Warriors

Forward Bryce Adams fights through the interior defense of Smoky Mountain’s Cameron Fowler (5) and Ace Pregner (14) on Dec. 27. Although the junior’s efforts in the game resulted in a double-double, the Black Knights suffered their first loss of the year. Photos by Fala Welch/The Graham Star

Forward Bryce Adams fights through the interior defense of Smoky Mountain’s Cameron Fowler (5) and Ace Pregner (14) on Dec. 27. Although the junior’s efforts in the game resulted in a double-double, the Black Knights suffered their first loss of the year. Photos by Fala Welch/The Graham Star

Unplanned re-run

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 4, 2024
Kenyon Swimmer unloads a jumper during Robbinsville’s win over Veritas Christian Academy on Dec. 28. Sylva – The Black Knights were adamant about what they hoped to accomplish in the Smoky Mountain Christmas Invitational: win and win out.
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

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.
Black Knights junior Donovan Carpenter (11) was more than willing to pull away from Brevard’s Baker Buchanan (on the floor), Tre Crite (3) and Jaylen Brown (24) on Dec. 29, after Carpenter escaped with the game-clinching steal at the buzzer. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Black Knights junior Donovan Carpenter (11) was more than willing to pull away from Brevard’s Baker Buchanan (on the floor), Tre Crite (3) and Jaylen Brown (24) on Dec. 29, after Carpenter escaped with the game-clinching steal at the buzzer. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Gifting season’s beatings

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 5, 2023
Sylva – One of the fun variables with a Christmas tournament is that you often play teams you are unfamiliar with. Both Veritas Christian Academy and Brevard had to learn a lesson many programs in Western North Carolina have already fell victim to: Robbinsville simply does not quit.
Robbinsville senior Willie Riddle locks horns with Franklin’s Chase Browning during the Nov. 30 home dual against the Panthers. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Robbinsville senior Willie Riddle locks horns with Franklin’s Chase Browning during the Nov. 30 home dual against the Panthers. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

‘The ‘Ville’ off to 10-1 start

Kevin Hensley
Friday, December 9, 2022
Robbinsville – The only surefire way to ensure improvement from start to finish is to get in as many live-action reps as possible. Back for his fourth stint as the Black Knights’ head coach, David Haney has packed Robbinsville’s 2022-23 schedule with a wide variety of competition.
The Snowbird Mite Boys captured the 2021-22 Smokey Mountain Youth Conference tournament championship Feb. 5, after defeating Robbinsville in the title game. All names are listed from left. Front row: Whyatt Lewis, Hayden Lewis, Elijah Kirkland, Keni Wolf, Xamuel Wachacha, Elijah Lambert, Jayce Turner, Colby Kirkland, Avery Brown and Landon Eddings. Back row: coaches Cody Teesateskie, Adam Wachacha and Zane Wachacha.

The Snowbird Mite Boys captured the 2021-22 Smokey Mountain Youth Conference tournament championship Feb. 5, after defeating Robbinsville in the title game. All names are listed from left. Front row: Whyatt Lewis, Hayden Lewis, Elijah Kirkland, Keni Wolf, Xamuel Wachacha, Elijah Lambert, Jayce Turner, Colby Kirkland, Avery Brown and Landon Eddings. Back row: coaches Cody Teesateskie, Adam Wachacha and Zane Wachacha.

Ultimate Warriors

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 17, 2022
Hiwassee Dam – It was a hotly contested nail-biter between two Graham County programs. And in the end, Snowbird prevailed. The Mite Warriors capped off a 9-1 campaign by defeating the Robbinsville Black Knights 35-31 on Feb. 5 in the finals of the Smokey Mountain Youth Conference tournament.
Linemen Candler Edwards (50) and Carlos Wesley (56) create an opening for running back Lex Hooper during Friday’s home game against Erwin. Hooper had three touchdowns in the first half. Photos by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Linemen Candler Edwards (50) and Carlos Wesley (56) create an opening for running back Lex Hooper during Friday’s home game against Erwin. Hooper had three touchdowns in the first half. Photos by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Ground and pound

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, March 18, 2021
Robbinsville – The Black Knights carried the ball 52 times Friday night. Erwin passed it 39. In the end, Robbinsville’s run game proved to be the difference maker, as the Knights (3-0, 2-0) held off a second-half push from the visiting Warriors (1-2) to pick up a 35-28 win on homecoming night.
Senior Wade Hamilton takes off with one of four Robbinsville interceptions the Knights picked off in Friday’s win. Photos by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Senior Wade Hamilton takes off with one of four Robbinsville interceptions the Knights picked off in Friday’s win. Photos by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

D-fens!

Kevin Hensley
Wednesday, March 10, 2021
Hayesville – There’s an old adage that goes something like this: “You can’t have a good offense without great defense.
Robbinsville's Lex Hooper (20) quickly reminded Erwin and any future opponents that there is more than one dangerous running in the Black Knights' backfield Friday night, as he caught the Warriors defense completely off-guard on the first play of the game and easily found some open room for a 65-yard touchdown as a result. Photo by Byron Housley/The Graham Star

Robbinsville's Lex Hooper (20) quickly reminded Erwin and any future opponents that there is more than one dangerous running in the Black Knights' backfield Friday night, as he caught the Warriors defense completely off-guard on the first play of the game and easily found some open room for a 65-yard touchdown as a result. Photo by Byron Housley/The Graham Star

Rushes, passes, safeties, oh my!

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 12, 2019
Asheville – What started as a first-half shootout evolved into a second-half blowout.