SMCBB

Senior Kamdyn Jordan puts up a floater during Dec. 30’s home victory over Tellico Plains, Tenn. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Senior Kamdyn Jordan puts up a floater during Dec. 30’s home victory over Tellico Plains, Tenn. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Down to the wire

Kevin Hensley
Friday, January 7, 2022
Robbinsville – Say what you will about the Black Knights, but they sure leave fans on the edge of their seats in the closing minutes of a game. Such was the case Tuesday night, when a spirited rally bid fell short against the visiting Andrews Wildcats, who held on to knock off Robbinsville 56-53.
Robbinsville point guard Brock Adams takes flight during Tuesday’s 55-52 road loss to Tellico Plains. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville point guard Brock Adams takes flight during Tuesday’s 55-52 road loss to Tellico Plains. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Bearers of bad news

Kevin Hensley
Wednesday, December 29, 2021
Tellico Plains, Tenn. – Things just never quite clicked for the Robbinsville basketball program Tuesday. A 4-game road slate in Tellico Plains ended with each Knights team on the losing end of the score column, though the varsity boys game literally came down to the wire.
Lady Knights senior Halee Anderson makes a hard cut past the defense of Murphy’s Lailee Holloway during Tuesday’s road game. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights senior Halee Anderson makes a hard cut past the defense of Murphy’s Lailee Holloway during Tuesday’s road game. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Second-half woes

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, December 23, 2021
Murphy – It certainly wasn’t the outcome the Lady Knights were hoping for.
Members of the Robbinsville Black Knights erupt in celebration at the final buzzer Tuesday, which cemented a 68-64 Robbinsville victory at Murphy. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Members of the Robbinsville Black Knights erupt in celebration at the final buzzer Tuesday, which cemented a 68-64 Robbinsville victory at Murphy. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Knights win dogfight

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, December 23, 2021
Murphy – In a game that literally came right down to the wire, Robbinsville came out on top. In the final 30 seconds of Tuesday’s varsity-boys clash at Murphy, Donovan Carpenter, Xander Wachacha and Brock Adams each hit key baskets that helped hold off the Bulldogs in a thrilling 68-64 victory.
Robbinsville’s Xander Wachacha launches one of his three, late buckets from outside the arc Friday against Smoky Mountain. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Robbinsville’s Xander Wachacha launches one of his three, late buckets from outside the arc Friday against Smoky Mountain. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Mad scramble falls short

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, December 16, 2021
Robbinsville – It is often stated that the final score does not always tell the whole story. For the Robbinsville Black Knights, Friday’s 70-64 loss to the Smoky Mountain Mustangs contains many layers – namely, a 32-point fourth quarter, after trailing 34-20 at halftime.

Lady Knights off to 3-0 start

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, December 16, 2021
Robbinsville – Anytime an opponent catches Robbinsville’s name on its schedule, chances are they are in for a long night. Such was the case for the 3A Smoky Mountain Lady Mustangs, who rolled into Graham County on Friday and quickly found themselves in a 12-0 hole.
Robbinsville junior Kensley Phillips swats the ball away from Highlands’ Beatrice Bryson during Tuesday’s season opener. Phillips’ defense played a key role in the Lady Knights’ 59-39 win over the Lady Highlanders. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Robbinsville junior Kensley Phillips swats the ball away from Highlands’ Beatrice Bryson during Tuesday’s season opener. Phillips’ defense played a key role in the Lady Knights’ 59-39 win over the Lady Highlanders. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Knights conquer Highlanders in season openers

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, December 9, 2021
Robbinsville – The Knights’ varsity basketball program gave the Graham County faithful a sample of what’s to come this season. And after Tuesday’s straight sweep of Highlands, it’s evident that both the Lady Knights and Black Knights will deliver the goods each time they hit the hardwood.
Lady Knights sophomore point guard Desta Trammell sprints toward the basket on a fast break during the Feb. 9 triple-overtime victory against Cherokee. Trammell was just named the 2020-21 Big Smoky Mountain Conference Girls Player of the Year. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights sophomore point guard Desta Trammell sprints toward the basket on a fast break during the Feb. 9 triple-overtime victory against Cherokee. Trammell was just named the 2020-21 Big Smoky Mountain Conference Girls Player of the Year. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Pursuing her Destanee

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, March 18, 2021
Robbinsville – Take one look at Desta Trammell and it would be easy to dismiss her talent. Basketball is in her blood, but the Robbinsville Lady Knights’ 5-foot-2 sophomore point guard is hardly someone to look past when scanning the roster.
Robbinsville senior Gabby Hooper (right) looks to outpace Murphy’s Kaiya Pickens during Saturday’s third-round playoff matchup. Photo by Montana Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Robbinsville senior Gabby Hooper (right) looks to outpace Murphy’s Kaiya Pickens during Saturday’s third-round playoff matchup. Photo by Montana Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Lady Knights fall in sectional final

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, March 4, 2021
Robbinsville – The Lady Knights held all the cards: home-court advantage, two wins over their opponent earlier this year and a wave of momentum coming off a huge road victory Feb. 25. But it was not meant to be. Robbinsville (No. 8 seed, 15-2) fell 49-37 to the visiting Murphy Lady Bulldogs (No.