Trammell’s 31-point night lifts Knights past Braves
Cherokee – There are three certainties in life: death, taxes and Cherokee plays physical basketball.
However, Robbinsville (9-4, 4-1) persevered in a Jan. 13 road game with the Lady Braves nonetheless, taking its lumps en route to a significant 65-52 win. The triumph afforded the Knights sole possession of second place in the Smoky Mountain Conference.
The Lady Knights led 14-11 after the first quarter, but Cherokee (9-5, 2-2) opened the second segment with an 11-0 run to rush ahead. Unfazed, Robbinsville simply pieced together a 10-0 run in reply, using a flurry of steals to open up its offense.
Though Cherokee held a 29-28 nod at the break, a 27-point third from the Knights helped Robbinsville pull away with the lead. The Braves were stymied by the Lady Knights’ patented full-court press, as Yeika Jimenez and Kensley Phillips both scored back-to-back buckets in transition.
The game featured a 31-point performance from junior point guard Desta Trammell, who racked up 15 alone from beyond the arc and posted three steals, two rebounds and an assist, as well.
Jimenez’s night ended with 12 points, five rebounds, three steals, three assists and a block, while both Phillips and Zoie Shuler posted 10 points each. Halee Anderson also dropped a second-quarter basket in the victory.
Bobcats tamed
Cashiers – It’s one of those games where a coach will tell you, “Everybody contributed.”
Indeed, all but one of the players that dressed out for Robbinsville scored Friday at Blue Ridge School (5-8), as the Lady Knights cruised to an 81-43 victory on the plateau.
The crowded scoreline was led by Jimenez, who recorded 20 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Phillips flirted with a triple-double – finishing the game with 14 points, nine rebounds, eight steals and one assist – with Trammell adding 14 points, seven assists, three steals and two rebounds.
Other Lady Knights to score were Shuler 13, Liz Carpenter and Aubrie Wachacha with nine each, and Montana Buchanan 2.
Junior varsity
Robbinsville (0-6) watched a 5-5 split in the first quarter quickly slip away in Jan. 13’s junior-varsity opener at Cherokee, as the Lady Knights fell 61-12 to the Braves.
Karlee Stewart and Memory Frapp had three points each for Robbinsville in the loss, while Christina Jenkins, Haven Orr and Helen Ward posted two apiece.