LadyBraves

Junior ace Memory Frapp struck out seven Cherokee batters to aid Robbinsville’s thumping of the Lady Braves on Friday. Photos by Montana Buchanan/The Graham Star

Junior ace Memory Frapp struck out seven Cherokee batters to aid Robbinsville’s thumping of the Lady Braves on Friday. Photos by Montana Buchanan/The Graham Star

Lady Knights split bill with Braves, Jets

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 6, 2023
Cherokee – Less than 24 hours removed from a tough loss, Robbinsville did what it does best: the Knights shook off the effects of the defeat. It just so happened that Robbinsville (8-2, 5-0) had a short road trip to Cherokee (5-4, 2-4) on the books Friday.
Robbinsville senior Fala Welch – shown recording an RBI on March 20 at Copper Basin, Tenn. – posted another scoring single in Tuesday’s 8-2 win over Cherokee. Photo by Montana Buchanan/The Graham Star

Robbinsville senior Fala Welch – shown recording an RBI on March 20 at Copper Basin, Tenn. – posted another scoring single in Tuesday’s 8-2 win over Cherokee. Photo by Montana Buchanan/The Graham Star

Lady Knights rolling through conference

Kevin Hensley
Friday, March 31, 2023
Robbinsville – Even though March 23’s home appointment with Swain County was rained out, it seems that no one – beyond Mother Nature – can dampen the Lady Knights.
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.
All Cherokee’s Alexis Smith could do was look on as Desta Trammell took flight for a second-half bucket Tuesday at Cherokee. Trammell had 42 points at Swain County on Jan. 19 and her 23-point evening at Cherokee pushed her to 1,603 career points. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

All Cherokee’s Alexis Smith could do was look on as Desta Trammell took flight for a second-half bucket Tuesday at Cherokee. Trammell had 42 points at Swain County on Jan. 19 and her 23-point evening at Cherokee pushed her to 1,603 career points. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights left with questions, very few answers

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 26, 2023
Cherokee – The only Smoky Mountain Conference team that has had the Lady Knights’ number this year is the Cherokee Braves. Robbinsville (10-7, 4-2) entered Tuesday’s rematch with the first-place Braves, full of optimism that the Knights had the right game plan in place after the first outing Dec.
Robbinsville’s Liz Carpenter (23) and Kensley Phillips slow down the drive of North Buncombe’s Peyton Whitson on Friday. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Robbinsville’s Liz Carpenter (23) and Kensley Phillips slow down the drive of North Buncombe’s Peyton Whitson on Friday. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Blackhawks clip Lady Knights

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, December 22, 2022
Robbinsville – The chips simply did not fall in the Lady Knights’ favor. In what evolved into a back-and-forth tussle, Robbinsville (3-2, 0-1) incurred its first loss of the season Friday, dropping a 47-46 heartbreaker to the North Buncombe Blackhawks.
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.
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.
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.
The work of Robbinsville’s younger varsity players – including Claire Barlow, shown contesting a Highlands return Aug. 23 – was crucial to the Knights’ clinching a four-set victory over Cherokee on Tuesday. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

The work of Robbinsville’s younger varsity players – including Claire Barlow, shown contesting a Highlands return Aug. 23 – was crucial to the Knights’ clinching a four-set victory over Cherokee on Tuesday. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Lady Knights etch 1st conference win

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 1, 2022
Robbinsville – Going into Tuesday’s conference opener, the Lady Knights seemingly held all the cards.
Middle school Lady Knight Anna Williams prepares to drive the ball May 3 against Hiwassee Dam/Ranger. Williams unleashed a 3-run homer Friday, aiding Robbinsville immensely in a 20-6 drubbing of the previously-unbeaten Cherokee Lady Braves. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Middle school Lady Knight Anna Williams prepares to drive the ball May 3 against Hiwassee Dam/Ranger. Williams unleashed a 3-run homer Friday, aiding Robbinsville immensely in a 20-6 drubbing of the previously-unbeaten Cherokee Lady Braves. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Middle school Knights pepper Cherokee

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, May 12, 2022
Cherokee – The Braves never knew what hit them. Robbinsville made the trip to Cherokee for a middle school baseball and softball tilt Friday, with both the Black Knights and Lady Knights etching respective 11-8 and 20-6 wins.