MaroonDevils

Ethan Orr blanked 10 Cherokee batters in March 21’s 9-2 victory; while Quinn Jumper (12) tripled home the winning runs in Monday’s 10-8 win at Swain County. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

Ethan Orr blanked 10 Cherokee batters in March 21’s 9-2 victory; while Quinn Jumper (12) tripled home the winning runs in Monday’s 10-8 win at Swain County. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

Series of fortunate events

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Bryson City – It was a game the Black Knights wanted back. Badly.
Graylen Orr fires a ball to first during Monday’s conference opener against Swain. Orr manned the hill in Robbinsville’s first win of the season last week. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Graylen Orr fires a ball to first during Monday’s conference opener against Swain. Orr manned the hill in Robbinsville’s first win of the season last week. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

No Gray area

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, March 14, 2024
Rosman – Over the course of 101 pitches, Graylen Orr dazzled, danced and hoodwinked the Rosman Tigers (0-4). The hosts ultimately mustered just three hits in response to the Black Knights senior, who fanned 10 in a complete-game effort.
Black Knights senior Donovan Carpenter keys in on a first-half jumper during the regular-season finale Feb. 13 at Cherokee. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Black Knights senior Donovan Carpenter keys in on a first-half jumper during the regular-season finale Feb. 13 at Cherokee. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Upsets joust Knights

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 22, 2024
Cherokee – You never know how the chips may fall once you reach the Smoky Mountain Conference tournament. Both of Robbinsville’s boys teams were afforded the No.
Junior forward Bryce Adams rises above the defense of Cherokee’s Savian Davis (12) and Samuel Hernandez (10) for a second-half basket Tuesday. Including Adams, four Robbinsville players scored in double digits – but could not stop the Braves from winning the Smoky Mountain Conference title. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Junior forward Bryce Adams rises above the defense of Cherokee’s Savian Davis (12) and Samuel Hernandez (10) for a second-half basket Tuesday. Including Adams, four Robbinsville players scored in double digits – but could not stop the Braves from winning the Smoky Mountain Conference title. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

No Knights off in SMC

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 15, 2024
The final Smoky Mountain Conference standings for the 2023-24 boys basketball season. Cherokee – In a span of two days, the Robbinsville Black Knights watched their Smoky Mountain Conference title defense slip away. Though Feb.
Senior power forward Aubrie Wachacha was not fazed by Swain County’s Carley Teesateskie (12) and Molleigh Woodard (14) while putting up this inside shot Tuesday night. Photo by Fala Welch/The Graham Star

Senior power forward Aubrie Wachacha was not fazed by Swain County’s Carley Teesateskie (12) and Molleigh Woodard (14) while putting up this inside shot Tuesday night. Photo by Fala Welch/The Graham Star

Lady Knights back to .500 in conference

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 25, 2024
Robbinsville – Inclement weather built a 12-day gap between games for the Robbinsville High basketball program. The Swain County Devils waited in the wings.
The Robbinsville Middle School Black Knights gathered at half court in Bryson City on Monday to commemorate a 14-0 regular season after defeating Swain County in the finale. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

The Robbinsville Middle School Black Knights gathered at half court in Bryson City on Monday to commemorate a 14-0 regular season after defeating Swain County in the finale. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Knights cap unbeaten regular season

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 11, 2024
Bryson City – When the Robbinsville Middle School Black Knights completed the program’s first perfect regular season since a stretch of back-to-back, undefeated runs from 2009-11, there was very little fanfare.
Chase Calhoun (2), Quinn Jumper (12) and Kellen Ensley drop Swain County's Joshua Collins for a loss during Robbinsville's 30-24, third-round playoff victory Friday. Photo by Fala Welch/The Graham Star

Chase Calhoun (2), Quinn Jumper (12) and Kellen Ensley drop Swain County's Joshua Collins for a loss during Robbinsville's 30-24, third-round playoff victory Friday. Photo by Fala Welch/The Graham Star

Shout at the Devils

Kevin Hensley
Saturday, November 18, 2023
Robbinsville – What. A. Comeback. The Black Knights could have easily thrown in the towel after Swain County punched ahead 24-8 in the third round of the 1A state playoffs Friday. The Maroon Devils never led in the Smoky Mountain Conference title game Oct.
Tillman Adams (24) lowers the boom on Mountain Island Charter’s Caleb Shin during Robbinsville’s second-round playoff victory Nov. 9. Photos courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Tillman Adams (24) lowers the boom on Mountain Island Charter’s Caleb Shin during Robbinsville’s second-round playoff victory Nov. 9. Photos courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Preying for relief

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 16, 2023
The box score from Robbinsville's second-round playoff victory over Mountain Island Charter on Nov. 9, 2023. Robbinsville – Through the first two games of the postseason, the Black Knights have outscored visitors 95-14.
The Robbinsville Mites make it official Saturday, gathering around the 2023 Cracker Bowl Championship trophy to soak up the moment after winning their fourth title in a row. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

The Robbinsville Mites make it official Saturday, gathering around the 2023 Cracker Bowl Championship trophy to soak up the moment after winning their fourth title in a row. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Making a bowl statement

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 9, 2023
The box score from the Mites' 2023 Cracker Bowl championship game. Murphy – Saturday’s Mites championship game proved that the deeply chronicled rivalry between Swain County and Robbinsville shows no signs of slowing down.