LadyKnights

Robbinsville’s Eli Lambert (12) splits a pair of Maroon-Devil defenders during the Black Knights’ win over Swain County on Jan. 5. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Middle school hoops splits final slate

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, January 12, 2023

Lady Knight Chloe Adams pulls away from a Swain County defender for a second-half transition basket Jan. 5. Robbinsville – Both of Graham County’s middle school basketball programs kickstarted 2023 with a bang, overcoming tight deficits to pick up a pair of home victories.

Junior Aubrie Wachacha eyes a second-quarter basket Monday at Pisgah. Robbinsville’s center had 13 points against Cocke County, Tenn., on Friday. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville cannot thwart sharp shooters

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, January 12, 2023

Newport, Tenn. – Coming off head coach Lucas Ford’s 100th win Jan. 3, the Lady Knights embarked on a pair of long road trips for non-conference action. Robbinsville (9-4) admittedly had a tough draw, facing a pair of 3A powerhouses in Cocke County, Tenn., on Friday and Pisgah on Monday.

Prior to Tuesday’s home game against Blue Ridge School, the Robbinsville Lady Knights took a moment to recognize head coach Lucas Ford, who recorded his 100th win while guiding the program Jan. 3 at Hayesville. From left are Suri Watty, Anna Williams, Anna York, Desta Trammell, Katie-Lyn Gross, Kensley Phillips, Abby Wehr, Ford, Aubrie Wachacha, Liz Carpenter, Olivia Lewis and Fala Welch. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

‘Not too shabby for a football coach’

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, January 12, 2023

Robbinsville – A lot of factors have to be in the mix to create the right formula for a coach to record 100 wins.

Robbinsville senior Kensley Phillips (right) drives past Brevard’s Shaniya Cook during Dec. 29’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Invitational appointment with the Lady Devils. The Lady Knights’ shooting guard was all over the floor in the lopsided victory, picking up her first career triple-double in the process. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Repetition is key

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, January 5, 2023

Sylva – It takes a lot of chips falling into place for any basketball player to record a triple-double. For such a polished, versatile athlete like Kensley Phillips, everything clicked from the opening tip of Dec. 29’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Invitational finale for Robbinsville.

Xander Wachacha – shown unloading a second-half 3 on Dec. 20 at Andrews – had a team-high 21 points in Robbinsville’s loss to Smoky Mountain on Tuesday. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Knights’ 1st loss comes in tournament opener

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, December 29, 2022

Sylva – One team looked like they had not missed a beat. The other struggled to shake off the holiday break. In the first day of the 2022 Smoky Mountain Christmas Invitational, the Robbinsville Black Knights could not replicate the success they had against the hosting Mustangs on Nov.

Robbinsville Middle School’s Xamuel Wachacha weaves through heavy transition traffic Dec. 5 against Cherokee. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Middle school Black Knights enter pause 7-3

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, December 22, 2022

Hayesville – With the top scorer back from a harrowing injury – and already showing flashes of brilliance – it is probably a good thing for opponents that the Robbinsville Middle School Black Knights have a Christmas break ahead. Their latest foray carried the program to Clay County on Dec.

Lady Knights senior Kensley Phillips pulls away from the defensive pursuit of Andrews’ Gracelyn Worley (22) and Demi Davis (15) on Tuesday. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Knights back in the win column

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, December 22, 2022

Robbinsville – Fresh off losing their first conference opener since a 66-60 loss at Hayesville on Dec. 20, 2019, the Lady Knights could have felt dejected as they headed into Friday’s showdown with Murphy (1-7, 1-2). Instead, Robbinsville showed up and showed out.

The Robbinsville Middle School wrestling team gathers to celebrate its 2022-23 Smoky Mountain Conference tournament championship Dec. 15, moments after winning the title on their home mat.

Middle school captures conference-tournament title

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, December 22, 2022

Robbinsville – When your varsity program secures 11 state champions over the last two seasons, the excitement generated is bound to trickle down the food chain. The remainder of the decade is seemingly in good hands for Robbinsville wrestling.

Zirriyah Wachacha drives to the basket Dec. 5 against Cherokee. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Knights again tame Cats

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, December 22, 2022

Andrews – In its only action of the week, Robbinsville Middle School once again swept its Cherokee-County neighbors. A quick Dec. 8 zip to Andrews netted the middle-school girls a 34-26 win over the Wildcats, with the middle-school boys picking up a 33-30 triumph.

Robbinsville’s Liz Carpenter (23) and Kensley Phillips slow down the drive of North Buncombe’s Peyton Whitson on Friday. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Blackhawks clip Lady Knights

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, December 22, 2022

Robbinsville – The chips simply did not fall in the Lady Knights’ favor. In what evolved into a back-and-forth tussle, Robbinsville (3-2, 0-1) incurred its first loss of the season Friday, dropping a 47-46 heartbreaker to the North Buncombe Blackhawks.