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ONE LAST BUCKET: Neosho’s Brylee King has memorable Senior Night 

By:
Jason Peake

If you examine the scorebook from Monday’s girls basketball game between Neosho and Seneca, you’ll notice that Wildcats senior guard Brylee King recorded a field goal during the first quarter.

While some might assume the two points were rather insignificant in Neosho’s 52-47 non-conference victory inside the NHS Gymnasium, King’s lone hoop of the night was actually quite noteworthy and meaningful.

A multi-year varsity performer and team captain, King is unable to compete this season as she rehabs a knee injury, so Monday’s appearance on the court was arranged by the coaches and players of both squads. 

“My senior year was taken away from me, so it was nice to have one last moment as a senior,” King said. “I want to thank Seneca for allowing that to happen. And I also have to thank my coaches and our administration for letting me have that one moment.” 

Before the team’s home opener, King and her classmates Olivia Hixson, Michelle Lindsey and Avery Renfro were recognized with their parents for their contributions to the program. 

Wearing her school’s home white uniform, King was announced as part of the starting lineup. And while the other nine players on the court settled near center court for the jump ball, King made her way toward her team’s basket. 

Neosho allowed Seneca to win the opening tip and Indians guard Aliya Grotjohn made an uncontested layup. 

Neosho then brought the ball up the floor and Hixson passed up ahead to King, who caught the ball just outside of the lane on the right side of the court. With a large brace on her left knee, and with the Seneca defense backing off, King took two dribbles and banked in a layup. 

She received a nice ovation from the home fans after scoring her team’s first points of the night. 

The game was then stopped, and King received a hug on the court from Hixson. King then exited the court, getting a hug from sub Rain Harris and a handshake and a pat on the back from Wildcats coach Ryan Madison before she took her spot on the bench for the remainder of the contest. 

It was a heartwarming moment for King, her parents Josh and Angela, and the entire Neosho fanbase in attendance.

“It was amazing,” King said. “That’s really the best way I can describe it. I’m blessed with great teammates and coaches that have allowed me to do that. It was just an amazing feeling.”

King’s athletic career was cut short when she suffered a severe knee injury during the volleyball season.  

“We were playing in the semifinals at the Cabool Tournament,” King recalled. “I went up for a hit and I came down on one leg. I tore my ACL and my meniscus. I had surgery three weeks later and now I’m still recovering.” 

The knee injury not only cost King the remainder of her senior year of volleyball, but also wiped out her final season of basketball, as well. 

King was the team’s second leading scorer of the 2019-20 season behind Hixson. She hit five 3-pointers in a game last season, and had high hopes for her final prep campaign on the hardwood before it was ripped away by the injury. 

That’s why Monday’s Senior Night moment was so memorable for King, her family and teammates. King plans to remain with the squad for the winter, and she hopes to be more than a cheerleader. 

King, who plans on attending Freed-Hardeman University in Tennessee after graduation, said she wants to provide support and guidance to the program’s younger players this winter. 

“I’m happy to spend this season with my teammates,” she said. “I’m still the captain of the team. My role is to teach and help the younger girls. I’m going to really encourage my teammates.” 

Monday’s tightly-contested game went down to the wire, but the Wildcats pulled out a close win to improve to 2-0. 

And during the week of Thanksgiving, King noted she was thankful for the opportunity to hit the court one final time in a Neosho uniform.

Recording one last bucket on Senior Night was an added bonus. 

“It was great,” King said. “I’ve played with Olivia since we were in third grade. It was really nice that she got to pass me the ball and I was able to go up and score. I’m just really happy that I got to do that. It felt amazing to touch the ball one last time. I got two points for the season and I’m happy.”

Brylee King and her parents, Angela and Josh King, are pictured during Neosho’s Senior Night festivities on Monday night at NHS. Photo courtesy of Neosho High School.

 

WATCH HERE: Video footage of Brylee King’s special Senior Night can be viewed here:

Neosho High School – Portal (stretchinternet.com)

 

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