Senior wishes Lady Diamonds played some games during Christmas Break
When the Sallisaw Lady Diamonds entertained the Heavener Lady Wolves on Tuesday night at Paul Post Field House, it was the first game for the team since Dec. 18 at Stigler. Senior player Hannah Palmer wishes the team had played a game or two during Christmas Break.
“It was a little disappointing, especially like we got a five-day break (during Christmas from basketball operations),” Palmer said. “Our team is only able to take two days off before we’re dying. So, it’s one day max for rest.”
The Lady Diamonds entered Tuesday night’s home game with Heavener on a four-game winning streak since losing their second and third games of the season — a road game Dec. 9 at Keys and the first game of the First United Bank Tournament at Bethel High School near Shawnee to Pauls Valley on Dec. 11. Palmer believes the Lady Diamonds learned something from those two defeats.
“It’s made us a lot stronger physically and mentally overall,” said Palmer, who was named by “VYPE” Magazine as one of the top 100 high school girls basketball players to watch in the state. “Keys is really solid. This was our first-ever year playing Keys. The loss opened up our eyes. This four-game winning streak is nice. Hopefully, we can keep it going.”
On Dec. 17, Palmer cemented her future basketball plans by signing with Southern Arkansas College, located in El Dorado, Ark. While Palmer didn’t believe pondering her choices of which school to sign a letter of intent with to fulfill her dream of playing college basketball impacted her play on the court, she said now that it’s all finalized she can just concentrate full time on her final season of high school basketball.
“I’m pretty confident here at Sallisaw and at El Dorado (Southern Arkansas College) because I’ve practiced with the team there,” she said. “I think this (process) has made me even more stronger. It makes me more excited to go play (basketball). It (getting the college decision out of the way) definitely makes me want to play harder because it’s my senior year. It’s even going to be more exciting that I will get to go play (college basketball) after.”
While the Lady Diamonds only practiced and scrimmaged over Christmas Break, one thing that did happen to Palmer during that time was realizing her high school basketball career is winding down.
“It all kind of hit me over the Christmas Break,” Palmer said. “My senior year is flying by. It’s sad — it’s very sad. It’s so sad because I really do like playing basketball. I’m just very fortunate that I’m going to get to play (college basketball) after (graduation). I know there are some other girls who really love to play that are not going to play (college basketball).”
This week will mark the second straight season the Lady Diamonds have played in the Henryetta Knights Tournament after decades playing in the Sequoyah County Tournament. Last year, the Lady Diamonds finished third in the Henryetta Tournament, which was one of four regularseason and postseason tournaments in which the Lady Diamonds brought home some tournament hardware. Palmer believes the team cannot only repeat the feat of bringing home a plaque but win the tournament — which would mean the team’s winning streak will have reached eight games.
“I think we can definitely do it,” she said. “We can definitely be tournament champions.”
Palmer is not disappointed the Lady Diamonds dropped out of the SCT two seasons ago.
“I don’t like the county tournament personally,” the Sallisaw senior said. “It’s not my favorite.”
The main thing is Palmer is enjoying every minute during her final basketball season as a Lady Diamond.
“I’m having a lot of fun,” she said. “Every practice, every game and every tournament we do is fun.”
