Murphy

Don't step to Robbinsville

Cherokee – A pair of touchdowns on kickoff returns padded another dominant night of Black Knights football. Fresh off a bye week, Robbinsville (8-0, 3-0) traveled to Cherokee (2-7, 1-3) for the resumption of Smoky Mountain Conference play Friday night.
Reality sets in for Halee Anderson, Gabby Hooper, Kennedy Cable, Gracye Burchfield, Karlyn Matheson and Liz Ayers (from left), moments after Robbinsville scored the winning point in Wednesday's 25-23, 25-21, 25-22 sweep over the hosting Murphy in the finals of the Smoky Mountain Conference tournament finals. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Reality sets in for Halee Anderson, Gabby Hooper, Kennedy Cable, Gracye Burchfield, Karlyn Matheson and Liz Ayers (from left), moments after Robbinsville scored the winning point in Wednesday's 25-23, 25-21, 25-22 sweep over the hosting Murphy in the finals of the Smoky Mountain Conference tournament finals. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights, Bulldogs clash in tournament finals

Murphy – Any questions that arose over who the true Smoky Mountain Conference regular-season champion was – Robbinsville and Murphy both tied for first place, sharing the distinction – were answered Wednesday night.
Lady Knights Kennedy Cable, Karlyn Matheson, Liz Ayers, Yeika Jimenez, Gracye Burchfield and Karcee Dooley (from left) celebrate after a point during Oct. 10’s sweep against Rosman. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights Kennedy Cable, Karlyn Matheson, Liz Ayers, Yeika Jimenez, Gracye Burchfield and Karcee Dooley (from left) celebrate after a point during Oct. 10’s sweep against Rosman. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Another one bites the dust

Robbinsville – “Ever” is a long time.  But the Robbinsville High School Lady Knights have set the new standard for that word, as the Lady Knights have already clinched their first-ever Smoky Mountain Conference title and their best win/loss record. Ever.
Robbinsville senior Karlyn Matheson prepares to drive one of her team-leading 29 kills onto the Murphy side of the net during Oct. 3’s road match. Photo by Noah Shatzer/Cherokee Scout

Robbinsville senior Karlyn Matheson prepares to drive one of her team-leading 29 kills onto the Murphy side of the net during Oct. 3’s road match. Photo by Noah Shatzer/Cherokee Scout

Murphy evens score with Lady Knights

Murphy – Round two went to Murphy. After breaking a four-year losing streak to the Lady Bulldogs earlier this season, Robbinsville (16-2) traveled to Cherokee County on Oct. 3 for the rematch, but fell in four sets to the defending Smoky Mountain Conference champions.
JV Black Knight Kage Williams gave the Murphy defense fits throughout Robbinsville's 48-30 over the Bulldogs on Sept. 12. Photo by Byron Housley/The Graham Star

JV Black Knight Kage Williams gave the Murphy defense fits throughout Robbinsville's 48-30 over the Bulldogs on Sept. 12. Photo by Byron Housley/The Graham Star

Streak: Over

Robbinsville – Wren Millsaps waited a long time for it. As a player, he never won a game against Murphy. As a coach, he had never won a game against Murphy. That all changed on Sept. 12, as the Millsaps-led JV Black Knights (2-0) stunned the Bulldogs 48-30.
Jubilation sets in for the Robbinsvlle Lady Knights, moments after a thrilling 5-set  victory over Murphy on Sept. 5. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Jubilation sets in for the Robbinsvlle Lady Knights, moments after a thrilling 5-set victory over Murphy on Sept. 5. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

At long last!

Robbinsville – The last time Robbinsville defeated Murphy in volleyball, this year’s class of seniors were still in middle school. The 2015 sweep of the Lady Bulldogs seemed like a distant memory until Sept.