SHS Journalism submission: "the family legacy carries on"

Written by: Adalee Hobson

Photo by Abby Spaulding

Monday, the Lady Lions played Springs Valley. While the team suffered a hard-fought loss, freshman Kinsley Hollowell had a memorable night, coming out strong and breaking the school record for most 3-pointers in a season. This is a record most ball players work to obtain during their high school career. Hollowell reached it in her first season as a Lady Lion.

The girls have two games left in their season and many opportunities for Hollowell to continue improving that record. 

“Shooting is something I’ve always said you’re kinda born with,” head coach Wade Tomlinson said. “I think it’s a fine motor skill that you’re born with. The record she broke was held by Shaylee Brown and Natalie Noel – they’re all cousins. It’s a fine motor skill that definitely runs in that family!” 

Born into a family of shooters, Hollowell had the opportunity to replace her cousin's names, but keep the legacy going and she took it.

She was unaware she was so close to the record until days before the game. When she found out, she knew it was reachable. At the beginning of the season records were the last thing on her mind. She didn’t see herself breaking any as a freshman. 

Then during the girls first game of the season against Mitchell, Hollowell scored seven 3-pointers in one game. She was only one 3-pointer away from tying the record. It was then that she realized she was capable of breaking a school record. Although she got a different record than expected, she still thinks making the most 3-pointers  in a game is within reach.

Hollowell has been playing basketball for as long as she can remember. The one thing that has gotten her to where she is as an athlete is shooting with her dad.

 “The long hours with my dad in the gym have gotten me to where I am today as a basketball player,” she said. 

Although her dad has helped her on the court, she has always had one person she could run to off the court. 

“My mom is always the first one after a game to hug me and tell me good job,” she said. 

Being a freshman on varsity has been a change from middle school for Hollowell. Her middle school team finished their career with one loss. It’s been fun for her and she loves the competition. She soon realized varsity was tougher. She had to learn physicality and know it was going to be a competitive game every game. 

 Knowing that breaking the record for most 3-pointers in a game is achievable gives Hollowell inspiration moving forward. “Seeing my name up on the wall will give me more motivation to break my own record and potentially more,” Hollowell said.

Making an accomplishment like this shows her that she is capable of reaching her goals. Athletes have to have confidence in their sport, for Hollowell this gave her more shooting confidence in the game. 

When asked if she could describe that moment in one word, Hollowell said “rewarding, because it showed me all of my hard work paid off.”

She credited her teammates for having a special role in her getting this record. Hollowell described the play that allowed her to score the 3-pointer that she needed to break the record. She came down the court as her teammate junior Abby Hardy set a screen. When she came off the screen she wasn’t open so she passed it to senior Alexis Maudlin and soon went back to the top of the key where Maudlin passed her the ball. Hardy set another screen leaving her wide open. Hollowell felt that her form was off and the ball would fail to go in, but little did she know it would be a swish right to the record. 

Tomlinson called a time out just after the shot. 

“One reason she has had the opportunity to break the record is because of her teammates,” he said. “Her teammates have done a great job at finding her and getting her the ball.”

Tomlinson said Hollowell has worked very hard and put in the reps to be the athlete she is today. It is a hard adjustment from eighth grade to varsity basketball, but he said she has adjusted to it just fine. 

Tomlinson never expected a record to be broken from a freshman, but Hollowell worked hard for it. 

The Lady Lions have many shooters giving her the chance to shoot more 3-pointers and leaving constant shooters open. 

Her advice to other young athletes is “never give up on yourself, don’t feel discouraged and put in the hard work.” 

Hollowell is confident and ready for more 3-pointers to be attempted, pushing the record higher as the girls finish out their season.