By Chris Cox

Tescott senior Mallorie Church comes from a big sports family and says it was her mom, Kelsey, that got her involved with basketball and encouraged her to
keep playing.

“My mom was my coach until junior high,” she says. “She just encouraged sports for all of us kids and that’s what got me into it. I’ve just loved it ever since. She does not miss one of our games and is always there for us. She encourages us and gives great advice. She pushes us to be the best we
can be.”

Church says it’s the relationships that she loves about basketball.

“I just love the team aspect of it and being a part of a team,” she says. “As much as you can be an individual in basketball, it doesn’t help. I just love the team part of it.” 

While success on the court is great, Church says her motivation comes from seeing improvement in herself and her teammates.

“I want to be the best I can be and help other people be their best,” she says. “I love to see success in myself and other people. Just knowing that I’m improving, or my team is improving, makes me happy.”

Tescott has a small roster with only seven girls. As the only senior on the team, Church knows that means her team will follow her lead.

“My coach says I’m steering the car,” she says. “He always says I have the keys and that whichever way I lead our team; we will go. If I’m positive, then our team will be positive. He tells me the girls are looking up to me and how they pick up on how I handle situations.”

As a team, Church says their goals aren’t necessarily big picture goals as much as they are every day, every
game goals. 

“We haven’t talked too much about goals,” she says. “But I know that we’ve talked about with such few girls, not giving up and trying to get as many wins as possible.”

Outside of basketball, Church is a member of the Tescott volleyball and track teams. She is also a member of NHS, FFA, and StuCo. Following graduation, Church plans on attending cosmetology school.