The Sweet Home High School girls basketball team named sophomore Natalie Rodgers Most Valuable Player during its annual awards dessert held March 4.
Coach Michelle Knight applauded the strides her team made this season, noting that the Huskies had not won a league game in 10 years.
Though the Huskies didn’t again this year, “it’s coming,” Knight said. She singled out the seniors for helping lay the groundwork “for what’s coming.”
The Huskies had a lot of “little victories” in practice, he said. While the players may not see them, the coaching staff could.
“I know this year was tough,” said senior and team captain Kennedi Waldrop. She thanked the coaching staff: “You all saw improvement.”
And she thanked her teammates: “You guys worked hard all the way to the end.”
Knight presented the team awards. Winners were selected by a team vote.
The Hustle Award went to senior Kate Hawken, recognizing her constant hustle, especially on defense.
Most Improved went to senior Christina Belcher.
Most Inspirational was “pretty unanimous” and went to Waldrop, who lifted everybody up and gave great pep talks, Knight said. She was encouraging and positive.
Presenting the MVP award, Knight said, “without this person, we literally could not have gotten the ball across the half court.”
Earning their first letters were freshmen Adaira Burger and Emily Pace; sophomores Natalie Rodgers and Becky Belcher; junior Hannah Powell; and seniors Kate Hawken, Rimi Kanaya and Christina Belcher.
Earning their third letters were seniors Anna Coleman and Kennedi Waldrop.