BlackKnights

The Snowbird Lady Warriors Termite Girls capped off a perfect 11-0 season by defeating Copper Basin, Tenn., on Saturday in the Smokey Mountain Youth Conference Tournament finals. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

11 up, 11 down for Warriors

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, February 9, 2023

Murphy – Not one single team in the Smokey Mountain Youth Conference this season had a response to the attack of the Lady Warriors. In a preview of what’s to come, the Snowbird Termites (11-0) ended their chase of history Saturday, knocking off the Copper Basin (Tenn.

Members of the Black Knights mob head coach Jake Beasley in the locker room Tuesday, moments after Robbinsville wrapped up its first Smoky Mountain Conference title since the 2013-14 season. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Mission: accomplished

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, February 9, 2023

Robbinsville – Finally. The last time Robbinsville’s varsity boys won a conference title in basketball, this year’s seniors were still in elementary school.

Robert “Bob” Parette Colvin left an indelible mark on the Robbinsville football program, leading the Black Knights to nearly 80 percent of their 1A state championships. The beloved coach passed away Jan. 25.

'A very special man’

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, February 2, 2023

This iconic photo of Bob Colvin celebrating with the 1969 1A state championship trophy – the first in Robbinsville history – was selected as the cover of The Graham Star’s 2017 publication, Title Town.

Senior Caleb Draper (1) slides past Hiwassee Dam’s Kyle Taylor during Monday’s road game. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Target: acquired

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, February 2, 2023

Showing complete disregard for the defense of Hiwassee Dam’s Leo Dickson, Robbinsville’s Brock Adams stretches for a second-half push into the net Monday.

Loxston Hooper pins Murphy’s Dalton Farmer to win the 120-pound bout of Saturday’s first-round, dual-team tournament match in Robbinsville. The Black Knights went on to steamroll the Bulldogs 81-0, before downing Alleghany 58-15 to advance to the Elite 8. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Knights takedown 2; advance to Elite 8

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, February 2, 2023

Robbinsville – The Bulldogs and Trojans had a tough row to hoe Saturday: the buzzsaw that is “The ‘Ville.

Black Knights senior Turner Jackson stares down Alleghany's Isaac Stokes at the outset of Jan. 28's, second-round state dual-team tournament match in Robbinsville. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Black Knights continue quest for state dual title

Kevin Hensley

Wednesday, February 1, 2023

Bryson City – Robbinsville's pursuit of the program's second dual-team state wrestling championship came to a heartbreaking conclusion Wednesday at Swain County High School. Entering the postseason with the No. 1 seed, Robbinsville (29-4) faced a fired-up Swain County (No.

The Robbinsville Middle School Black Knights gathered on the court with their runner-up plaque after the conference-tournament finale Jan. 19 at Murphy.

Middle school Knights drop tournament finals to Braves

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, January 26, 2023

Murphy – The Black Knights pushed their season to its latest possible game: the Smoky Mountain Conference tournament finals. But Robbinsville’s dance partner in the Jan. 19 title showdown was Cherokee, a team that had its number during the regular season.

Exhausted, Koleson Dooley (220) rises to a knee after securing a 3-2, sudden-death overtime win over Swain County’s Blake Sain on Jan. 19. Dooley went to overtime with Sain during the James Orr Invitational on Jan. 14 and went to ultimate-tiebreaker in Saturday’s conference Tournament. Dooley triumphed on all three occasions. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Conference conquered

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, January 26, 2023

Robbinsville – When a program has won 25 Smoky Mountain Conference titles in just 46 years of existence, the term “powerhouse” is certainly applicable. But this year was supposed to be different, critics said. Of the six state champions Robbinsville Wrestling produced last year, just two returned.

Donovan Carpenter glances down at his handiwork in the closing seconds of Tuesday’s comeback victory at Cherokee. Carpenter’s dunk resoundingly affirmed a 58-48 win for the Black Knights. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Slow and steady wins the race

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, January 26, 2023

Cherokee – It was time to take the Braves to school.

Don't adjust your sets; that's a basketball score

Kevin Hensley

Friday, January 20, 2023

Murphy – Well, that’s one way to send a message to the rest of the field. Robbinsville (No. 3 seed, 9-4) shutout Swain County (No. 6) in the first half of the Smoky Mountain Conference Middle School Tournament quarterfinal Monday, heading into the locker room with a 35-0 advantage at the break.