Jim Rohn said it best, “Whatever good things we build end up building us.” Coach Amor has built an incredible basketball program that has achieved much success over the past two years. The Lady Kings are back-to-back sectional champions and had two of the three winning seasons here at Cass. Coach Amor was asked how it felt to coach a back-to-back sectional championship team and said, “Winning back-to-back sectional titles was an incredible feeling. Last year, I felt like it was ours to lose. We had the best record, we had not lost to any team in the Sectional and I think everyone expected us to win. This year, three of the five other teams beat us earlier in the season. We were probably the underdog heading into the championship game. But the way we played, nobody was beating us that night. It was one of the best games I’ve seen us play all year. It’s a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team. Every season presents new challenges, and to come out on top again shows the growth and resilience of our players. I’m extremely proud of this group and the way they competed all year.”

Junior Lady King basketball guard, Anna Hedrick was asked how this season compared to last and said, “Compared to last season I felt that it was virtually the same and almost better in some ways. Last year it was amazing winning regionals and continuing to semi-state, but this year we accomplished other goals like winning the county tournament and the Carroll Holiday Tournament which we didn’t achieve last year.” Last year the Lady Kings were Regional champions but this year they fell short of earning the title. Coach Amor had this to say about the greatest challenges the regional brought the team, and he said, “There were several challenges heading into the Regional. First, weather cancellations really stunted our preparation. Wednesday and Thursday we were unable to come in and practice due to unsafe road conditions. We were dealing with some illness on the team as well. You add that to trying to get ready for one of the best teams in the state, we certainly had our hands full. There is a reason why Sheridan is 25-1. They showed it Saturday night.” The Lady Kings still fought hard but the final score was 23-60. Despite the incredible talent and work ethic, the Lady Kings show the season still came to an end.

Next season, the Lady Kings only have to fill one spot. Coach Amor was asked how he plans to fill in senior Mylie Sipe’s absence, he said, “Mylie was a key part of our team, and replacing a player like her is never easy. Her leadership, scoring ability, and defensive presence will definitely be missed. That said, I believe we have several players ready to step up. It won’t just be one person filling her role—it will be a collective effort. Our returners will take on more responsibility, and we’ll look for younger players to develop and contribute in bigger ways.” Most teams have to stress about replacing multiple seniors, but not the Lady Kings, they have four returning junior starters. Amor was asked how this would help the overall team’s success and said, “Having four returning starters is a huge advantage. Not only that, we return such a great supporting cast beyond those four. Having experience is so valuable, especially in high-pressure games. That leadership will be crucial as we bring in new contributors and continue to build on our success.”

All in all, good things will always come to an end. This end may have been challenging, but also rewarding to know the Lady Kings were able to overcome adversity, pressure, and the “odds” against them and play with true heart and dedication. Success is not over and the Lady Kings experienced starters and deep bench will allow them to continue down the road of success. The end of this season will help the Lady Kings yearn for success and it may just be the beginning of something historic.