SMCBB

Knights drop finale to Bulldogs

Kevin Hensley
Friday, February 26, 2021
Murphy – Heading into the Feb. 18 regular-season finale, Robbinsville needed a win to stay in the playoff race. However, the Black Knights (8-6, 6-6) fell behind early on the road at Murphy and were unable to bounce back, dropping a 64-54 affair to the Bulldogs.

And ... on to Round 2!

Kevin Hensley
Friday, February 26, 2021
Robbinsville – Two Lady Knights hit 10 3’s. The defense took care of the rest. Robbinsville (14-1, No. 8 seed) trounced the visiting Chatham Charter (8-3, No. 9) Lady Knights 78-41, thanks largely to a 33-point game from Desta Trammell and a 15-point night by Kensley Phillips, both sophomores.
Robbinsville's Kensley Phillips (24) and Gabby Hooper (3) kick off the victory celebration as the official signals the end of the Lady Knights' 72-60 comeback win at East Surry on Thursday night. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville's Kensley Phillips (24) and Gabby Hooper (3) kick off the victory celebration as the official signals the end of the Lady Knights' 72-60 comeback win at East Surry on Thursday night. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights hit the road for playoffs

Kevin Hensley
Tuesday, February 23, 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.
Robbinsville Lady Knight players and staff gather to celebrate the program's first Smoky Mountain Conference title since 2010, clinched tonight with a 67-50 win at Murphy. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville Lady Knight players and staff gather to celebrate the program's first Smoky Mountain Conference title since 2010, clinched tonight with a 67-50 win at Murphy. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Mission accomplished

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 18, 2021
Murphy – For the first time since 2012, the Robbinsville Lady Knights can add "Smoky Mountain Conference Champions" to their resume.
Jeb Shuler puts up a first-half jumper against Swain County on Friday. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Jeb Shuler puts up a first-half jumper against Swain County on Friday. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Knights fall victim to near-miss in home finale

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 18, 2021
Robbinsville – It was the shot every basketball player dreams of making: the game-winning 3, at the final buzzer.
Yeika Jimenez had a team-high 16 points in the Lady Knights’ 55-38 win over Swain on Friday. Photo by Montana Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Yeika Jimenez had a team-high 16 points in the Lady Knights’ 55-38 win over Swain on Friday. Photo by Montana Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

On the cusp of glory

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 18, 2021
  Andrews – Every win this season has came down to this.

Down, but not out

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 11, 2021
Robbinsville – Tuesday’s 62-47 home victory was crucial. Not only was it the Robbinsville Black Knights’ (7-4, 5-4) first win over the Cherokee Braves (6-4, 5-4) since Jan. 27, 2017 – a 53-50 home triumph – but it also moved Robbinsville solely into third place in the Smoky Mountain Conference.
Though exhausted, Robbinsville’s Gabby Hooper (3) begins to applaud the Lady Knights’ effort after a 77-70, triple-overtime triumph over Cherokee Lady Braves. Greeting Hooper is Kensley Phillips; Yeika Jimenez (20) is not far behind beginning the celebration. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Though exhausted, Robbinsville’s Gabby Hooper (3) begins to applaud the Lady Knights’ effort after a 77-70, triple-overtime triumph over Cherokee Lady Braves. Greeting Hooper is Kensley Phillips; Yeika Jimenez (20) is not far behind beginning the celebration. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Triple threat

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 11, 2021
Robbinsville – For a moment, it appeared the limited audience gathered inside the Robbinsville High School gymnasium Tuesday night might get two games for the price of one. In a manner of speaking.
Gabby Hooper cuts around Rosman’s Alissa Cheek on a drive to the basket Friday at Rosman. Hooper finished the game with 15 points. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Gabby Hooper cuts around Rosman’s Alissa Cheek on a drive to the basket Friday at Rosman. Hooper finished the game with 15 points. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Tigers tamed

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 4, 2021
Rosman – ‘It’s always tough to beat an opponent twice in the same season’ is an oft-quoted mantra associated with conference match-ups. But as the Robbinsville Lady Knights begin to work through the second-half of the 2021 slate, the wins keep piling up.
With Luke Hawk (right) closing in, Robbinsville senior Drey Keener eyes a layup Friday at Rosman. Along with Kamdyn Jordan, Keener had a team-high 14 points in the Black Knights’ 61-20 win over the Tigers. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

With Luke Hawk (right) closing in, Robbinsville senior Drey Keener eyes a layup Friday at Rosman. Along with Kamdyn Jordan, Keener had a team-high 14 points in the Black Knights’ 61-20 win over the Tigers. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

30 and done

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 4, 2021
Rosman – Simply put, Robbinsville made the shots it needed to; Rosman could not buy a basket.