Sports

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.
Robbinsville senior Gabby Hooper (right) looks to outpace Murphy’s Kaiya Pickens during Saturday’s third-round playoff matchup. Photo by Montana Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Robbinsville senior Gabby Hooper (right) looks to outpace Murphy’s Kaiya Pickens during Saturday’s third-round playoff matchup. Photo by Montana Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Lady Knights fall in sectional final

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, March 4, 2021
Robbinsville – The Lady Knights held all the cards: home-court advantage, two wins over their opponent earlier this year and a wave of momentum coming off a huge road victory Feb. 25. But it was not meant to be. Robbinsville (No. 8 seed, 15-2) fell 49-37 to the visiting Murphy Lady Bulldogs (No.
Turner Jackson (1) pulls away from some heavy Rosman pressure during Robbinsville’s 56-6 win over the Tigers on Feb. 25. Jackson emerged as the Black Knights’ leading rusher in the victory, tallying 71 yards on just five carries. Photos by Montana Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Turner Jackson (1) pulls away from some heavy Rosman pressure during Robbinsville’s 56-6 win over the Tigers on Feb. 25. Jackson emerged as the Black Knights’ leading rusher in the victory, tallying 71 yards on just five carries. Photos by Montana Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Back at work

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, March 4, 2021
Robbinsville – They scored early and they scored often. In the end, the Robbinsville Black Knights began their quest to successful defend the 1A state title with a 56-6 victory over Rosman.  The game ended a 14-month layoff for Robbinsville football, which had last suited up Dec.

Knights drop finale to Bulldogs

Kevin Hensley
Friday, February 26, 2021
Murphy – Heading into the Feb. 18 regular-season finale, Robbinsville needed a win to stay in the playoff race. However, the Black Knights (8-6, 6-6) fell behind early on the road at Murphy and were unable to bounce back, dropping a 64-54 affair to the Bulldogs.