Brevard

Forward Bryce Adams fights through the interior defense of Smoky Mountain’s Cameron Fowler (5) and Ace Pregner (14) on Dec. 27. Although the junior’s efforts in the game resulted in a double-double, the Black Knights suffered their first loss of the year. Photos by Fala Welch/The Graham Star

Forward Bryce Adams fights through the interior defense of Smoky Mountain’s Cameron Fowler (5) and Ace Pregner (14) on Dec. 27. Although the junior’s efforts in the game resulted in a double-double, the Black Knights suffered their first loss of the year. Photos by Fala Welch/The Graham Star

Unplanned re-run

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 4, 2024
Kenyon Swimmer unloads a jumper during Robbinsville’s win over Veritas Christian Academy on Dec. 28. Sylva – The Black Knights were adamant about what they hoped to accomplish in the Smoky Mountain Christmas Invitational: win and win out.
Suri Watty was lights out from beyond the arc in Dec. 27’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Invitational opener, posting six in Robbinsville’s victory over the Lady Mustangs. Photos by Fala Welch/The Graham Star

Suri Watty was lights out from beyond the arc in Dec. 27’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Invitational opener, posting six in Robbinsville’s victory over the Lady Mustangs. Photos by Fala Welch/The Graham Star

Back on track

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 4, 2024
Junior guard Claire Barlow works out of the corner and around the defense of Brevard’s Ella Scott on Dec. 29. Barlow finished with a team-best 19 points in the Christmas tournament finale.
Haden Key signed to play football at Brevard College on May 3. Sitting with Key are his mother Joanna and coach Wren Millsaps. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Haden Key signed to play football at Brevard College on May 3. Sitting with Key are his mother Joanna and coach Wren Millsaps. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Key opens next door

Kevin Hensley
Monday, May 15, 2023
Robbinsville – Perhaps the most important players on the gridiron rarely get the recognition they so richly deserve.
Black Knights junior Donovan Carpenter (11) was more than willing to pull away from Brevard’s Baker Buchanan (on the floor), Tre Crite (3) and Jaylen Brown (24) on Dec. 29, after Carpenter escaped with the game-clinching steal at the buzzer. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Black Knights junior Donovan Carpenter (11) was more than willing to pull away from Brevard’s Baker Buchanan (on the floor), Tre Crite (3) and Jaylen Brown (24) on Dec. 29, after Carpenter escaped with the game-clinching steal at the buzzer. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Gifting season’s beatings

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 5, 2023
Sylva – One of the fun variables with a Christmas tournament is that you often play teams you are unfamiliar with. Both Veritas Christian Academy and Brevard had to learn a lesson many programs in Western North Carolina have already fell victim to: Robbinsville simply does not quit.
Robbinsville senior Kensley Phillips (right) drives past Brevard’s Shaniya Cook during Dec. 29’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Invitational appointment with the Lady Devils. The Lady Knights’ shooting guard was all over the floor in the lopsided victory, picking up her first career triple-double in the process. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville senior Kensley Phillips (right) drives past Brevard’s Shaniya Cook during Dec. 29’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Invitational appointment with the Lady Devils. The Lady Knights’ shooting guard was all over the floor in the lopsided victory, picking up her first career triple-double in the process. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Repetition is key

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 5, 2023
  Sylva – It takes a lot of chips falling into place for any basketball player to record a triple-double. For such a polished, versatile athlete like Kensley Phillips, everything clicked from the opening tip of Dec. 29’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Invitational finale for Robbinsville.
With Haden Key (66) holding off a Brevard defender – and both Cuttler Adams (4) and Brock Adams (2) breaking upfield, quarterback Donovan Carpenter aims a pass as part of Friday’s home opener against the Blue Devils. Robbinsville picked up its first win of the season in the rematch from last year’s loss. Photos courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

With Haden Key (66) holding off a Brevard defender – and both Cuttler Adams (4) and Brock Adams (2) breaking upfield, quarterback Donovan Carpenter aims a pass as part of Friday’s home opener against the Blue Devils. Robbinsville picked up its first win of the season in the rematch from last year’s loss. Photos courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Loss: avenged

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 1, 2022
  Robbinsville – Before the Blue Devils had a chance to gather their bearings, Cuttler Adams trampled downfield for a 78-yard touchdown. Before the first quarter was over, Adams had 129 rushing yards alone on scoring runs.
Junior running back Cuttler Adams (4) emerges from a mixture of Knights and Cougars in Friday’s season opener at Asheville. Adams finished the game with 153 rushing yards. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Junior running back Cuttler Adams (4) emerges from a mixture of Knights and Cougars in Friday’s season opener at Asheville. Adams finished the game with 153 rushing yards. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Late gasp falls short

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, August 25, 2022
Asheville – Trailing by 6 with 3:50 left in the ballgame, Robbinsville started a downfield campaign to victory from its own 15-yard line.
Robbinsville senior Carson White fanned eight Cherokee batters April 7, hurling a complete-game effort to stipend Robbinsville’s 15-5 win over the Braves. Photo courtesy of Crystal White/Contributing Photographer

Robbinsville senior Carson White fanned eight Cherokee batters April 7, hurling a complete-game effort to stipend Robbinsville’s 15-5 win over the Braves. Photo courtesy of Crystal White/Contributing Photographer

Black Knights dismantle Cherokee

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 14, 2022
Robbinsville – As head coach Brent Icenhower astutely put it afterward, “We finally put together a full game.
Cuttler Adams (4) breaks through the pack during Friday’s game at Brevard. Adams scored both of Robbinsville’s touchdowns in a 16-15 loss to the Blue Devils. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Cuttler Adams (4) breaks through the pack during Friday’s game at Brevard. Adams scored both of Robbinsville’s touchdowns in a 16-15 loss to the Blue Devils. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Rough Knight at the office

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 2, 2021
Brevard – For years to come, Black Knight fans will look back at Friday’s game with one simple question: What if?
Sophomore tackle Koleson Dooley (55) runs interference for classmate Cuttler Adams (4) during Friday’s season opener against the Asheville Cougars. Along with another sophomore – Kage Williams – Adams had three touchdowns in Robbinsvile’s 45-23 victory. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Sophomore tackle Koleson Dooley (55) runs interference for classmate Cuttler Adams (4) during Friday’s season opener against the Asheville Cougars. Along with another sophomore – Kage Williams – Adams had three touchdowns in Robbinsvile’s 45-23 victory. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Critics silenced

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, August 26, 2021
Robbinsville – Before Asheville had a chance to get settled, Robbinsville led 21-0. Sophomore backs Cuttler Adams and Kage Williams each had a hat trick – and the Black Knights’ defense took care of the rest – as Robbinsville handily defeated the 4A Cougars 45-23 in Friday’s season debut.