Sports

Though exhausted, Robbinsville’s Gabby Hooper (3) begins to applaud the Lady Knights’ effort after a 77-70, triple-overtime triumph over Cherokee Lady Braves. Greeting Hooper is Kensley Phillips; Yeika Jimenez (20) is not far behind beginning the celebration. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Though exhausted, Robbinsville’s Gabby Hooper (3) begins to applaud the Lady Knights’ effort after a 77-70, triple-overtime triumph over Cherokee Lady Braves. Greeting Hooper is Kensley Phillips; Yeika Jimenez (20) is not far behind beginning the celebration. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Triple threat

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 11, 2021
Robbinsville – For a moment, it appeared the limited audience gathered inside the Robbinsville High School gymnasium Tuesday night might get two games for the price of one. In a manner of speaking.
Gabby Hooper cuts around Rosman’s Alissa Cheek on a drive to the basket Friday at Rosman. Hooper finished the game with 15 points. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Gabby Hooper cuts around Rosman’s Alissa Cheek on a drive to the basket Friday at Rosman. Hooper finished the game with 15 points. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Tigers tamed

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 4, 2021
Rosman – ‘It’s always tough to beat an opponent twice in the same season’ is an oft-quoted mantra associated with conference match-ups. But as the Robbinsville Lady Knights begin to work through the second-half of the 2021 slate, the wins keep piling up.
Robbinsville Middle School’s Bryce Adams puts up a floater during a home game with Murphy on Jan. 25. Adams dropped 30 points on the Swain County Maroon Devils in the Knights’ 68-62 road win on Jan. 27. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville Middle School’s Bryce Adams puts up a floater during a home game with Murphy on Jan. 25. Adams dropped 30 points on the Swain County Maroon Devils in the Knights’ 68-62 road win on Jan. 27. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

All they do is win, win, win

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 4, 2021
Bryson City – A come-from-behind victory showed future Robbinsville Middle School Black Knights opponents that the task ahead is arduous.
With Luke Hawk (right) closing in, Robbinsville senior Drey Keener eyes a layup Friday at Rosman. Along with Kamdyn Jordan, Keener had a team-high 14 points in the Black Knights’ 61-20 win over the Tigers. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

With Luke Hawk (right) closing in, Robbinsville senior Drey Keener eyes a layup Friday at Rosman. Along with Kamdyn Jordan, Keener had a team-high 14 points in the Black Knights’ 61-20 win over the Tigers. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

30 and done

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 4, 2021
Rosman – Simply put, Robbinsville made the shots it needed to; Rosman could not buy a basket.
Jeb Shuler, Drey Keener, Nathan Collins and Eddie Brooms (from left) could not contain their excitement after Robbinsville bested Murphy in a 62-60 overtime thriller Tuesday night. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Jeb Shuler, Drey Keener, Nathan Collins and Eddie Brooms (from left) could not contain their excitement after Robbinsville bested Murphy in a 62-60 overtime thriller Tuesday night. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Roll with the changes

Kevin Hensley
Friday, January 29, 2021
Robbinsville – It’s official: the Smoky Mountain Conference has been put on notice. The Robbinsville Black Knights have grown weary of cellar-dwelling in the division and are changing the narrative.
In the moments following Robbinsville’s 67-53 win over Murphy on Tuesday night, it was tough for the Lady Knights to know exactly which camera to look at, as multiple sources attempted to capture the first post-game memory of the victory. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

In the moments following Robbinsville’s 67-53 win over Murphy on Tuesday night, it was tough for the Lady Knights to know exactly which camera to look at, as multiple sources attempted to capture the first post-game memory of the victory. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

The streak stops here

Kevin Hensley
Friday, January 29, 2021
Robbinsville – It had been two years, 26 consecutive division wins and 42 regular-season wins in a row since the Murphy Lady Bulldogs had fallen. But long after the Bulldogs suffered a 34-29 road loss at the hands of Hayesville on Jan. 10, 2019, Robbinsville eyed redemption.
With Kensley Phillips (left) sprinting to back up the drive and Cherokee’s Praire Toineeta attempting to thwart the push, Robbinsville’s Halee Anderson eyes the basket during Friday’s 70-57 road loss to the Lady Braves. Photo by Scot McKie/Cherokee One Feather

With Kensley Phillips (left) sprinting to back up the drive and Cherokee’s Praire Toineeta attempting to thwart the push, Robbinsville’s Halee Anderson eyes the basket during Friday’s 70-57 road loss to the Lady Braves. Photo by Scot McKie/Cherokee One Feather

Minor hiccup

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 21, 2021
Cherokee – Fresh off an 8-day quarantine and a pair of practices, the Robbinsville Lady Knights felt ready to return to the court.
Robbinsville’s Drey Keener (21) reaches out to stop a shot from Cherokee’s Jordan Arkansas during Friday’s 100-81 loss to the Braves. Photo by Scot McKie/Cherokee One Feather

Robbinsville’s Drey Keener (21) reaches out to stop a shot from Cherokee’s Jordan Arkansas during Friday’s 100-81 loss to the Braves. Photo by Scot McKie/Cherokee One Feather

Perimeter blues

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 21, 2021
Cherokee – A nice first-half pace was not enough for Robbinsville.
Members of the Robbinsville cross country team – including sophomore Hayden Stewart – had to deal with heavy snowfall and sub-freezing temperatures to compete in Saturday's 1A Western Regional Meet in Bryson City. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Members of the Robbinsville cross country team – including sophomore Hayden Stewart – had to deal with heavy snowfall and sub-freezing temperatures to compete in Saturday's 1A Western Regional Meet in Bryson City. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Trekking through the elements

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 21, 2021
Bryson City – Amid heavy snowfall and a sub-freezing windchill, the Robbinsville Knights traversed through the 1A Western Regional Meet on Saturday.