Championship rings bring smiles

After winning the Class 2A basketball state championship a little more than two months ago, the Lady Foxes finally received their championship rings during the final day of school this past Friday.

The ring’s design was kept a secret. Before the presentation, Head Coach Leon Sturkey shared a few words with the squad on what they accomplished and what it took to earn the school’s first girls basketball title in more than a half century.

“Every year we improved … it was a lot of hard work for everybody,” he said, adding the second time will be a lot harder than the first time. Defending the state championship is the new mission for his team.

“It’s going to be hard, but we have the talent to be able to go back. We just have to eliminate doing crazy stuff in school and make sure we stay eligible,” Sturkey said to his team. Sturkey said it was an outstanding opportunity for his team to recognize how their efforts can be rewarded. 

Athletic director Tim Perkins, assistant principal Ernie Walters, assistant coaches Donnie Howard-Watts and Eric Favor were on hand to congratulate the squad as well. Watts and Favor also received their very own championship rings.

“I hope we can maintain our focus and stay ready for next year because the opportunity to go back is there,” Sturkey said, adding the potential remains. “We’ve been blessed up until this point to have some success,” he said.

“It took forever for them to come but now that I have it, I feel like a champ,” junior point guard Jessica Grant said. Senior shooting guard Shaquita Taylor, holding onto her All-State award said it was a good feeling to be presented with a championship ring.
 
Lady Foxes Coaches Donnie Howard-Watts and Leon Sturkey are thrilled about their team’s future and championship run this past season. Watts led the junior varsity squad to a second consecutive region championship and undefeated season, while Sturkey and his squad finished as the top team in the state in Class 2A.