Robbinsville

Sophomore guard Suri Watty (right) keeps a watchful eye on the outside antics of Hayesville’s Breanna Abrams during Tuesday’s loss in the semifinals of the conference tournament at Cherokee. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Sophomore guard Suri Watty (right) keeps a watchful eye on the outside antics of Hayesville’s Breanna Abrams during Tuesday’s loss in the semifinals of the conference tournament at Cherokee. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Inconsistency dooms Lady Knights

Cherokee – If the Lady Knights can get into a full-game groove, look out. Flashes of the potential Robbinsville (No. 3 seed, 16-8) has still yet to tap into were on display in the first quarter of Tuesday’s Smoky Mountain Conference Tournament pairing against Hayesville (No. 2, 20-5).

Free WiFi can be found downtown

Robbinsville – For years, it has dangled like a carrot. In an effort to connect to a source of internet in downtown Robbinsville, one could easily navigate to their WiFi settings while in the vicinity and see a network deemed “Robbinsville WiFi” readily available.
Andrew Chase Burchfield is quite the entrepreneur, thanks to a hobby he first picked up last year. Photo by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Andrew Chase Burchfield is quite the entrepreneur, thanks to a hobby he first picked up last year. Photo by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Chase’n dreams

Long Creek – Andrew Chase Burchfield is a diamond in the rough. An avid rock collector, he began making jewelry pieces last year. A friend suggested the hobby as an opportunity to display his rocks in a creative way.

4 arrested in meth bust

Santeetlah – The Graham County Sheriff’s Office recently took another step forward in its efforts to combat the local drug epidemic. Around 10:45 p.m., Feb. 11, personnel from the office knocked on the door of a residence at 2901 Tapoco Road.
Members of “The ‘Ville” bask in the moment of winning the program’s inaugural state invitational tournament team title Saturday. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Members of “The ‘Ville” bask in the moment of winning the program’s inaugural state invitational tournament team title Saturday. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

State champs, take 2

Greensboro – After this weekend’s individual state tournament concluded, Robbinsville can safely remove the adverb “never” from in front of the phrase “won a state invitational team title.” Leading up to the final tournament of the year, head coach David Haney told The Graham Star on Feb.
Members of "The 'Ville" bask in the moment of winning the program's inaugural state invitational tournament team title Saturday. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Members of "The 'Ville" bask in the moment of winning the program's inaugural state invitational tournament team title Saturday. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville adds 1st state invitational team title to resume

    Greensboro -- "Never" is viewed as a long time.     But after this weekend's individual state tournament concluded, Robbinsville can safely remove the adverb from in front of the phrase "won a state invitational team title.
The Robbinsville Black Knights’ regional finalists display the 2023-24 1A Western  Regional Runner-Up plaque at the end of the two-day invitational. All names are listed from left. Kneeling in front: Lleyton Hooper, Skyler Anderson and Adair Panama. Back row: Alexis Panama, Loxston Hooper, Kage Williams, Koleson Dooley, Kellen Ensley and Avery Phillips. Photo by Audrey Colvin/The Graham Star

The Robbinsville Black Knights’ regional finalists display the 2023-24 1A Western Regional Runner-Up plaque at the end of the two-day invitational. All names are listed from left. Kneeling in front: Lleyton Hooper, Skyler Anderson and Adair Panama. Back row: Alexis Panama, Loxston Hooper, Kage Williams, Koleson Dooley, Kellen Ensley and Avery Phillips. Photo by Audrey Colvin/The Graham Star

9 tickets punched to state

Robbinsville – Avery County continues to be a thorn in the side of the Black Knights’ wrestling team.
Junior forward Bryce Adams rises above the defense of Cherokee’s Savian Davis (12) and Samuel Hernandez (10) for a second-half basket Tuesday. Including Adams, four Robbinsville players scored in double digits – but could not stop the Braves from winning the Smoky Mountain Conference title. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Junior forward Bryce Adams rises above the defense of Cherokee’s Savian Davis (12) and Samuel Hernandez (10) for a second-half basket Tuesday. Including Adams, four Robbinsville players scored in double digits – but could not stop the Braves from winning the Smoky Mountain Conference title. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

No Knights off in SMC

The final Smoky Mountain Conference standings for the 2023-24 boys basketball season. Cherokee – In a span of two days, the Robbinsville Black Knights watched their Smoky Mountain Conference title defense slip away. Though Feb.
It was smiles all around for the Lady Knights during their regular-season home finale Feb. 7 against Blue Ridge School, as clearly illustrated on this throw-in from Claire Barlow (4) to Suri Watty. Photo by Audrey Colvin/The Graham Star

It was smiles all around for the Lady Knights during their regular-season home finale Feb. 7 against Blue Ridge School, as clearly illustrated on this throw-in from Claire Barlow (4) to Suri Watty. Photo by Audrey Colvin/The Graham Star

Lady Knights take 3rd

The final Smoky Mountain Conference standings for the 2023-24 girls basketball season. Cherokee – A home playoff game is still up for grabs for the Robbinsville Lady Knights, after finishing the regular season ranked third in the Smoky Mountain Conference.
Lady Knights senior Zoie Shuler takes flight during the finals of Saturday’s state indoor track triple jump  competition. Shuler claimed her 4th triple jump state championship on her final attempt. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights senior Zoie Shuler takes flight during the finals of Saturday’s state indoor track triple jump competition. Shuler claimed her 4th triple jump state championship on her final attempt. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Best for last

Zoie Shuler stands atop the awards podium at the conclusion of Saturday's 1A/2A state indoor track meet, proudly displaying the gold (triple jump) and silver (long jump) medals she collected during the competition. Winston-Salem – Zoie Shuler earned every bit of her ninth state championship.