Sports

Black Knights quarterback Nathan Collins (5) leaves Cherokee’s Chase Calhoun (8) in the dust during Saturday’s home game against the Braves. Collins had two rushing touchdowns in Robbinsville’s 35-14 victory. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Saturday Knight delight

Kevin Hensley

Wednesday, March 24, 2021

Robbinsville – Line the opposition up, and Robbinsville keeps taking them down. The Black Knights (4-0, 3-0) shut out the Cherokee Braves (1-3, 1-3) for the entire first half of a special Saturday showcase, compiling another convincing win in the process, 35-14.

Lady Knights sophomore point guard Desta Trammell sprints toward the basket on a fast break during the Feb. 9 triple-overtime victory against Cherokee. Trammell was just named the 2020-21 Big Smoky Mountain Conference Girls Player of the Year. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Pursuing her Destanee

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, March 18, 2021

Robbinsville – Take one look at Desta Trammell and it would be easy to dismiss her talent. Basketball is in her blood, but the Robbinsville Lady Knights’ 5-foot-2 sophomore point guard is hardly someone to look past when scanning the roster.

Linemen Candler Edwards (50) and Carlos Wesley (56) create an opening for running back Lex Hooper during Friday’s home game against Erwin. Hooper had three touchdowns in the first half. Photos by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Ground and pound

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, March 18, 2021

Robbinsville – The Black Knights carried the ball 52 times Friday night. Erwin passed it 39. In the end, Robbinsville’s run game proved to be the difference maker, as the Knights (3-0, 2-0) held off a second-half push from the visiting Warriors (1-2) to pick up a 35-28 win on homecoming night.

The 2021 Robbinsville Lady Knights. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

All is right for the Lady Knights

Kevin Hensley

Wednesday, March 10, 2021

Robbinsville – The 2019 1A Western Regional runner-up started its next season with a 13-4 road victory at Copper Basin, Tenn., on March 9, 2020. Five days later, a global pandemic squashed the Robbinsville Lady Knights’ hopes of another lengthy playoff run.

Junior varsity Black Knights Alexis Panama (24) and Christian Phillips (3) combine forces to take down Murphy’s Hunter Stalcup during March 4’s road game. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

JV Knights fall in second half

Kevin Hensley

Wednesday, March 10, 2021

Murphy – Though the Knights struck first, they did not strike often enough. Robbinsville (1-1) entered halftime of the March 4 road game at Murphy in a 0-0 deadlock, the result of excellent defense from both programs.

Robbinsville Middle School’s Dreylee Webster (13) and Sydney Adams have Andrews’ Alaina Flowers caught in a rundown during Tuesday’s road opener against the Lady Wildcats. Adams would tag out Flowers to complete a 2-4-6-5-4 fielder’s choice moments later. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights roll in middle school opener

Kevin Hensley

Wednesday, March 10, 2021

Andrews – At the end of the first inning of Robbinsville Middle School’s season debut Tuesday, the Lady Knights and the hosting Lady Wildcats were tied, 2-2. By the bottom of the second, the tally was 17-2.

Sophomore point guard Brock Adams soars past Cherokee’s Tariq Underwood during Feb. 9’s home match-up with the Braves. Adams was one of four Robbinsville boys named to the All-Conference team. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

9 Robbinsville players named All-Conference

Kevin Hensley

Wednesday, March 10, 2021

Coinciding the conclusion of the 2020-21 basketball season, the Smoky Mountain Conference has released its annual All-Conference list.

Senior Wade Hamilton takes off with one of four Robbinsville interceptions the Knights picked off in Friday’s win. Photos by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

D-fens!

Kevin Hensley

Wednesday, March 10, 2021

Hayesville – There’s an old adage that goes something like this: “You can’t have a good offense without great defense.

Welcome back, fans!

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, March 4, 2021

Those wondering if they would ever get to witness a sporting event in person again can now rest easy. Gov. Roy Cooper eased restrictions statewide on building capacities Feb.

Cooper Adams creates some separation from a pair of Cherokee defenders during the junior varsity Black Knights’ 56-6, season-opening victory over the Braves. Photo by Scot McKie/Cherokee One Feather

Strong defense gives JV opener to Knights

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, March 4, 2021

Cherokee – There was no getting past the Robbinsville defense, and there was no stopping the Robbinsville offense. In the junior varsity season opener Feb. 25, the Black Knights traveled to Cherokee and held the Braves to just 60 total yards in a 56-6 trouncing.