LadyKnights

Amid heavy pressure from Swain County, Quinn Jumper eyes the bucket during a loss to the Maroon Devils on Feb. 11. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Amid heavy pressure from Swain County, Quinn Jumper eyes the bucket during a loss to the Maroon Devils on Feb. 11. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Dreams dashed

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 18, 2021
Robbinsville – Hopes of another conference title for Robbinsville’s middle school boys basketball squad were swiftly erased on Feb. 11. The Black Knights (9-2) fell behind early against Swain and were unable to rally, dropping a 46-43 game to the Maroon Devils.
Yeika Jimenez had a team-high 16 points in the Lady Knights’ 55-38 win over Swain on Friday. Photo by Montana Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Yeika Jimenez had a team-high 16 points in the Lady Knights’ 55-38 win over Swain on Friday. Photo by Montana Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

On the cusp of glory

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 18, 2021
  Andrews – Every win this season has came down to this.
Robbinsville Middle School’s Roman Jones eyes a basket during a home game against Murphy on Jan. 25. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville Middle School’s Roman Jones eyes a basket during a home game against Murphy on Jan. 25. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

And down the stretch they come!

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 11, 2021
Rosman – Who is going to stop the Robbinsville Middle School Black Knights? Road victories over the last week at Hiwassee Dam/Ranger, Hayesville and Rosman have everyone in the Smoky Mountain Conference asking that question.
Though exhausted, Robbinsville’s Gabby Hooper (3) begins to applaud the Lady Knights’ effort after a 77-70, triple-overtime triumph over Cherokee Lady Braves. Greeting Hooper is Kensley Phillips; Yeika Jimenez (20) is not far behind beginning the celebration. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Though exhausted, Robbinsville’s Gabby Hooper (3) begins to applaud the Lady Knights’ effort after a 77-70, triple-overtime triumph over Cherokee Lady Braves. Greeting Hooper is Kensley Phillips; Yeika Jimenez (20) is not far behind beginning the celebration. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Triple threat

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 11, 2021
Robbinsville – For a moment, it appeared the limited audience gathered inside the Robbinsville High School gymnasium Tuesday night might get two games for the price of one. In a manner of speaking.
Gabby Hooper cuts around Rosman’s Alissa Cheek on a drive to the basket Friday at Rosman. Hooper finished the game with 15 points. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Gabby Hooper cuts around Rosman’s Alissa Cheek on a drive to the basket Friday at Rosman. Hooper finished the game with 15 points. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Tigers tamed

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 4, 2021
Rosman – ‘It’s always tough to beat an opponent twice in the same season’ is an oft-quoted mantra associated with conference match-ups. But as the Robbinsville Lady Knights begin to work through the second-half of the 2021 slate, the wins keep piling up.
Robbinsville Middle School’s Bryce Adams puts up a floater during a home game with Murphy on Jan. 25. Adams dropped 30 points on the Swain County Maroon Devils in the Knights’ 68-62 road win on Jan. 27. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville Middle School’s Bryce Adams puts up a floater during a home game with Murphy on Jan. 25. Adams dropped 30 points on the Swain County Maroon Devils in the Knights’ 68-62 road win on Jan. 27. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

All they do is win, win, win

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 4, 2021
Bryson City – A come-from-behind victory showed future Robbinsville Middle School Black Knights opponents that the task ahead is arduous.

Knights back on track

Kevin Hensley
Friday, January 29, 2021
Robbinsville – Following a pair of losses at the hands of Cherokee, the Robbinsville Middle School Black Knights have repelled all opposition to tally a 4-1 record.  The Knights have enjoyed all the comforts of home since the Jan. 14 defeats, knocking off Rosman on Jan. 20, Andrews on Jan.
In the moments following Robbinsville’s 67-53 win over Murphy on Tuesday night, it was tough for the Lady Knights to know exactly which camera to look at, as multiple sources attempted to capture the first post-game memory of the victory. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

In the moments following Robbinsville’s 67-53 win over Murphy on Tuesday night, it was tough for the Lady Knights to know exactly which camera to look at, as multiple sources attempted to capture the first post-game memory of the victory. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

The streak stops here

Kevin Hensley
Friday, January 29, 2021
Robbinsville – It had been two years, 26 consecutive division wins and 42 regular-season wins in a row since the Murphy Lady Bulldogs had fallen. But long after the Bulldogs suffered a 34-29 road loss at the hands of Hayesville on Jan. 10, 2019, Robbinsville eyed redemption.
With Kensley Phillips (left) sprinting to back up the drive and Cherokee’s Praire Toineeta attempting to thwart the push, Robbinsville’s Halee Anderson eyes the basket during Friday’s 70-57 road loss to the Lady Braves. Photo by Scot McKie/Cherokee One Feather

With Kensley Phillips (left) sprinting to back up the drive and Cherokee’s Praire Toineeta attempting to thwart the push, Robbinsville’s Halee Anderson eyes the basket during Friday’s 70-57 road loss to the Lady Braves. Photo by Scot McKie/Cherokee One Feather

Minor hiccup

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 21, 2021
Cherokee – Fresh off an 8-day quarantine and a pair of practices, the Robbinsville Lady Knights felt ready to return to the court.