Andrews

Amidst a first-quarter flurry, no one was at the basket to stop Xamuel Wachacha’s transition basket – and if they dared to interfere with the proceedings, Eli Lambert had a front-row seat to the bucket. Photo by Fala Welch/The Graham Star

Amidst a first-quarter flurry, no one was at the basket to stop Xamuel Wachacha’s transition basket – and if they dared to interfere with the proceedings, Eli Lambert had a front-row seat to the bucket. Photo by Fala Welch/The Graham Star

How legends are made

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 25, 2024
Robbinsville – It was over before it really got started. Following a 10-day layoff, the Robbinsville Middle School Black Knights (No. 1 seed) showed no signs of rust when they hit the floor to duke it out with the Andrews Wildcats (No. 4) in Jan.
Elijah Kirkland seemingly reaches into the lights – and over the plea of Andrews’ Tanner Postell – for two of his Black Knights-best 15 points in Dec. 14’s home win over the Wildcats. Photo courtesy of Jozlyn Garland/Contributing Photographer

Elijah Kirkland seemingly reaches into the lights – and over the plea of Andrews’ Tanner Postell – for two of his Black Knights-best 15 points in Dec. 14’s home win over the Wildcats. Photo courtesy of Jozlyn Garland/Contributing Photographer

On cusp of perfection

Kevin Hensley
Saturday, December 30, 2023
Robbinsville’s Bella Coats storms past the corner defense of Andrews’ Juliet Holloway on Dec. 14. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com Martins Creek – Things are pretty well in the bag at this juncture for the middle school Black Knights. Robbinsville (12-0) has already clinched the No.
With Andrews’ Kinleigh Queen (12) sprinting to cut off the progress, Liz Carpenter breaks toward the home basket during Tuesday’s loss to the Lady Wildcats. Despite Carpenter’s 21-point showing, the Knights suffered their first setback of the season. Photo by Fala Welch/The Graham Star

With Andrews’ Kinleigh Queen (12) sprinting to cut off the progress, Liz Carpenter breaks toward the home basket during Tuesday’s loss to the Lady Wildcats. Despite Carpenter’s 21-point showing, the Knights suffered their first setback of the season. Photo by Fala Welch/The Graham Star

Wildcats stun Lady Knights

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, December 21, 2023
Robbinsville – The Lady Knights were not prepared for what transpired on their home court Tuesday.
Robbinsville’s Quinn Jumper ducks around Andrews’ Gabe Clark during the Black Knights’ win over the Wildcats on Tuesday. Photo by Fala Welch/The Graham Star

Robbinsville’s Quinn Jumper ducks around Andrews’ Gabe Clark during the Black Knights’ win over the Wildcats on Tuesday. Photo by Fala Welch/The Graham Star

Back in the swing of things

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, December 21, 2023
Robbinsville – Head coach Jake Beasley has seen the best of times and the worst of times for the Black Knights’ varsity program. Right now definitely leans on the “best” side of the fence; perhaps the best Robbinsville has seen in its existence.
The reaction milliseconds after Daphne Barlow roped a long-range prayer through the net to lift Robbinsville past Andrews on Nov. 16 varied, depending on which side of the scorer’s table fans were seated on. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

The reaction milliseconds after Daphne Barlow roped a long-range prayer through the net to lift Robbinsville past Andrews on Nov. 16 varied, depending on which side of the scorer’s table fans were seated on. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Wing and prayer

Kevin Hensley
Tuesday, November 21, 2023
Andrews – With 5.2 seconds left, Drea Cutshaw posted a layup. The shot gave the Lady Wildcats a 28-27 advantage in the waning moments of Nov. 16’s back-and-forth tussle against Robbinsville; a game which the Lady Knights led 6-3 before Andrews went on a 12-2 run before halftime to pull ahead.
A heavy lack of rainfall has produced a drought across western North Carolina. As seen from this U.S. Drought Monitor of North Carolina map, Graham County is under a “severe drought.” Map courtesy of North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality

A heavy lack of rainfall has produced a drought across western North Carolina. As seen from this U.S. Drought Monitor of North Carolina map, Graham County is under a “severe drought.” Map courtesy of North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality

Send down the rain

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 9, 2023
A heavy lack of rainfall in the area has wreaked havoc on conditions outdoors, which has sparked a pair of unrelated fires – one planned, one not – and the implementation of an outdoor burn ban. The North Carolina Forest Service issued a ban for a 14-county area, which went into effect at 5 p.m.
Sophomore libero Suri Watty eyes a serve during Tuesday’s conference-tournament semifinals against Swain County. Watty’s stint at the service line in the third set sparked a 12-3 run for Robbinsville. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Sophomore libero Suri Watty eyes a serve during Tuesday’s conference-tournament semifinals against Swain County. Watty’s stint at the service line in the third set sparked a 12-3 run for Robbinsville. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Knights ousted in tourney semis

Kevin Hensley
Friday, October 20, 2023
Final standings for the 2023 Smoky Mountain Conference volleyball season.
Members of the Black Knights’ defense – Blake Powers (7), Chase Calhoun (2), Jonah Teesateskie (62) and John Dominguez (74) – crunch Andrews senior running back Dalton Rose during Friday’s homecoming win over the Wildcats. Photos courtesy of Maria Shook Photography

Members of the Black Knights’ defense – Blake Powers (7), Chase Calhoun (2), Jonah Teesateskie (62) and John Dominguez (74) – crunch Andrews senior running back Dalton Rose during Friday’s homecoming win over the Wildcats. Photos courtesy of Maria Shook Photography

Every Rose has its thorn

Kevin Hensley
Friday, October 20, 2023
Robbinsville – For every question posed by Andrews, the Black Knights had an answer.
Robbinsville's Donovan Carpenter (11) delivers a handoff to Cuttler Adams during the waning moments of the first half Friday against Andrews. The Black Knights scalded the Wildcats 36-19 on homecoming. Photo courtesy of Maria Shook Photography

Robbinsville's Donovan Carpenter (11) delivers a handoff to Cuttler Adams during the waning moments of the first half Friday against Andrews. The Black Knights scalded the Wildcats 36-19 on homecoming. Photo courtesy of Maria Shook Photography

Conference champs tamed

Kevin Hensley
Friday, October 13, 2023
Robbinsville – For every question posed by Andrews, Robbinsville had an answer. By the closing moments of the third quarter, the Black Knights had amassed a 36-0 advantage over the visiting Wildcats.
Dodging steady rainfall for much of the evening proved to be a challenge for both Robbinsville and Murphy on Friday. Here, Bulldogs quarterback Brady Grant could not get enough traction to escape Koleson Dooley (55) and Chase Calhoun (2), as the duo dropped Grant for a sack moments later. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Dodging steady rainfall for much of the evening proved to be a challenge for both Robbinsville and Murphy on Friday. Here, Bulldogs quarterback Brady Grant could not get enough traction to escape Koleson Dooley (55) and Chase Calhoun (2), as the duo dropped Grant for a sack moments later. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Rainin’ on their parade

Kevin Hensley
Friday, October 13, 2023
The box score from Friday's game. Murphy – There was steady rainfall; tempers flaring on the field; and a thrilling conclusion. In other words, a fitting chapter in the long-standing rivalry between the Robbinsville Black Knights and the Murphy Bulldogs.