LadyKnights

Lady Knights senior Desta Trammell was recently announced as the 2022-23 Smoky Mountain Conference Girls Player of the Year – her second time earning the distinction. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights senior Desta Trammell was recently announced as the 2022-23 Smoky Mountain Conference Girls Player of the Year – her second time earning the distinction. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Pursuit of her Destanee: complete

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, March 16, 2023
Liz Carpenter, Sophomore, All-Conference ​​​ Robbinsville – What else can be written about Desta Trammell? She has grown up loving the sport of basketball. The competitiveness. The tenacity. The skill. The discipline. The ups. The downs.
Junior Taelyr Jackson swings for an eventual double Tuesday, which was mixed into a 9-run third for Robbinsville in the Lady Knights’ 14-1 rout of Smoky Mountain. Photos by Montana Buchanan/The Graham Star

Junior Taelyr Jackson swings for an eventual double Tuesday, which was mixed into a 9-run third for Robbinsville in the Lady Knights’ 14-1 rout of Smoky Mountain. Photos by Montana Buchanan/The Graham Star

Wild horses tamed

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, March 9, 2023
Webster – Even the faintest cloud of doubt about how this year’s Robbinsville varsity softball team would mesh on the field seemed to dissipate as quickly as the tightly-knit score.
Memory Frapp enters her third varsity season as the ace of the Lady Knights. Robbinsville has won the conference title each year she has toed the rubber. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Memory Frapp enters her third varsity season as the ace of the Lady Knights. Robbinsville has won the conference title each year she has toed the rubber. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights hoping mix of old, new brings success

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, March 9, 2023
* Robbinsville softball season preview Robbinsville – When you return both the Smoky Mountain Conference Pitcher and Player of the Year, you have to like your chances this season.
The Robbinsville Lady Knights were understandably distraught while accepting the 1A Western Regional Runner-Up plaque after dropping the game 41-30 to Bishop McGuinness. All names are listed from left. Front row: Desta Trammell, Kensley Phillips, Bella Ford, Fala Welch and Suri Watty. Back row: Liz Carpenter, Olivia Lewis, Aubrie Wachacha, Bentley Riggs, Abby Wehr, Anna Williams, Katie-Lyn Gross, Anna York and Maleah Cox. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

The Robbinsville Lady Knights were understandably distraught while accepting the 1A Western Regional Runner-Up plaque after dropping the game 41-30 to Bishop McGuinness. All names are listed from left. Front row: Desta Trammell, Kensley Phillips, Bella Ford, Fala Welch and Suri Watty. Back row: Liz Carpenter, Olivia Lewis, Aubrie Wachacha, Bentley Riggs, Abby Wehr, Anna Williams, Katie-Lyn Gross, Anna York and Maleah Cox. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights fall short in regional final

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, March 9, 2023
Senior Fala Welch scored the final basket of Robbinsville's season in the closing seconds of Saturday's 1A Western Regional Final. Morganton – The deepest playoff run in Lady Knights’ basketball history was halted in the state semifinals on Saturday.
The Robbinsville Lady Knights gather for the final “W” photo they will take on their home court, after polishing off the Draughn Lady Wildcats 65-41 in the fourth round of the state playoffs. All names are listed from left. Front row: Anna York, Suri Watty, Maleah Cox, Abby Wehr, Olivia Lewis, Aubrie Wachacha and Liz Carpenter. Back row: Bella Ford, Bentley Riggins, Katie-Lyn Gross, Desta Trammell, Anna Williams and Kensley Phillips. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

The Robbinsville Lady Knights gather for the final “W” photo they will take on their home court, after polishing off the Draughn Lady Wildcats 65-41 in the fourth round of the state playoffs. All names are listed from left. Front row: Anna York, Suri Watty, Maleah Cox, Abby Wehr, Olivia Lewis, Aubrie Wachacha and Liz Carpenter. Back row: Bella Ford, Bentley Riggins, Katie-Lyn Gross, Desta Trammell, Anna Williams and Kensley Phillips. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

'We proved everybody wrong'

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, March 2, 2023
Freshman guard Suri Watty brings the ball up the floor during Feb. 23's second-round road win over the Albemarle Lady Bulldogs. Photo courtesy of Marjorie Jaynes/Albemarle High School Robbinsville – A lot of positive factors have to fall in place to reach the semifinals of the state tournament.
Lady Knights head coach Lucas Ford draws up a play during a timeout at Feb. 25's, third-round postseason game against Eastern Randolph. Photo by Montana Buchanan/The Graham Star

Lady Knights head coach Lucas Ford draws up a play during a timeout at Feb. 25's, third-round postseason game against Eastern Randolph. Photo by Montana Buchanan/The Graham Star

Lady Knights face Villains in first regional-finals appearance

Kevin Hensley
Wednesday, March 1, 2023
Morganton — The deepest playoff run in Lady Knights basketball history was halted in the state semifinals on Saturday.
Lady Knights senior Desta Trammell shoves the ball toward the net on a breakaway in Friday’s Smoky Mountain Conference Tournament finals. Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights senior Desta Trammell shoves the ball toward the net on a breakaway in Friday’s Smoky Mountain Conference Tournament finals. Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights roll after shaky playoff start

Kevin Hensley
Friday, February 24, 2023
Robbinsville – It took the Lady Knights a full quarter to get their offensive engines roaring. Starmount was left in their dust. In what could be the final home game for Robbinsville (No.
Robbinsville senior Kensley Phillips pulls away on a fast break during overtime of Feb. 16's Smoky Mountain Conference finals against Cherokee. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville senior Kensley Phillips pulls away on a fast break during overtime of Feb. 16's Smoky Mountain Conference finals against Cherokee. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights hit the road for playoffs

Kevin Hensley
Wednesday, February 22, 2023
Albemarle -- Playing the role of underdog Thursday, the Robbinsville Lady Knights went on the road for the second round of the playoffs. And for the second time in three seasons, Robbinsville (No. 13, 19-8) knocked off a higher-seeded team.
Sophomore small forward Liz Carpenter had 17 points for Robbinsville in the Lady Knights' tournament-semifinal win over Murphy on Tuesday. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Sophomore small forward Liz Carpenter had 17 points for Robbinsville in the Lady Knights' tournament-semifinal win over Murphy on Tuesday. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights’ forwards make life hectic

Kevin Hensley
Friday, February 17, 2023
Anna Williams eyes a breakaway basket during the closing seconds of Tuesday’s lopsided JV tournament win over Hayesville. Andrews – Admittedly, it took Robbinsville’s inside game over half the season to become confident.
Lady Knights junior Zoie Shuler leapt to a pair of 1A indoor-track state titles Saturday, collecting gold in both the long and triple jumps. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights junior Zoie Shuler leapt to a pair of 1A indoor-track state titles Saturday, collecting gold in both the long and triple jumps. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

By leaps and bounds

Kevin Hensley
Friday, February 17, 2023
Winston-Salem – In the last 15 months, Zoie Shuler has won five individual state championships. Titles eluded her freshman season, but Shuler finally broke through the barrier with an indoor, long-jump crown attained in February 2022 and a pair of outdoor titles (long and triple jump) in May 2022.