Friday morning had the celebratory feel of a wedding for Columbus High School girls basketball coach Yvonne Hairston.
The tissues were the only item missing.
Thankfully, there were plenty of cameras and cell phones on hand to capture all of the moments for the signings of seniors Kayla Rogers and Rokila Wallace with Coahoma Community College and Meridian C.C.
“As a head coach, you’re excited anytime about moving your athletes to the next level,” Hairston said. “They’re going to contribute tremendously to the schools they have decided to go to. They are great student-athletes. They get it done in the classroom and also on the court.”
Columbus (23-6) lost to St. Martin 67-56 in the quarterfinals of the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A State tournament in Jackson. The run capped a season that saw Rogers, a 5-foot-11 post players, average 18 points and 10 rebounds and Wallace, a 5-6 guard, average 10 points, five steals, and three steals a game.
Cynthia Rogers said her daughter didn’t play much as an eighth-grader at Columbus Middle School in part because she was a thin 5-9. She admitted her daughter was discouraged by the lack of playing time, but she said Kayla hung in there, went to practice every day, worked hard at home, and persevered. She feels sitting on the bench motivated her and helped her realize the opportunity to sign Friday.
Kayla said she used the doubt of others as motivation when she went to work in the paint often against taller and bigger opponents.
“I did doubt (she would get a chance to play in college) because a lot of people doubted me because of my size, so that is why I figured I wasn’t going to get many offers,” Rogers said. “During the whole season, I worked hard the whole time regardless of people and their size because most post players were bigger than me. I kept all of the negativity out.”
Rogers said her hard work helped her make up for her lack of size down low. She said she is excited about the opportunity to play basketball on the college level and to be a part of the “family atmosphere” she experienced at Coahoma C.C. when she went on her visit.
Hairston feels Rogers’ experience and versatility in the paint and around the basket will give her the flexibility to play both forward positions in college. She believes Rogers’ perimeter game is good enough to play small forward and to draw power forwards away from the basket to create space. She credits Rogers for not letting initial disappointment stop her from working hard.
“She just got in there and knew what she needed to do to get it done,” Hairston said. “Sometimes the bench is the best teacher. You understand what you need to do to get it done to get out there out on the floor and to prove to people you can actually play in high school and also on the next level.”
Wallace said she has been waiting for a day like Friday for a long time. She said she is ready to show Meridian C.C. coach Jocelyn McGilberry, a longtime assistant coach in the Southeastern Conference, she is prepared to contribute.
“I put my heart into every game,” said Wallace, who credited Hairston for helping her believe anything was possible. “I played well on defense. I think that is what stood out most about all of my skills.”
Hairston said Wallace understood the expectations she faced following in footsteps of former Columbus High guards like Ki-Ki Patterson, Maggie Proffitt, and Daisha Williams. She said she didn’t disappoint as a senior.
“Rokila is very good on defense,” Hairston said. “She is very aggressive. She attacks the basket and can create shots off the dribble.
“She stayed in the gym and worked on her ballhandling and coming off the screens and shooting the shot. It made her a better player.”
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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