Hayesville

Ella Nelms delivers a pitch during March 3's season opener against Rosman. Nelms has not given up a run this year and has already struck out 61 batters. Photo by Bella Eddings/The Graham Star

Ella Nelms delivers a pitch during March 3's season opener against Rosman. Nelms has not given up a run this year and has already struck out 61 batters. Photo by Bella Eddings/The Graham Star

Complete shutdown

Kevin Hensley
Wednesday, March 18, 2026
Through the first six games of the year, Daphne Barlow has already homered twice and driven in 11 runs for the Robbinsville Lady Knights. Her first long ball came March 9 at Enka. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.

Black Knights split league play to begin season

Kevin Hensley
Wednesday, March 18, 2026
Robbinsville High School's baseball program has started the 2026 season with mixed results. After sweeping the beginning series with Rosman, the Black Knights ran into Hayesville – the defending Smoky Mountain Conference champions – in a make-up, home doubleheader Friday.
Robbinsville’s Micah York was the Black Knights’ leading scorer in Jan. 12’s season wrap-up: the semifinals of the divisional tournament, which was contested against Hayesville. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville’s Micah York was the Black Knights’ leading scorer in Jan. 12’s season wrap-up: the semifinals of the divisional tournament, which was contested against Hayesville. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Knights eliminated from middle school tournament

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 29, 2026
Andrews – The hopes of adding another year to the championship banners inside the Robbinsville Elementary School gymnasium will have to wait at least one more season.
Black Knights head coach Jake Beasley (center, kneeling) talks strategy with his team, shortly before the second half of Jan. 8's road game against Highlands gets underway. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Black Knights head coach Jake Beasley (center, kneeling) talks strategy with his team, shortly before the second half of Jan. 8's road game against Highlands gets underway. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Black Knights back on winning streak

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 15, 2026
Highlands – The first half of Jan. 8's trip to the Plateau was a shocker, both on paper and to the fans in attendance.
Zaelyn Phillips pulls down one of her team-best 12 rebounds during Jan. 8's overtime, road victory against Highlands. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Zaelyn Phillips pulls down one of her team-best 12 rebounds during Jan. 8's overtime, road victory against Highlands. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights win overtime thriller

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 15, 2026
Highlands – In the very definition of a "roller-coaster ride," Robbinsville came out on the winning end. Even if it took an extra quarter of basketball to cinch the victory.
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

Kevin Hensley
Friday, December 5, 2025
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.
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

Kevin Hensley
Friday, November 7, 2025
Robbinsville – Things just did not click for the Knights on Monday.
Emory Chekelelee (20) attempts to spike the ball past Cherokee’s Austin Fourkiller-Raby on Monday. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Emory Chekelelee (20) attempts to spike the ball past Cherokee’s Austin Fourkiller-Raby on Monday. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights vying for 4th place

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, October 9, 2025
Robbinsville – After playing both the regular-season champions and the second-place team in the standings during the same week, the Lady Knights hope to wrap up fourth in the division today.