LadyKnights

Robbinsville boys win Osley B. Saunooke Tournament

A lot of grit led up to Robbinsville picking up its first tournament victory of the season Saturday. Boosted by five, first-place finishers, the Black Knights tallied 190 team points to clinch the Osley B. Saunooke Tournament championship at Cherokee High School.
Freshman point guard Zayleigh Chekelelee releases a halftime buzzer-beater attempt during Robbinsville's season opener at Copper Basin on Dec. 1. Chekelelee scored 17 in the Lady Knights' home debut Friday. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Freshman point guard Zayleigh Chekelelee releases a halftime buzzer-beater attempt during Robbinsville's season opener at Copper Basin on Dec. 1. Chekelelee scored 17 in the Lady Knights' home debut Friday. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Black Knights tame Bobcats in home opener

Robbinsville – The home debut of the varsity basketball program Friday can only be viewed as a rousing success. Welcoming Blue Ridge School, the Lady Knights improved to 1-1 with a 51-19 victory in the opener.
Teammates mob Robbinsville Middle School's Mercy Nelms (center) on Dec. 4, moments after Nelms hit a three-pointer at the final buzzer to cement a 42-34 home victory over Swain County. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Teammates mob Robbinsville Middle School's Mercy Nelms (center) on Dec. 4, moments after Nelms hit a three-pointer at the final buzzer to cement a 42-34 home victory over Swain County. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Middle schoolers sweep opposition

Robbinsville – Things are clicking at the right time for the middle school basketball program.
Middle school Black Knight Brayden Allison soars past a Cherokee defender Nov. 17. Allison hit a game-winning lay-up for Robbinsville on Monday at Hayesville. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Middle school Black Knight Brayden Allison soars past a Cherokee defender Nov. 17. Allison hit a game-winning lay-up for Robbinsville on Monday at Hayesville. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Middle school boys hit winning streak

It took some last-second heroics, but the middle school Black Knights were able to swat the Yellow Jackets. After dropping the season opener 46-21 to Hayesville on Nov. 3, Robbinsville (6-2) found itself in a nailbiter in the return showdown Monday.
Black Knights senior Dane Knott unleashed six 3's on the Copper Basin (Tenn.) Cougars in Monday's season opener, which played a key role in Robbinsville collecting a victory. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Black Knights senior Dane Knott unleashed six 3's on the Copper Basin (Tenn.) Cougars in Monday's season opener, which played a key role in Robbinsville collecting a victory. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Black Knights tame Cougars in season debut

Copperhill, Tenn. – If Monday's season opener is any indication of what lies ahead, the Robbinsville Black Knights are going to be a team to watch at a statewide level this season.
Micah York had a breakout performance Tuesday against Murphy, dropping 22 points in Robbinsville’s lopsided victory over the Bulldogs. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Micah York had a breakout performance Tuesday against Murphy, dropping 22 points in Robbinsville’s lopsided victory over the Bulldogs. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Middle school Knights claim back-to-back wins

Robbinsville – After submitting a shaky showing in its season debut Nov. 3, the middle school Black Knights have more than made up for its initial foray into the 2025-26 slate. Consecutive wins from Robbinsville (2-1) included a delayed 50-23 home trouncing of the Murphy Bulldogs on Tuesday.
Chloe Adams, Sophomore Middle Hitter: All-Conference

Chloe Adams, Sophomore Middle Hitter: All-Conference

Lady Knights trio named All-Conference

The Lady Knights were the final Smoky Mountain Conference team to be eliminated from the postseason this year, reaching the fourth round for just the second time in program history before falling in a sweep to state finalists N.C. Leadership Academy.
Robbinsville's McKynlee Adams splits the defense of Hayesville's Ayden Margo (24) and Kaelyn Cook (2) during Monday's season opener. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville's McKynlee Adams splits the defense of Hayesville's Ayden Margo (24) and Kaelyn Cook (2) during Monday's season opener. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Middle school basketball drops season openers

Robbinsville – Things just did not click for the Knights on Monday.
Ryn Hooper prepares for a serve Oct. 23 at Bethany Community School. The Lady Knights’ setter is the only player Robbinsville will lose to graduation. Photo courtesy of Brooklyn Cox/Contributing Photographer

Ryn Hooper prepares for a serve Oct. 23 at Bethany Community School. The Lady Knights’ setter is the only player Robbinsville will lose to graduation. Photo courtesy of Brooklyn Cox/Contributing Photographer

Lady Knights fall in 4th-round appearance

Kernersville – For just the second time in program history, the Lady Knights volleyball team advanced to the fourth round of the state playoffs. Robbinsville (No. 5 seed, 15-12) upended the No. 4-seeded Bethany Community School Lady Wolves (No.
Reality sets in for members of the Robbinsville Lady Knights, moments after completing a sweep of Rosman in the second round of the state playoffs Tuesday. Pictured are Kynadee Spencer (2), Ryn Hooper (8), Zaelyn Phillips and Daphne Barlow (3). Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Reality sets in for members of the Robbinsville Lady Knights, moments after completing a sweep of Rosman in the second round of the state playoffs Tuesday. Pictured are Kynadee Spencer (2), Ryn Hooper (8), Zaelyn Phillips and Daphne Barlow (3). Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

3rd-round bound

Robbinsville – Pitted against a team that matches up well against them on the other side of the net, the Lady Knights were tasked with knocking off a divisional foe in their 2025 playoff debut Tuesday. Though victorious in both outings against Rosman (No.