STARKVILLE – When workouts began prior to this basketball season, Starkville High School senior Kayla Minor listed one of her goals as helping her team advance to the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A State Tournament in Jackson.
Turns out, Minor returned in time to help that goal become a reality.
“(Playing in Jackson) meant everything to us,” Minor said. “The team wanted it so badly. Ever since I first played basketball you heard about the Big House and you wanted to get there. In scrimmages, I pushed my teammates even harder because I knew we had a team that could get there.”
After tearing an ACL in preseason workouts in August, Minor had surgery a month later and was able to return in time to play the final third of the Starkville schedule. The Lady Jackets finished the season on a tear and did make Jackson for the first time since winning a state championship in 1992.
Thursday was the latest milestone day for Minor as she signed a basketball scholarship offer with Northwest Mississippi Community College.
“At the beginning of the season, the players were asked to make a list of goals.” Starkville coach Kristie Williams said. “We always set our goals very high. The primary goal is always to find a way to get to Jackson. Kayla really wanted to make sure that happened in her senior season.
“Then she goes down with the injury and you worry about her ever playing again. God has blessed her and given her the strength to battle back. She really felt a strong desire to lead and be there for her teammates. Being part of this special season was very important to her.”
Minor stuck to her rehabilitation routine and made sure to inspire her teammates.
“We were a close-knit team,” Minor said. “I always wanted my teammates to know I would be there for them. It felt good to be back out there in scrimmages in January. I tried to inspire even when I wasn’t out there able to play. My teammates were down because of my injury and I was trying to pick them up.”
Road less traveled
Still, the road to recovery was never easy.
“It really means a lot to me to play next year,” Minor said. “I thank God every day for this opportunity. There were days when things were hard. There were days when I wasn’t sure I could continue and regain my form. But I stuck with it. My teammates encouraged me and I feel blessed that Northwest is giving me this opportunity.”
Minor took several visits to the Northwest campus and got to know coach Don Edwards and her future teammates on a personal basis.
“(Coach Edwards) really impressed me on my visit,” Minor said. “He talked non-stop about what I would mean to their program. I bonded with the girls. They talked about how I would become their new best friend. I just loved the family environment. They do everything together. They help each other when they are down. It was great.”
Williams knows the temperament of Minor and knows how well she will fit into this new family.
“When you have an injury early in your senior season it can sometimes close the window on the opportunity to play at a college,” Williams said. “Kayla is the kind of player that want shy away from any challenge. The great thing about Kayla is she did not start playing basketball until her ninth grade year. To see her growth in our program in a very short amount of time is rewarding.
“She will do well at Northwest because she has the heart and desire to always give it 110 percent.”
The Northwest women finished 19-7 this past season and advanced to the Region XXIII tournament. Meanwhile, the Starkville girls finished 25-5 with Minor returning for the last part of a 13-game win streak. The win streak included one win in Jackson before a loss to Horn Lake in the semifinal round of the state tournament.
Kelsey Jones played center for Starkville. Minor provided the perfect complement down low for a critical stretch of play.
“It was gratifying to see Kayla return to the lineup there towards the end of the season,” Williams said. “She meant so much to our program. It was important she was there when we made it to the Big House. Now she has a chance to move on and have some more special memories playing basketball.”
Follow Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott.
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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