Robinson helping keep Randleman in race

RANDLEMAN — Every successful team has that one person it can rely on to keep things moving in a positive direction. 

That person can lead through the way they play on the floor — providing scoring, tough defense, setting up the offense or showing a high desire to succeed.

Randleman's Chenleigh Robinson does all of the above. The senior guard for the Tigers is capping off her high school career with a season where she is evident in just about everything that goes right for the Tigers.

Her hawking defense, her ability to get the ball down the floor and her drives to the basket are some of the reasons the Tigers (9-6, 3-2 in PAC play) remain in the hunt for a seventh straight conference championship, which includes the past two realignments.

It’s going to be tough to see that streak continue this year as the Tigers, who saw a 40-game conference winnings streak snapped just before Christmas with a loss to Southwestern Randolph, are two games behind the Cougars in the Piedmont Athletic Conference standings. But with Robinson leading the way, there is always a chance.

“She does a little bit of everything,” RHS first-year coach Scott Tyson said of his senior guard. “She’s our best defender, she gets steals, she gets assists, she gets points. She does what Chenleigh does. I tell her before every game she’s the energy that gets us going.”

And she does it all without a lot of fanfare.

“Sometimes she gets overlooked and that shouldn’t be the case,” Tyson said. “It’s like people take her for granted. She is the engine that makes us go and she’s taken a big step this year. She’s a leader and really positive.”

Robinson is a four-year varsity performer for the Tigers and has been a part of three straight conference championships entering this season. 

Her playing time has steadily increased over her career and in this, her senior year, Tyson said he keeps her on the floor as much as possible. She’s that important to her team.

While she always provides stellar defense, her offensive numbers have increased with playing time.

Getting limited minutes as a freshman, she averaged 1.6 points per game. She averaged 2.6 points as a sophomore and once inserted into the starting lineup, she averaged 10.3 points per game her junior season. This year, she is at 9.4 points and 2.4 assists per contest.

“I have a pretty big role, especially now as a senior,” Robinson said. “Keep everyone together and get us to play as a team. Help to keep our composure in games.”

Very few hustle down the floor as quickly as Robinson does and her defense has led to numerous turnovers and fastbreak opportunities for the Tigers.

“Honestly, it’s me wanting the ball, wanting to get control of everything as a player,” she said.

The entire team has had to make adjustments as Tyson is the third head coach in the past three years. Brandon Varner ended his five-year tenure before last season and Steve Rightmyer led the program for one year. Tyson was named the new coach prior to this campaign.

“It’s been a big adjustment,” Robinson said of the coaching changes. “Moreso it’s the same, but it’s different. You know what it’s going to be like, but there are mixes and matches (from the coaches).”

Robinson missed Saturday’s 49-39 win over Western Forsyth due to a concussion suffered in a battle with Providence Grove. When she returns, which could be this week against Trinity or Wheatmore, she said she knows what the team has to do in order to fight their way back to the top of the PAC standings.

“It’s all about knowing your role and playing together,” Robinson said. “We know we all make mistakes. We have to learn from them and play together.”