

Kevin Hensley

Friday, October 24, 2025

Robbinsville – Pitted against a team that matches up well against them on the other side of the net, the Lady Knights were tasked with knocking off a divisional foe in their 2025 playoff debut Tuesday. Though victorious in both outings against Rosman (No.

Zaelyn Phillips spikes the ball past the defense of Cherokee’s Austin Fourkiller-Raby (3) and Joscelyn Stamper (13) during Tuesday’s league-tournament semifinal. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights fall in tournament semifinals

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, October 16, 2025

Hayesville – Even though Tuesday's semifinal pairing against the regular-season champions ended in defeat, the Lady Knights turned a lot of heads. Entering the Smoky Mountain Conference tournament as the No. 4 seed, Robbinsville (12-11) mowed over Andrews (No.

Kasen Buchanan (55) sacks Murphy quarterback Brady Grant to end the first half of action Friday. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Clash of the titans

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, October 16, 2025

The box score from Oct. 10, 2025's game between Robbinsville and Murphy. Murphy – It was a low-scoring game, in which both teams gained 15 first downs and one program ended up with just one offensive yard more than the other.

Emory Chekelelee (20) attempts to spike the ball past Cherokee’s Austin Fourkiller-Raby on Monday. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights vying for 4th place

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, October 9, 2025

Robbinsville – After playing both the regular-season champions and the second-place team in the standings during the same week, the Lady Knights hope to wrap up fourth in the division today.

JVs blanked in season finale

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, October 9, 2025

Braylen Phillips (3) wraps up Murphy's John Parker Watson en route to a sack during Sept. 29's JV season finale. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.

With Luke Lovin serving as placeholder, Robbinsville’s Zander Lucksavage prepares to boot what proved to be the game-winning field goal Friday against Swain County. Lucksavage split the uprights as the final buzzer sounded at Modeal Walsh Memorial Stadium. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

He’s got Luck on his side

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, October 9, 2025

The box score from Oct. 3, 2025's game between Swain County and Robbinsville. Robbinsville – On a night where seniors were recognized and those who paved the way were honored, Zander Lucksavage made his own footnote in Black Knights’ football lure.

Prior to Tuesday's varsity match against Swain County, Robbinsville High School volleyball recognized its lone senior: Ryn Hooper. With Hooper is assistant coach Kensley Hamilton (left) and head coach Kadey Jones. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights drop conference matches

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, October 2, 2025

Jayden Chekelelee sets the ball during Sept. 25’s JV match at Murphy. Robbinsville – As teams in the Smoky Mountain Conference jockey for a playoff spot, the Lady Knights recently dropped a pair of pivotal matches in the race. A visit to Murphy on Sept.

Isiac Collins (7) prepares to enter a scrum during Friday's homecoming game. Collins rushed for 142 yards in Robbinsville's blowout victory over Andrews. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Here, kitty kitty

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, October 2, 2025

The box score from Sept. 26, 2025's game between Andrews and Robbinsville. Robbinsville – Complete domination.