***Itzel Mosso Ramos is a participant of The Kewanee Voice Student Journalism Program, funded by the Harry Anderson Memorial Trust.
The Boiler Girls hosted their annual senior night on Monday, Feb. 10, while facing down the Mendota Lady Trojans. Kewanee took the win 58-34.
The Boiler Girls had a great defense and took control of numerous rebounds. Though sophomore Demaris Diaz could not join the game due to injuries, she still enthusiastically supported her teammates from the bench, cheering and rooting the Boiler Girls on.
Sophomore Bailey VanWinkle led the pack with 20 points, and right behind her, senior Mya Dearing scored 19 points, 12 of which came from three-pointers.
Other scorers for the varsity Boiler Girls included:
Stardeja Jordan – 2 points.
Tejhiana Amos – 2 points.
Kieryn Abernathy – 3 points.
Addy Yespen – 8 points.
Audrey Clucas – 2 points.
Seniors Amos, Jordan and Dearing were interviewed by Russ Hughes after the game. The trio discussed their future plans and looked back on their time at KHS.
Amos expressed her interest in studying cosmetology at Educators of Beauty in Sterling. Jordan and Dearing both plan to join the medical field. Jordan intends to study sonography at Sauk Valley Community College in Dixon.
Dearing is looking forward to continuing her basketball career after graduation while working to become a nuclear medicine technologist.
Both Jordan and Dearing stressed how much they gained from and appreciated the community they found at Kewanee High School.
“The community is always unique. It might not be big, but it is big enough for me. My favorite part of being on the team has been the pregame talks with my closest teammates. We like to have fun and hype up before the game,” Jordan said.
For Dearing, “the people and the support that comes with it” meant the most to her as a Boilermaker.
“When you enter basketball, the community has your back,” Dearing concluded.
