Sarah Kelley’s standout career at Houston ends with the highest individual honor in her sport.
Kelley was selected last week to the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association all-state team. She is one of only 20 female players to receive the honor in Class 3.
“I can’t think of anyone more deserving,” Lady Tigers coach Brent Kell said.
Kelley, a senior center, was the cornerstone for an HHS team that won the program’s second-ever district championship. She nearly averaged a double-double with team highs of 16.8 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. She also averaged 1.8 assists, 2.3 steals and 2.1 blocks.
Kelley posted those all-state caliber numbers despite dealing with injuries throughout the season. Kell knew his star player battled back pains, but he didn’t know until Monday night at the team banquet that she played one game this season after passing a kidney stone the previous night.
“She apparently told her parents, ‘I’m playing, I don’t care what happens,’” Kell said.
It was that commitment to her team, Kell said, that made Kelley a special player.
“She epitomizes what a team player is,” Kell said. “At times she might have been too unselfish just to make sure she got her teammates involved.”
Kell praised Kelley’s work ethic. He said she and assistant coach John Jordan spent countless hours in the gymnasium together.
He also said she was a strong leader for his program. Not because she scored 1,353 career points and was a three-year starter, but by her attitude and dedication.
“She is a great kid. I’m extremely happy for her,” Kell said. “You can’t ask for a better role model. I know we have kids that want to hang around her just because of who she is and what she represents.”