Lady Dawg trio inks collegiate deals

By TJ MAXWELL

Cove Leader-Press

 

To cap off a stellar day of student-athletes fulfilling their goals, a trio of Lady Dawgs got the chance to further their athletic careers and continue their education at the collegiate level. Keturah Taylor and Dasiha Hunter signed to play collegiate basketball while Ali McBride will play soccer at the next level.

 

For best friends and basketball standouts Taylor and Hunter it was a bittersweet event. The two friends that were inseparable over the past six years will now be separated, as the two will be on opposite ends of Interstate 20.

 

“It’s bittersweet for me because we’re not going to be playing together anymore and I’m going to miss her,” said Hunter. “It’s heartbreaking that we have to leave each other but we’re going to go off and do big things at these colleges.”

 

Taylor is just glad she was able to share the moment with her friend.

 

“She’s actually my teammate and my best friend so it’s a really big deal for me,” she said. “It’s something we can look back on years from now. It is exciting to know that she’s pursuing basketball just like I am and we may be able to talk and discuss how we’re doing in basketball.”

 

Hunter will play for Cisco Junior College near Abilene while Taylor will go east to play at Jarvis Christian University in Hawkins. 

 

Hunter decided on West Texas for more than just basketball. It was a chance for a new start.

 

“It’s out there so I can get a new start to my life and experience something new,” she said. “It’s in a small town in the country and I’m not used to that so it will be great to experience something new.

 

“It’s also exciting to play with people with different playing styles and the coach seems really nice. I’m excited to play for her.”

Hunter will give the Wranglers a presence in the post; something they are in need of.

 

“Coach likes that I can get rebounds,” she said. “They didn’t have a lot of post players last year so she said she really needed me to get rebounds.”

 

Expecting to make an instant impact on the team, Hunter wants to stay ready.

 

“I’m working out with my AAU team,” she said. “I won’t take any breaks over the summer because I need to be ready for that challenge.”

 

For Taylor, it was about playing time. She had opportunities elsewhere but wasn’t sure how much she would see the court. She knew she could compete for a staring spot right away at Jarvis.

 

“I’m excited and relieved,” she said. “It’s a school I can start off at and actually get some playing time and not sit the bench. It’s somewhere I can build and that’s good for me. I can shoot but I can also handle the ball so they like that I’m a combo guard.”

 

Although head coach Eldridge McAdams wishes he could find a loophole to keep them another year, he’s excited for their future.

 

“We’re excited for Lady Dawgs Basketball and we’re excited for these two,” he said. “I got selfish because I wished I could have them both one more time because I could see them getting better. They haven’t even tapped into their talent. I know they will represent well.”

 

McBride has the furthest journey of all 11 signees. The soccer standout will play for Bethany College in Landsborg, Kansas.

 

“It feels really good but nerve-wracking as well,” she said. “It’s a small town in Kansas and out in the middle of nowhere so who knows what’s going to happen. My closest family lives in Texas. It’s nerve-wracking but, since it’s a small town, everybody knows everybody and has each other’s backs so I know I’ll be taken care of.”

 

McBride was a little behind in the recruiting process but eventually found a home in Kansas.

 

“It was hard for me because I started at the end of my junior year,” she said. “Once I got into the momentum, it got easier over the year.”

 

McBride had a choice to practice on her own or continue to practice with her Cove teammates to get prepared for the next level and she chose the latter.

 

“You do whatever you can,” she said. “I had a choice of early release or to keep practicing with the girls. I chose to keep practicing so I could keep up my stamina and keep up my skills and hopefully get a little better.”

 

McBride finishes her career as one of the most decorated female soccer players to come through Cove and head coach Pat Rox saw it from the word go.

 

“From her first moments on the field, it was clear that Ali was something special,” he said.

 

But as great of a soccer player as she was, Rox will miss the person more.

 

“As much as we’re going to miss Ali the player, we’re also going to miss Ali the person. Ali is truly a kind-hearted person with a heart of gold.”

 

McBride just hopes her time in Cove has inspired future soccer players.

 

“The things I’ve accomplished hopefully have an impact and leave a legacy and inspiration for the other girls so they can do great things.” she said.