Chris Mintz, Cherokee Lady Braves head basketball coach, was named co-Big Smoky Mountain Conference Coach of the Year along with Murphy’s Ray Gutierrez.

Download NAYO Basketball Tournament registration and information

I always hope athletes, from pee wees to pros, have fun when they play.

First-year Braves head coach Aaron Hogner coached his team to a regular season conference title as well as a conference tournament championship. 

The Cherokee Lady Braves (19-7) finished their 2017-18 season with a 55-32 loss at Murphy in the 1A West regional semifinals on the evening of Tuesday, Feb. 27. 

William Paul, an EBCI tribal member and senior at Swain High School, won the 1A state wrestling championship in the 220lb. division at the state meet held at the Greensboro Coliseum on Saturday, Feb. 17.

The Cherokee Lady Braves (19-6) advanced to the 1A West Regional semifinals with a 71-61 win at Mitchell on the evening of Saturday, Feb. 24.

Two hundred miles and almost four hours separated the Cherokee High School varsity basketball teams in their 1A state playoff second round match-ups on the night of Thursday, Feb. 22.