LadyKnights

2nd-half woes doom Knights

Kevin Hensley
Friday, December 9, 2022
Robbinsville – With 1:30 left before halftime, Tucker Jones drove into the paint and put up a floater that sank through the basket, giving the middle school Black Knights a 25-24 lead over Cherokee. From that point forward, Robbinsville scored just 15 more points in the game.
Desta Trammell speeds up the floor during Nov. 30’s season opener against Smoky Mountain. Trammell’s historic, consecutive free-throw streak ended in the Lady Knights’ campaign debut, but she still lead the team in three different categories – including a 26-point evening. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Desta Trammell speeds up the floor during Nov. 30’s season opener against Smoky Mountain. Trammell’s historic, consecutive free-throw streak ended in the Lady Knights’ campaign debut, but she still lead the team in three different categories – including a 26-point evening. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Blemish marks end of streak

Kevin Hensley
Friday, December 9, 2022
Robbinsville – Don’t worry; Desta Trammell heard the whispers. Even though it is superstition in the world of sports to not talk about a streak, Trammell had not forgotten that she carried an improbable run of 59 consecutive free throws made into Nov. 30’s season opener against Smoky Mountain.
Members of the 2022-23 Robbinsville High School indoor track team. All names are listed from left. Front row: Tia Hall, Naomi Taylor, Kadence Howell, Katie-Lyn Gross, Anna Wehr, Taelyr Jackson, Delaney Brooms and Zoie Shuler. Back row: Colton Satterfield, Zeb Stewart, Albert Avella, Bruce Helms, Caleb Draper, Fala Welch, William Cable, Eden Orr, Logan Hooper, Kensley Phillips, Donovin Hall, Cooper Adams, Caden Lail and Tytan Teesateskie. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Members of the 2022-23 Robbinsville High School indoor track team. All names are listed from left. Front row: Tia Hall, Naomi Taylor, Kadence Howell, Katie-Lyn Gross, Anna Wehr, Taelyr Jackson, Delaney Brooms and Zoie Shuler. Back row: Colton Satterfield, Zeb Stewart, Albert Avella, Bruce Helms, Caleb Draper, Fala Welch, William Cable, Eden Orr, Logan Hooper, Kensley Phillips, Donovin Hall, Cooper Adams, Caden Lail and Tytan Teesateskie. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Cold weather, hot talent

Kevin Hensley
Friday, December 2, 2022
* Robbinsville indoor track season preview Robbinsville W ith success come widespread intrigue. To say the least, the Robbinsville indoor track program made quite the splash during the first indoor track season in the history of the Smoky Mountain Conference last year.
Robbinsville Middle’s Cameron Allison glides to the basket during home action Nov. 17 against Hayesville. Four days later, Allison was seriously injured at Swain County, when a Maroon Devils player slammed the 13-year-old to the floor late in the game. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville Middle’s Cameron Allison glides to the basket during home action Nov. 17 against Hayesville. Four days later, Allison was seriously injured at Swain County, when a Maroon Devils player slammed the 13-year-old to the floor late in the game. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Troubling incident leads to game ending early

Kevin Hensley
Friday, December 2, 2022
Bryson City – It has to be one of every parent’s worst nightmares: you witness your child being attacked, and you can’t get there in time to stop it.
Eli Lambert (second from right) is greeted cheerfully by his teammates Nov. 17, moments after he drained a 3-pointer at the final buzzer to stamp Robbinsville Middle School’s 45-27 win over Hayesville. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Eli Lambert (second from right) is greeted cheerfully by his teammates Nov. 17, moments after he drained a 3-pointer at the final buzzer to stamp Robbinsville Middle School’s 45-27 win over Hayesville. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville continues perfect run at home

Kevin Hensley
Tuesday, November 22, 2022
Robbinsville – Simply put, the middle-school Black Knights shine on their home court. Robbinsville (3-1) came to life after halftime Nov. 17’s tilt against Hayesville, dropping 31 across the final two quarters in a 45-27 stifling of the Jackets.
Surrounded by a flock of Eagles, Xamuel Wachacha soars toward the basket during the Nov. 3 season opener against Hiwassee Dam/Ranger. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Surrounded by a flock of Eagles, Xamuel Wachacha soars toward the basket during the Nov. 3 season opener against Hiwassee Dam/Ranger. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Not 1 or 2, but 3x the excitement

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 17, 2022
Robbinsville – It took three extra periods, but the Knights got the job done. The Robbinsville Middle School boys carved out their second win of the season in exhausting fashion, using an 9-0 shutout in a third overtime session to best Andrews 49-40 on Nov. 10.
An exhausted Jacob Teesateskie glances at his raucous teammates Tuesday, as Madison’s Mason Clubb lays despondent on the mat. Teesateskie had just scored a takedown to prevail 7-5 in overtime against Clubb. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

An exhausted Jacob Teesateskie glances at his raucous teammates Tuesday, as Madison’s Mason Clubb lays despondent on the mat. Teesateskie had just scored a takedown to prevail 7-5 in overtime against Clubb. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Black Knights handle business in opener

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 17, 2022
Snowbird – The one advantage Robbinsville usually has against opponents is its ability to fill out all 14 weight classes. It doesn’t hurt that finesse and talent are found across the roster, either.
Robbinsville seniors Brock Adams (left) and Kensley Phillips were recently named as the school’s 2022 Heisman High School Scholarship winners. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Robbinsville seniors Brock Adams (left) and Kensley Phillips were recently named as the school’s 2022 Heisman High School Scholarship winners. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Success pays off

News Staff
Friday, November 11, 2022
Robbinsville – A pair of Black Knight seniors were recently awarded for their academic and athletic endeavors. Brock Adams and Kensley Phillips were selected last week as Robbinsville’s 2022 Heisman High School Scholarship recipients.
Zayleigh Chekeleelee outpaces the pursuit of Hiwassee Dam/Ranger defenders for a lay-up during the Nov. 3 season opener. Chekeleelee led the Lady Knights with a 10-point afternoon. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Zayleigh Chekeleelee outpaces the pursuit of Hiwassee Dam/Ranger defenders for a lay-up during the Nov. 3 season opener. Chekeleelee led the Lady Knights with a 10-point afternoon. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Middle school hoops tips off

Kevin Hensley
Friday, November 11, 2022
Robbinsville – It might be a few more weeks before the high school Knights begin their latest basketball season, but the next generation of varsity superstars tipped their year off Nov. 3.
Robbinsville senior Kensley Phillips fires a shot toward a pair of Smoky Mountain defenders in a Sept. 19 road match. Phillips has been named the Co-Smoky Mountain Conference Player of the Year. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville senior Kensley Phillips fires a shot toward a pair of Smoky Mountain defenders in a Sept. 19 road match. Phillips has been named the Co-Smoky Mountain Conference Player of the Year. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Phillips named Conference Player of the Year

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 3, 2022
Robbinsville – For the first time in her career, Kensley Phillips has been named the Player of the Year. For the second time in her coaching career, Kadey Phillips has been named the Coach of the Year.