Eagles

Capping off a 17-0 season, the Robbinsville Middle School Black Knights relish the moment after winning the Smoky Mountain Conference tournament Jan. 24. Photos by Fala Welch/The Graham Star

Capping off a 17-0 season, the Robbinsville Middle School Black Knights relish the moment after winning the Smoky Mountain Conference tournament Jan. 24. Photos by Fala Welch/The Graham Star

17-0

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 1, 2024
Robbinsville – Unmatched. Unparalleled. Unrivaled. Somewhere along the way, the 2023-24 Robbinsville Middle School Black Knights embarked on a mental mission to ensure those three descriptors prefaced any discussion about the damage they inflicted on the opposition.
Cameron Allison – shown taking flight in Nov. 30’s home game against Swain County – produced back-to-back, 22-point performances in the last week for Robbinsville’s 10-0, middle school Black Knights. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Cameron Allison – shown taking flight in Nov. 30’s home game against Swain County – produced back-to-back, 22-point performances in the last week for Robbinsville’s 10-0, middle school Black Knights. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Black Knights now 10-0

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, December 14, 2023
Robbinsville – When the Hiwassee Dam/Ranger rolled into the Robbinsville Elementary School Gym parking lot Dec. 7, a lot of anticipation followed suit. The second game of the year was in the back of both teams’ minds: Robbinsville had won the Nov. 9 appointment, 52-44.
Carsan Snider (22) passes to Micah York late in Robbinsville Middle School’s 63-32, home victory over Swain County on Nov. 30. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Carsan Snider (22) passes to Micah York late in Robbinsville Middle School’s 63-32, home victory over Swain County on Nov. 30. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

We meet again

Kevin Hensley
Friday, December 8, 2023
Robbinsville Middle School’s boys basketball team has taken care of business in each of its assignments thus far. The closest threat to a blemish came early in the campaign – the second game of the year, to be exact. Robbinsville prevailed 52-44 over Hiwassee Dam/Ranger on Nov.
Daphne Barlow (22) cuts between the defense of Cherokee’s Cambry Stamper (1) and Lilly Lossiah during a fourth-quarter, fast-break Monday. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Daphne Barlow (22) cuts between the defense of Cherokee’s Cambry Stamper (1) and Lilly Lossiah during a fourth-quarter, fast-break Monday. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Black Knights off to 3-0 start

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 16, 2023
Robbinsville – It did not take long for the pieces to fall into place. Rather than carrying a negative attitude on the first road trip of the season, the Robbinsville Middle School Lady Knights left a stunning 47-46, season-opening loss to Murphy in the rearview mirror.
Senior running back Cuttler Adams pokes through an open spot during the second half of Friday’s home loss to Rabun Gap, Ga. Photos by Danielle Crabtree/The Graham Star

Senior running back Cuttler Adams pokes through an open spot during the second half of Friday’s home loss to Rabun Gap, Ga. Photos by Danielle Crabtree/The Graham Star

Home invasion

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 28, 2023
Final stats from Friday's game against Rabun Gap, Ga.
The “Black Knight Swarm” that has made waves all year – this time, compromised of Bryce Adams (6), Quinn Jumper (12), Kellen Ensley (54) and Chase Calhoun (2) – combines forces to stop Rabun Gap’s Anthony Quinn, Jr. on Friday night. Photo by Danielle Crabtree/The Graham Star

The “Black Knight Swarm” that has made waves all year – this time, compromised of Bryce Adams (6), Quinn Jumper (12), Kellen Ensley (54) and Chase Calhoun (2) – combines forces to stop Rabun Gap’s Anthony Quinn, Jr. on Friday night. Photo by Danielle Crabtree/The Graham Star

Black Knights handed first loss of season

Kevin Hensley
Friday, September 22, 2023
Robbinsville – All things considered, Friday’s loss can easily be viewed as a win for the Black Knights. For the first time since 2018, Robbinsville was paired against Rabun Gap, Ga. The Knights won the last showdown between the programs 43-34, on the road Sept. 14, 2018.
Cuttler Adams finds an open hole during Sept. 1’s game at Mountain Heritage. Adams has recently been selected to play in a pair of prestigous showcases after his high-school career wraps up. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Cuttler Adams finds an open hole during Sept. 1’s game at Mountain Heritage. Adams has recently been selected to play in a pair of prestigous showcases after his high-school career wraps up. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

‘Believe and have faith’

Kevin Hensley
Friday, September 22, 2023
Robbinsville – Cuttler Adams has been a busy man as of late. Realizing his potential to play at the next level, the perennial Black Knights running threat has turned up the heat on his quest to improve throughout 2023.
Darion Ledbetter clutches one of his two interceptions Friday at Alleghany – both of which led to touchdowns in Robbinsville’s 35-7 win over the Trojans. Photos courtesy of Stewart Royall/Studio Roxie

Darion Ledbetter clutches one of his two interceptions Friday at Alleghany – both of which led to touchdowns in Robbinsville’s 35-7 win over the Trojans. Photos courtesy of Stewart Royall/Studio Roxie

Eat. Sleep. Conquer. Repeat.

Kevin Hensley
Friday, September 15, 2023
Sparta – Returning the favor from last year’s homecoming visit, Robbinsville made the 250-mile trek to Alleghany County on Friday.
Abigail Knight has made her choice: UNC-Charlotte will be the next to receive the services of the Lady Knights alum. Although her decision might seem practical to some, it was one Knight wrestled with. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Abigail Knight has made her choice: UNC-Charlotte will be the next to receive the services of the Lady Knights alum. Although her decision might seem practical to some, it was one Knight wrestled with. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Nothin’ finer than being a 49er

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, June 29, 2023
Robbinsville – With one single decision, the commute to watch Abigail Knight play a home college softball game plummeted from 987 miles to 213; a 15-hour drive, now just 3 ½.
Junior Graylen Orr picked up his fifth win of the season Tuesday, posting a complete-game effort in Robbinsville’s 5-3 win over Hiwassee Dam. Photo by Montana Buchanan/The Graham Star

Junior Graylen Orr picked up his fifth win of the season Tuesday, posting a complete-game effort in Robbinsville’s 5-3 win over Hiwassee Dam. Photo by Montana Buchanan/The Graham Star

Quite a pickle

Kevin Hensley
Monday, May 1, 2023
Robbinsville – Just one week ago, the Black Knights were eyeing a return to the .500 mark. But after a tough 3-game skid ended with a victory in Game 2 of a doubleheader with Hiwassee Dam, Robbinsville is simply trying to tread water and hope for the best.