BlackKnights

Xamuel Wachacha (1) attempts to evade the defense of Murphy's Abram Twiggs and shoot a 3-pointer during Feb. 12's Smoky Mountain Conference title game. Photos by Bella Eddings/The Graham Star

Xamuel Wachacha (1) attempts to evade the defense of Murphy's Abram Twiggs and shoot a 3-pointer during Feb. 12's Smoky Mountain Conference title game. Photos by Bella Eddings/The Graham Star

Black Knights upset in tournament semifinals

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 19, 2026
Murphy – There was little doubt that Feb. 18's semifinal match-up would be a doozy. The first team to hand the Black Knights a conference loss this season was Cherokee. Even though Robbinsville split the series with a Senior Night victory Feb.
Brayden Lane manhandles Bonnie Cone Leadership Academy's Achilles Ochoa during the second round of the dual-team postseason Tuesday. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Brayden Lane manhandles Bonnie Cone Leadership Academy's Achilles Ochoa during the second round of the dual-team postseason Tuesday. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Tarred and feathered

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 12, 2026
Robbinsville – It took less than 10 minutes of total bout time for the Black Knights to advance to the third round of the dual-team postseason. Showing that they were not being paid by the hour – or even the half-hour – Robbinsville (No.
Robbinsville's Nathan Frederick leads a pack of runners during the 1,000-meter run at Jan. 28's meet in Mill Spring. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville's Nathan Frederick leads a pack of runners during the 1,000-meter run at Jan. 28's meet in Mill Spring. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Tryin' on a new championship

Kevin Hensley
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Mill Spring – Leave it to Robbinsville to carve out a new chapter in its long-standing lineage of sports dominance. For the first time in school history, the Black Knights were named Smoky Mountain Conference Indoor Track champions, besting Swain County 112-105 at Jan.
Kristian Bauzo (left) attempts to evade the defense of Andrews’ Braylen Maennle on Jan. 27. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Kristian Bauzo (left) attempts to evade the defense of Andrews’ Braylen Maennle on Jan. 27. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Flying high

Kevin Hensley
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Hiwassee Dam – Dampened by four postponements – the result of Winter Storm Gianna sweeping across western North Carolina – the Black Knights only hit the hardwood once last week. Robbinsville traveled to the westernmost high school in the state Jan.
Robbinsville’s Micah York was the Black Knights’ leading scorer in Jan. 12’s season wrap-up: the semifinals of the divisional tournament, which was contested against Hayesville. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville’s Micah York was the Black Knights’ leading scorer in Jan. 12’s season wrap-up: the semifinals of the divisional tournament, which was contested against Hayesville. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Knights eliminated from middle school tournament

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 29, 2026
Andrews – The hopes of adding another year to the championship banners inside the Robbinsville Elementary School gymnasium will have to wait at least one more season.

Black Knights reign on Cats and Dogs

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 29, 2026
Black Knights guard Dane Knott – shown launching a long-range shot Tuesday against Andrews – is averaging 21 points per game this season. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.
The Robbinsville Black Knights gather with the 2025-26 Smoky Mountain Conference Traditional Tournament championship trophy, which they won Jan. 22 at Cherokee. Photo courtesy of Robbinsville Wrestling

The Robbinsville Black Knights gather with the 2025-26 Smoky Mountain Conference Traditional Tournament championship trophy, which they won Jan. 22 at Cherokee. Photo courtesy of Robbinsville Wrestling

Different tournament, same result

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 29, 2026
Cherokee – The Black Knights continue to be the standard bearer in Smoky Mountain Conference wrestling. After mowing through the divisional duals, Robbinsville carved up the competition in the conference’s traditional tournament at Cherokee on Jan. 22.
Black Knights point guard Luke Lovin splits a pair of Cherokee defenders, who can only look on in amazement as the senior glides through the air for a basket attempt during Friday's conference road game. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Black Knights point guard Luke Lovin splits a pair of Cherokee defenders, who can only look on in amazement as the senior glides through the air for a basket attempt during Friday's conference road game. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Black Knights win 10th game of season

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 22, 2026
Robbinsville put the memory of its first conference loss in the rearview mirror Tuesday, knocking off Rosman (1-12, 0-5) at home 66-33. The victory improved the Black Knights to 10-3 (3-1 in divisional play), which solidifies Robbinsville's fifth-straight 10-win season.
Adair Panama takes down Tuscola's David Levi Wood during the 120-pound finals of Saturday's James Orr Invitational. Photos by Bella Eddings/The Graham Star

Adair Panama takes down Tuscola's David Levi Wood during the 120-pound finals of Saturday's James Orr Invitational. Photos by Bella Eddings/The Graham Star

Robbinsville wins James Orr Invitational

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 22, 2026
A pair of familiar faces stood tall at the conclusion of Saturday's James Orr Invitational.