Team Preview
Written by: Brandon McIntosh
Last season, the Deary Mustangs had a great ride and qualified for the State tournament. It all began with a do or die game against Kendrick at District. Deary found themselves trailing late in the fourth and found a way to come back and defeat Kendrick to gain entry into the State tournament.
The difficult part for the Mustangs was their leader, Kendra Keen. After winning and qualifying, the Mustangs and Coach Keen were ready for the trip. One problem. Coach Keen was nine months pregnant and was due at the end of the State Tournament. She was forced to remain at home as her team made their way to State and fell in the first two games at State.
“Nothing is more difficult to have a team work that hard, fight to end, and then not being there for them at State,” says Coach Keen. “Upon their return home, I met the bus and gave every kid a hug and told them I was proud of them.”
This year, Keen is poised to do battle and take her team to Boise, behind the leadership of guard Bailee Swanson and post Shelby Anderson. Deary looks to battle Nezperce for the league title but must not overlook the on-coming rush from Kendrick, Highland, and Logos.
Deary is relatively young, but under the direction of Keen, the Mustangs should be successful in finding a way to be there in the end. The road won’t be easy and will be full off twists, turns, and surprises. Keen understands that. Neither was last year. Deary will need to grow and find a way to be there at the end.
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