Lady Knights Crowned SMC Champs
TeamFYNSports February 19, 2021
Murphy, NC- We had a great slate of basketball games last night in Murphy between the Dogs and the Knights; We started with the JV boys and finishing with the Varsity boys, but no game was more exciting than the one that was sandwiched in between.
The Murphy Lady Bulldogs and the Robbinsville Lady Knights took the court in the final game of the regular season, in a winner-take-all game with the Smoky Mountain Conference Championship on the line.
The Lady Knights were able to pull away down the stretch and win their first SMC Championship in nearly a decade, beating the defending State Champion Lady Dogs, 67-50.
This was a huge accomplishment for the Black Knights program as a whole, but it also meant a lot for this team in and of itself, as with the win they secured the Number 1 division seed in the NCHSAA Playoffs that comes along with winning your conference.
FYN Sports wants to congratulate Desta Trammell on her performance as she poured in 26 points and was named the #TeamFYNsports Player of the Game!
Game Notes:
Robbinsville came out hot- jumping out to a 7-0 lead in the first.
The first 7 minutes of the 2nd period belonged to the Bulldogs, as they pulled away 28-20 with a little more than 1:25 left in the half. The Black Knights would go on a run in what little time was left in the half however and score 10 unanswered points, including a buzzer beater 3 from Sophomore Star Desta Trammell. Lady Knights led 30-28 going into the break.
Torin Rogers was the main source of offense for the Dogs, pouring in 19 first half points and a team high 25 total.
The second half was not quite as back and forth as the first, as the Lady Knights made some adjustments on defense and were able to deny the Bulldogs getting the ball into the paint.
Desta Trammell led all scores with 26 points and 8 rebounds and helped the Black Knights secure the Championship win by going 10-10 at the free throw line in the fourth.
Gabby Hooper and Yeika Jimenez also finished in double figures for the Knights with 16 and 11.
Torin Rogers was the lone bright spot in the Bulldogs offense and the only Lady Bulldog in double figures, as she finished with 25 points and 5 boards.
Both Murphy and Robbinsville are playoff bound, and the folks here at FYN Sports expect to see both teams make a deep run.
Who knows, maybe we will see Murphy vs Robbinsville Part 3?
Trammell Leads Black Knights to Triple OT Win Over Cherokee
Team FYN Sports February 10, 2021
Robbinsville, NC- The Lady Black Knights played host to the Cherokee Lady Braves last night in a matchup between two conference foes.
Earlier this year, The Lady Braves won the first matchup between the two teams, beating Robbinsville 70-57.
This was a pretty big game for both teams all things considered. Cherokee needed a win to keep their hopes of a share of the SMC Championship alive. Robbinsville needed a win in order to avenge their lone loss on the season, and to keep their chances of winning the outright SMC title.
It took seven periods of basketball to get it done, but the Black Knights were able to topple the Braves in triple overtime!
The first period ended with the Black Knights on top 17-10, but that lead would not last long as it was a stalemate heading into halftime with both teams tied at 30 a piece.
The third period was all Lady Braves, as Cherokee scored 21 points and took a 51-41 lead to the fourth.
In the fourth quarter, the Lady Knights showed just how tough they are defensively, only allowing the Braves to score 6 points in the entire quarter. Desta Trammell, Halee Anderson and Kensley Phillips helped the Knights climb back into it offensively and the team as a unit scored 16 fourth quarter points to tie the game at 57 and force the first overtime.
Three overtimes later, the Lady Black Knights emerged victorious, defeating the Lady Braves 77-70.
Desta Trammell led the Knights with 32 points on the night, and Halee Anderson and Kensely Phillips also poured in 14 and 12 respectively.
The Lady Knights will host Swain County on Friday and travel to Andrews next Tuesday.
If they are able to beat Swain and Andrews and Murphy is able to get through the rest of their schedule unscathed, the matchup on 2/18 between the Lady Knights and the Lady Bulldogs will be for the SMC Championship.
NCHSAA 1a Preseason Football Rankings
Business February 4, 2021
Football season is right around the corner in North Carolina. What a weird season it will be with games starting at the end of February.
The FYN Sports team has sat down and compiled our North Carolina High School Athletic Association 1A Football Rankings.
We took into account how the teams finished last year, the players that they had returning, and the strength of schedule that they will be playing. It is a shortened 7 game schedule for all North Carolina teams, so that was also taken into account.
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East Surry
East Surry throttled Tarboro in the Big 1A State Championship 56-28 last year. They lost a few seniors to college and one impact player who early enrolled since the season was moved, but they also return two division 1 guys and a handful of D2-D3 talent. We’ve got them going into the season ranked at Number 1 for a reason.
Photo From East Surry Athletics Facebook Page
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Tarboro
Tarboro advanced to the Big 1A State Championship last year and lost to the aforementioned East Surry Cardinals. That was the only blemish on their schedule last year, and the first loss the Vikings had suffered since 2016! In 2017 and 2018 they won back-to-back State Championships. I have heard rumors of Tarboro being in Little 1A or Big 1A. Same with a few other teams on this list. I would expect Tarboro to compete in either classification.
Photo From @TarboroFotball on Twitter
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Robbinsville
Photo From RHS Digital Media on Facebook
The kings of the Smoky Mountain Conference last year, overcoming “big brother’ Murphy twice. They beat Northampton 45-14 in the Little 1A State Championship. They are losing their main offensive weapon and star running back to graduation, but the Black Knights will look to reload as always. Coach Dee Walsh has the Knights competing for a title every year it seems. The Black Knights will look to repeat as State Champions by first winning the SMC again this year, a task some say is harder than winning the State title.
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Murphy
10-3 overall record last year, with 2 of those losses coming against defending Little 1A State Champions and Conference rival, Robbinsville. In the third round of the State Playoffs last year, they fell to Robbinsville 24-13 after previously losing to the Black Knights 17-14 at home in the regular season. Coach David Gentry definitely cannot be happy losing to that team across the County Line twice, and seeing them hoist the State Title means the Bulldogs will be out for blood this year. Circle Murphy @ Robbinsville on your calendar!
Photo courtesy of Stacey Posey
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John A. Holmes (Edenton)
The John A. Holmes Aces were rolling last year until they ran into Tarboro in the regional championship in Big 1A. 12-1 with a defense that allowed 7 or fewer points in games last year, I think that they will pose a threat to make a run at the Title, especially if Tarboro moves down and East Surry has lost more talent than it seems.
Photo From Edenton Aces Facebook page
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Mountain Island Charter
Photo from Irishsportsdaily.com
Southern Piedmont Conference Champs last year. Lost to East Surry in the Elite 8 in Big 1A. A high powered offense that scored 50 or more in 6 games last and has quite a few Juniors returning on the offensive side of the ball. The Raptors are building something and have finally made it over the hump with last years’ 11-3 season.
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Mitchell
Mitchell is the first team on this list where playing in February (and the weather that Febrary brings) could really hurt them. The Mountaineers are no stranger to bad weather in the winter months, and with the way this COVID season will work, they can’t afford any games lost due to inclement weather. Last year, they lost to East Surry in the Big 1A Regional Championship game. Look for them to have another good year, and perhaps find themselves back down in Little 1A.
Photo From sprucepinechevy.com
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Swain County
Last year, the Maroon Devils lost to Mitchell in the 2nd round of the Big 1A State Championships. In the regular season, they unfortunately faced Murphy and Robbinsville in back-to-back weeks on their schedule, where they fell to Murphy 15-14 and then were gassed by Robbinsville 43-6. It may be weird to see a team that finished third in their Conference ranked in the Top 10 in the State, but you have to remember what conference they play in, and the fact that these guys just seem to be able to compete year-in and year-out regardless. The Veer is a hard thing to beat in High School football.
Photo From Swain Pride on Facebook
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Northampton County
A cinderella story in last years Little 1A State Playoffs, they upset both Rosewood and North Edgecomb to advance to the State Championship before eventually falling to Robbinsville. 11-2 in 2017, then again in 2018 and the number 1 seed entering the playoffs where they lost to Rosewood in the third round. Northampton has produced a pretty good run of football teams here recently and I expect this year to be no different.
Photo from RRSpin.com
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Rosewood
The Eagles lost to Northampton 26-20 in the 3rd round of Little 1a playoffs in 2019. They went 11-2 and were the Carolina Conference Champions. In their lone regular season loss, they found themselves in a pretty tight one with 3A/4A C.B. Aycock. With a lot of returners and a good coaching staff, Rosewood is set to make waves yet again.
Photo from HUDL
NCHSAA 1a Preseason Football Rankings
Business February 4, 2021
Football season is right around the corner in North Carolina. What a weird season it will be with games starting at the end of February.
The FYN Sports team has sat down and compiled our North Carolina High School Athletic Association 1A Football Rankings.
We took into account how the teams finished last year, the players that they had returning, and the strength of schedule that they will be playing. It is a shortened 7 game schedule for all North Carolina teams, so that was also taken into account.
-
East Surry
East Surry throttled Tarboro in the Big 1A State Championship 56-28 last year. They lost a few seniors to college and one impact player who early enrolled since the season was moved, but they also return two division 1 guys and a handful of D2-D3 talent. We’ve got them going into the season ranked at Number 1 for a reason.
-
Tarboro
Tarboro advanced to the Big 1A State Championship last year and lost to the aforementioned East Surry Cardinals. That was the only blemish on their schedule last year, and the first loss the Vikings had suffered since 2016! In 2017 and 2018 they won back-to-back State Championships. I have heard rumors of Tarboro being in Little 1A or Big 1A. Same with a few other teams on this list. I would expect Tarboro to compete in either classification.
-
Robbinsville
The kings of the Smoky Mountain Conference last year, overcoming “big brother’ Murphy twice. They beat Northampton 45-14 in the Little 1A State Championship. They are losing their main offensive weapon and star running back to graduation, but the Black Knights will look to reload as always. Coach Dee Walsh has the Knights competing for a title every year it seems. The Black Knights will look to repeat as State Champions by first winning the SMC again this year, a task some say is harder than winning the State title.
-
Murphy
10-3 overall record last year, with 2 of those losses coming against defending Little 1A State Champions and Conference rival, Robbinsville. In the third round of the State Playoffs last year, they fell to Robbinsville 24-13 after previously losing to the Black Knights 17-14 at home in the regular season. Coach David Gentry definitely cannot be happy losing to that team across the County Line twice, and seeing them hoist the State Title means the Bulldogs will be out for blood this year. Circle Murphy @ Robbinsville on your calendar!
-
John A. Holmes
The John A. Holmes Aces were rolling last year until they ran into Tarboro in the regional championship in Big 1A. 12-1 with a defense that allowed 7 or fewer points in games last year, I think that they will pose a threat to make a run at the Title, especially if Tarboro moves down and East Surry has lost more talent than it seems.
-
Mountain Island Charter
Southern Piedmont Conference Champs last year. Lost to East Surry in the Elite 8 in Big 1A. A high powered offense that scored 50 or more in 6 games last and has quite a few Juniors returning on the offensive side of the ball. The Raptors are building something and have finally made it over the hump with last years’ 11-3 season.
-
Mitchell
Mitchell is the first team on this list where playing in February (and the weather that Febrary brings) could really hurt them. The Mountaineers are no stranger to bad weather in the winter months, and with the way this COVID season will work, they can’t afford any games lost due to inclement weather. Last year, they lost to East Surry in the Big 1A Regional Championship game. Look for them to have another good year, and perhaps find themselves back down in Little 1A.
-
Swain County
Last year, the Maroon Devils lost to Mitchell in the 2nd round of the Big 1A State Championships. In the regular season, they unfortunately faced Murphy and Robbinsville in back-to-back weeks on their schedule, where they fell to Murphy 15-14 and then were gassed by Robbinsville 43-6. It may be weird to see a team that finished third in their Conference ranked in the Top 10 in the State, but you have to remember what conference they play in, and the fact that these guys just seem to be able to compete year-in and year-out regardless. The Veer is a hard thing to beat in High School football.
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Northampton County
A cinderella story in last years Little 1A State Playoffs, they upset both Rosewood and North Edgecomb to advance to the State Championship before eventually falling to Robbinsville. 11-2 in 2017, then again in 2018 and the number 1 seed entering the playoffs where they lost to Rosewood in the third round. Northampton has produced a pretty good run of football teams here recently and I expect this year to be no different.
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Rosewood
The Eagles lost to Northampton 26-20 in the 3rd round of Little 1a playoffs in 2019. They went 11-2 and were the Carolina Conference Champions. In their lone regular season loss, they found themselves in a pretty tight one with 3A/4A C.B. Aycock. With a lot of returners and a good coaching staff, Rosewood is set to make waves yet again.
