LadyJackets

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.
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.
Ella McGuire leaps for a kill attempt Sept. 4 at Swain County. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Ella McGuire leaps for a kill attempt Sept. 4 at Swain County. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights hampered by 3-match skid

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 11, 2025
Robbinsville – Tough opposition has given the Lady Knights fits over the past week. A visit to Swain County on Sept.
The Robbinsville Middle School Lady Knights repeated as Smoky Mountain Conference champions this season. All names are listed from left. Front row: Bella Ford, Mylee Webster, Aaliyah Wolfe, Lakelynn Drake, Makenna Stewart and Lakin Orr. Second row: Allie Phillips, Balee Odom, Ophelia Beasley, Bristol Odom and Bently Lambert. Third row: Ty Chekelelee, Haizleigh Driver, Ella Nelms, Natalee Myers and Myah Winfrey. Back row: Assistant coach Ivy Odom, manager Caislee Lane and head coach Lauren Silvers.

The Robbinsville Middle School Lady Knights repeated as Smoky Mountain Conference champions this season. All names are listed from left. Front row: Bella Ford, Mylee Webster, Aaliyah Wolfe, Lakelynn Drake, Makenna Stewart and Lakin Orr. Second row: Allie Phillips, Balee Odom, Ophelia Beasley, Bristol Odom and Bently Lambert. Third row: Ty Chekelelee, Haizleigh Driver, Ella Nelms, Natalee Myers and Myah Winfrey. Back row: Assistant coach Ivy Odom, manager Caislee Lane and head coach Lauren Silvers.

Lady Knights back at the mountaintop

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, May 8, 2025
Robbinsville – Last year's middle school softball team had seven players who are now competing in the varsity ranks. The 2024 squad was the first to win a divisional title for Robbinsville since 2017.
Robbinsville head coach Billy Knight receives a customary bath Monday, after leading the Lady Knights to their 17th Smoky Mountain Conference title. Delivering the free shower were Loxley Burke (not visible), Anna Williams (4) and Kynadee Spencer (1). Photo by Bella Eddings/The Graham Star

Robbinsville head coach Billy Knight receives a customary bath Monday, after leading the Lady Knights to their 17th Smoky Mountain Conference title. Delivering the free shower were Loxley Burke (not visible), Anna Williams (4) and Kynadee Spencer (1). Photo by Bella Eddings/The Graham Star

And still ...

Kevin Hensley
Friday, May 2, 2025
Robbinsville – Until another contender steps up to the plate, Lady Knights softball will maintain its monopoly over the Smoky Mountain Conference. The program's 17th divisional title was clinched Monday, thanks to a 5-0 blanking of the visiting Swain County Lady Devils.
Members of the Robbinsville Lady Knights hit the floor to celebrate with their teammates after Tuesday’s conference win over Hayesville. From left are Bentley Riggins, Abby Wehr, Liz Carpenter and Anna Williams. Photos by Kyla Garland/The Graham Star

Members of the Robbinsville Lady Knights hit the floor to celebrate with their teammates after Tuesday’s conference win over Hayesville. From left are Bentley Riggins, Abby Wehr, Liz Carpenter and Anna Williams. Photos by Kyla Garland/The Graham Star

Lady Knights eliminate Jacket infestation

Kevin Hensley
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
Robbinsville – For the first few minutes of Tuesday’s Smoky Mountain Conference appointment with Hayesville, the Lady Knights seemed to have misplaced a crucial part of their gameplan.