Cherokee

Senior Quinn Jumper finished with a .411 average in 2025, leading the Black Knights in that category. Photo by Kyla Garland/The Graham Star

Senior Quinn Jumper finished with a .411 average in 2025, leading the Black Knights in that category. Photo by Kyla Garland/The Graham Star

Diamond Knights shine in season finale

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, May 8, 2025
Cherokee – Despite being left out of the playoffs this season, the Black Knights had plenty to hang their hats on after May 1's season finale.
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.
Avery Webster had a multi-hit performance in Robbinsville’s 12-1 blowout victory over Cherokee on Tuesday. Photos by Kyla Garland/The Graham Star

Avery Webster had a multi-hit performance in Robbinsville’s 12-1 blowout victory over Cherokee on Tuesday. Photos by Kyla Garland/The Graham Star

Black Knights tee off against Braves

Kevin Hensley
Friday, May 2, 2025
Quinn Jumper snags a pop-up Monday against Swain County. Robbinsville – The Black Knights shook off a succession of conference losses in resounding fashion Tuesday, trouncing Cherokee in a five-inning, 12-1 affair on Senior Night.
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.
Moments after the final buzzer sounded Saturday, JV Black Knights Xamuel Wachacha (3), Tucker Jones (5), Bam Nelms (1) and Eli Lambert (2) begin to celebrate Robbinsville’s Smoky Mountain Conference tournament-title victory. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Moments after the final buzzer sounded Saturday, JV Black Knights Xamuel Wachacha (3), Tucker Jones (5), Bam Nelms (1) and Eli Lambert (2) begin to celebrate Robbinsville’s Smoky Mountain Conference tournament-title victory. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

How sweet it is!

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, March 6, 2025
Hayesville – A first-quarter lead slipped away and by the beginning of the fourth quarter, seemed out-of-reach. The JV Black Knights were not going to let their season end on such a sour note. Instead, Robbinsville (No.
Bentley Riggins stretches for a second-half layup in Saturday’s conference-tournament opener against Murphy. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Bentley Riggins stretches for a second-half layup in Saturday’s conference-tournament opener against Murphy. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Stunning openers

Kevin Hensley
Friday, February 21, 2025
Junior varsity Lady Knight MyKayla McGuire cuts around a Cherokee defender and toward the paint late in Monday’s quarterfinal game with the Lady Braves.
Under the hot pursuit of Swain County’s Miley Teav (11), Abby Wehr breaks up the floor during the second half of Friday’s win over the Lady Devils. Wehr led Robbinsville with 15 points in the victory. Photo by Kensie Belk/The Graham Star

Under the hot pursuit of Swain County’s Miley Teav (11), Abby Wehr breaks up the floor during the second half of Friday’s win over the Lady Devils. Wehr led Robbinsville with 15 points in the victory. Photo by Kensie Belk/The Graham Star

Knights vie for a bye

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 13, 2025
Novie Dutcher sizes up a free throw during Friday’s JV girls win over Swain County.
The Smoky Mountain Conference title returned to the Black Knights on Tuesday, following a victory over Cherokee. Standing in back (from left) are Nathan Frederick, Roman Jones, Kenyon Swimmer, Quinn Jumper, Isiac Collins, head coach Jake Beasley, Dane Knott, Kasen Buchanan, Trey Lambert, Luke Lovin, Kyzik Teesateskie, Logan Callaway and manager Joshua Satterfield. Sitting in front are Darion Ledbetter (left) and Bryce Adams. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

The Smoky Mountain Conference title returned to the Black Knights on Tuesday, following a victory over Cherokee. Standing in back (from left) are Nathan Frederick, Roman Jones, Kenyon Swimmer, Quinn Jumper, Isiac Collins, head coach Jake Beasley, Dane Knott, Kasen Buchanan, Trey Lambert, Luke Lovin, Kyzik Teesateskie, Logan Callaway and manager Joshua Satterfield. Sitting in front are Darion Ledbetter (left) and Bryce Adams. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

‘They deserve it’

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 13, 2025
Robbinsville – For the second time in three seasons, the Black Knights have claimed bragging rights in the Smoky Mountain Conference. Tuesday’s 55-46 win over Cherokee wrapped up the regular-season championship for Robbinsville (17-5, 8-1), which has not lost a game since Jan. 8.
Robbinsville’s Anna Williams (5) and Suri Watty (23) trap Murphy’s Ilie Smith on Tuesday. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville’s Anna Williams (5) and Suri Watty (23) trap Murphy’s Ilie Smith on Tuesday. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights split 4-game schedule

Kevin Hensley
Friday, January 31, 2025
Robbinsville – Four games in as many school days kept the local high school basketball stars busy.
Robbinsville’s Kyzik Teesateskie (20) defies gravity to deny Copper Basin’s Talon Smith on Monday. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville’s Kyzik Teesateskie (20) defies gravity to deny Copper Basin’s Talon Smith on Monday. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Black Knights continue hunt for title

Kevin Hensley
Friday, January 31, 2025
Bam Nelms aims to fire one of his team-high 24 points in the JV Black Knights' win over Murphy on Tuesday. Murphy – With portions of Graham County still blanketed in snow, Robbinsville’s basketball program embarked on a “4-for-4” slate over the course of the last week.