LadyHighlanders

Senior outside hitter Delaney Brooms rises for a spike Monday against Hiwassee Dam. Her kills were too much for the Lady Eagles to handle in the match – especially in the clinching set. Photo by Danielle Crabtree/The Graham Star

Senior outside hitter Delaney Brooms rises for a spike Monday against Hiwassee Dam. Her kills were too much for the Lady Eagles to handle in the match – especially in the clinching set. Photo by Danielle Crabtree/The Graham Star

Little Smoky Smackdown

The latest Robbinsville volleyball slate can be simplified as a cliche from another sport: nine up, nine down.
Robbinsville senior Desta Trammell launches an outside shot Monday at Highlands. Trammell hit a pair of 3-pointers in the Lady Knights’ loss to the Lady Highlanders. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville senior Desta Trammell launches an outside shot Monday at Highlands. Trammell hit a pair of 3-pointers in the Lady Knights’ loss to the Lady Highlanders. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Too little, too late

Highlands – To begin Monday’s road game, seniors Desta Trammell and Kensley Phillips hit respective 2- and 3-point shots, to give Robbinsville the opening salvo. From there, Highlands proved to be rude hosts.
Desta Trammell speeds up the floor during Nov. 30’s season opener against Smoky Mountain.  Trammell’s historic, consecutive free-throw streak ended in the Lady Knights’ campaign debut, but she still lead the team in three different categories – including a 26-point evening. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Desta Trammell speeds up the floor during Nov. 30’s season opener against Smoky Mountain. Trammell’s historic, consecutive free-throw streak ended in the Lady Knights’ campaign debut, but she still lead the team in three different categories – including a 26-point evening. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Blemish marks end of streak

Robbinsville – Don’t worry; Desta Trammell heard the whispers. Even though it is superstition in the world of sports to not talk about a streak, Trammell had not forgotten that she carried an improbable run of 59 consecutive free throws made into Nov. 30’s season opener against Smoky Mountain.
Aubrie Wachacha (left) breaks to hammer the set from Desta Trammell during Tuesday’s home match against Highlands. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Aubrie Wachacha (left) breaks to hammer the set from Desta Trammell during Tuesday’s home match against Highlands. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Fine tuning

Robbinsville – Make no mistake about it: the Lady Knights are getting a good mixture of opposition from the early portion of their schedule. Wedged between sweeps of Little Smoky Mountain Conference programs Nantahala (0-2) on Aug.
Robbinsville’s Kensley Phillips (24) and Halee Anderson apply heavy pressure to Highlands’ Julia Schmitt during Jan. 20’s road victory. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville’s Kensley Phillips (24) and Halee Anderson apply heavy pressure to Highlands’ Julia Schmitt during Jan. 20’s road victory. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Knights on 5-game tear

Robbinsville – Set ‘em up; the Lady Knights will knock them down. Robbinsville (11-4, 5-1) has won five in a row, most recently toppling Highlands (8-8) in a Jan. 20 road game 59-29, before thrashing Swain County (6-12, 2-4) at home Tuesday, 61-44.
Robbinsville junior Kensley Phillips swats the ball away from Highlands’ Beatrice Bryson during Tuesday’s season opener. Phillips’ defense played a key role in the Lady Knights’ 59-39 win over the Lady Highlanders. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Robbinsville junior Kensley Phillips swats the ball away from Highlands’ Beatrice Bryson during Tuesday’s season opener. Phillips’ defense played a key role in the Lady Knights’ 59-39 win over the Lady Highlanders. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Knights conquer Highlanders in season openers

Robbinsville – The Knights’ varsity basketball program gave the Graham County faithful a sample of what’s to come this season. And after Tuesday’s straight sweep of Highlands, it’s evident that both the Lady Knights and Black Knights will deliver the goods each time they hit the hardwood.
Robbinsville sophomore Delaney Brooms sends a shot screaming past a Highlands defender on Tuesday night. Through her first four games, Brooms has 48 kills. Photos by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville sophomore Delaney Brooms sends a shot screaming past a Highlands defender on Tuesday night. Through her first four games, Brooms has 48 kills. Photos by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Lining ‘em up; setting ‘em down

One-by-one, the Robbinsville Lady Knights have mowed down each opponent faced this season.

One second away

Murphy – It took a buzzer-beating 3 and a war of free throws to knock off the Lady Knights on Tuesday night.