Why family is at the heart of Cherokee basketball's NCHSAA playoff run
· Yahoo Sports
CHEROKEE — Once the postgame huddle breaks, basketball stays in the gym.
Visit chickenroad-game.rodeo for more information.
That's how Cherokee girls basketball coach Miranda Stamper and her daughters like to keep it — even after an 81-25 playoff win.
No. 1 Cherokee (27-1) rolled past No. 9 Community School of Davidson (16-12) in the third round of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 2A playoffs. The Braves move on to the fourth round, where they will face No. 4 Queen's Grant (26-3) on March 2.
But for the Stampers, the night is less about the scoreboard and more about the balance between coach and family.
Miranda has coached Joscelyn in basketball every year except her freshman season, when she was coached by Ann Gardner.
Miranda and Joscelyn said the routine has always been the same.
"Once we leave the gym, unless she brings it up or has a question, that's it," Miranda said. "We don't discuss it anymore, and it's not intentional. It's what we've always done."
Joscelyn said: "She was stern when it needed to be, setting me straight. But as soon as it was over, as soon as we came back home, she was Mom. I feel like that keeps a good balance between everything is that she can turn it on and off."
Miranda and her daughters — the other is Cambry — are just as close off the court. They go on cruises, take vacations to the beach or travel to Atlanta or Charlotte to cheer on the MLB's Braves or NFL's Panthers. On off days from basketball, they'll go hiking or biking.
The only time they will talk about basketball is in the days leading up to a game.
"If we do talk basketball, especially if there's a game coming up, we talk about other teams," Miranda said. "As far as criticism or what they can improve on, we wait for practice to do that."
At practices, Miranda tries to ensure that Joscelyn is shooting jump shots, straight up and down, instead of fading away.
She and her assistant coaches will scrimmage and compete in drills against the players.
Miranda and Joscelyn will occasionally match up.
"I get out here and practice with them, all three of us coaches," Miranda said. "That's what we do. We get out and bang with them every practice, so I don't take it easy on her."
In 2025, Miranda and Joscelyn shared their first state championship together — a moment years in the making. With Cambry Stamper joining the team as a freshman this season, the three are now chasing their first title together and Cherokee’s third straight.
"It's a once-in-a-million moment," Miranda said. "Most parents don't get to do what I'm doing and go win a state championship with your kids."
Zachary Huber is a high school sports reporter for the Hendersonville Times-News. Email him at [email protected] or follow him on X @zacharyahuber.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: How a family bond is powering Cherokee basketball in NCHSAA playoffs