Cherokee

An exhausted Jacob Teesateskie glances at his raucous teammates Tuesday, as Madison’s Mason Clubb lays despondent on the mat. Teesateskie had just scored a takedown to prevail 7-5 in overtime against Clubb. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

An exhausted Jacob Teesateskie glances at his raucous teammates Tuesday, as Madison’s Mason Clubb lays despondent on the mat. Teesateskie had just scored a takedown to prevail 7-5 in overtime against Clubb. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Black Knights handle business in opener

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 17, 2022
Snowbird – The one advantage Robbinsville usually has against opponents is its ability to fill out all 14 weight classes. It doesn’t hurt that finesse and talent are found across the roster, either.
Led by the protection of classmate Tytan Teesateskie (72), Robbinsville sophomore quarterback Bryce Adams scans his downfield options Nov. 10 against Cherokee. Bryce completed eight passes – two for touchdowns to his brother, Brock Adams – and collected 131 yards in the Knights’ 39-12 second-round playoff victory over the Braves. Photos courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Led by the protection of classmate Tytan Teesateskie (72), Robbinsville sophomore quarterback Bryce Adams scans his downfield options Nov. 10 against Cherokee. Bryce completed eight passes – two for touchdowns to his brother, Brock Adams – and collected 131 yards in the Knights’ 39-12 second-round playoff victory over the Braves. Photos courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Icing on the cake

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 17, 2022
Robbinsville – If that was the final home game of the season, what a way to go out. The Black Knights peppered 39 points across the first three quarters of the Nov. 10 playoff affair against Cherokee, clinching a Sweet 16 berth by knocking off the divisional rival 39-12 under the Big Oaks.
Zayleigh Chekeleelee outpaces the pursuit of Hiwassee Dam/Ranger defenders for a lay-up during the Nov. 3 season opener. Chekeleelee led the Lady Knights with a 10-point afternoon. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Zayleigh Chekeleelee outpaces the pursuit of Hiwassee Dam/Ranger defenders for a lay-up during the Nov. 3 season opener. Chekeleelee led the Lady Knights with a 10-point afternoon. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Middle school hoops tips off

Kevin Hensley
Friday, November 11, 2022
Robbinsville – It might be a few more weeks before the high school Knights begin their latest basketball season, but the next generation of varsity superstars tipped their year off Nov. 3.
Junior fullback Kage Williams (33) soaks in the realization that he will be playing his first home game of the season before first-round playoff action kicked off Friday. Williams ended up with two rushing touchdowns and two PATs in Robbinsville’s 40-14 win over the Ironmen. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Junior fullback Kage Williams (33) soaks in the realization that he will be playing his first home game of the season before first-round playoff action kicked off Friday. Williams ended up with two rushing touchdowns and two PATs in Robbinsville’s 40-14 win over the Ironmen. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Goes together like biscuits and gravy

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 10, 2022
Robbinsville – He’s back.
The Robbinsville Lady Knights clinched a share of the Smoky Mountain Conference title for the second time in four seasons Oct. 13, sweeping Swain County on senior night. All names are listed from left. Front row: Fala Welch, Claire Barlow, Desta Trammell and Tai Owle. Back row: Assistant coach Dede Brooms, manager Eden Orr, Liz Carpenter, Suri Watty, Delaney Brooms, Aubrie Wachacha, Kensley Phillips, head coach Kadey Phillips and line judge Jade Teesateskie. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

The Robbinsville Lady Knights clinched a share of the Smoky Mountain Conference title for the second time in four seasons Oct. 13, sweeping Swain County on senior night. All names are listed from left. Front row: Fala Welch, Claire Barlow, Desta Trammell and Tai Owle. Back row: Assistant coach Dede Brooms, manager Eden Orr, Liz Carpenter, Suri Watty, Delaney Brooms, Aubrie Wachacha, Kensley Phillips, head coach Kadey Phillips and line judge Jade Teesateskie. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Step 1: Complete

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, October 20, 2022
Robbinsville – Entering the 2022 season, they heard the whispers. The doubts. The naysayers. Then the Robbinsville Lady Knights assessed the circumstances and posted a 15-win campaign, which culminated Oct. 13 with a 14-25, 14-25, 20-25 sweep of Swain County (12-11) on senior night.
A trio of cousins – Bryce, Cuttler and Brock Adams (from left) – sparked Robbinsville’s defensive and offensive fortunes during the second half of Friday’s 30-13 conference win over Cherokee. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

A trio of cousins – Bryce, Cuttler and Brock Adams (from left) – sparked Robbinsville’s defensive and offensive fortunes during the second half of Friday’s 30-13 conference win over Cherokee. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

The Adams Family

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, October 13, 2022
Robbinsville – It took just over 32 minutes for the first touchdown of Friday night’s game to make it onto the scoreboard – and it was by Cherokee. In the remaining 15:53, Robbinsville scored 30 unanswered points – all from the same bloodline.
Cuttler Adams slices through a jostle at the line during the Sept. 29 conference opener at Swain County. Adams was responsible for all of Robbinsville’s scoring in the Knights’ win over the Maroon Devils. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Cuttler Adams slices through a jostle at the line during the Sept. 29 conference opener at Swain County. Adams was responsible for all of Robbinsville’s scoring in the Knights’ win over the Maroon Devils. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Cut to the chase

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, October 6, 2022
Bryson City – It might have been the lowest yardage Cuttler Adams has recorded this season, but sometimes the impact a player makes cannot be measured by statistics.
Robbinsville’s Delaney Brooms (1) springs to a kill attempt during Tuesday’s road conference match at Murphy. The Lady Knights dropped the match in four sets and are now tied with the Lady Bulldogs atop the divisional standings. Photo by Justin Fitzgerald/Cherokee Scout

Robbinsville’s Delaney Brooms (1) springs to a kill attempt during Tuesday’s road conference match at Murphy. The Lady Knights dropped the match in four sets and are now tied with the Lady Bulldogs atop the divisional standings. Photo by Justin Fitzgerald/Cherokee Scout

Crowded at the top

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, October 6, 2022
Murphy – It took a pair of grueling road matches to unseat Robbinsville from the top spot in the conference standings. The Lady Knights fell victim to a 5-set loss at Cherokee (13-6, 5-2) on Sept. 29, before traveling to Murphy (16-4, 5-2) and suffering a 4-set defeat.
With Kellen Ensley (52) running interference, JV Black Knights quarterback Luke Lovin rolls out for a pass Sept. 8 at Cherokee. Photo courtesy of Haden Key/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

With Kellen Ensley (52) running interference, JV Black Knights quarterback Luke Lovin rolls out for a pass Sept. 8 at Cherokee. Photo courtesy of Haden Key/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

JV Knights edge Cherokee

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 15, 2022
Cherokee – Much like their varsity counterparts would do the next night, the junior varsity Black Knights won a game on a post-touchdown play. Taking on Cherokee in a pivotal Smoky Mountain Conference showdown on Sept.
JV Black Knight Tillman Adams (12) lays waste to a would-be Swain County defender during Robbinsville’s 12-8 loss to the Maroon Devils on Sept. 1. Photo courtesy of Carlos Lopez/Robbinsville High School

JV Black Knight Tillman Adams (12) lays waste to a would-be Swain County defender during Robbinsville’s 12-8 loss to the Maroon Devils on Sept. 1. Photo courtesy of Carlos Lopez/Robbinsville High School

Devils edge JV Knights

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 8, 2022
Robbinsville – A third-quarter lead slipped away late for the junior varsity Black Knights, who fell to 1-2 on Sept. 1 by dropping a 12-8 heartbreaker to conference foe Swain County at Modeal Walsh Memorial Stadium.