By BOB REDD
Bluefield Daily Telegraph
BRUSHFORK — Miranda Kendrick is the little General that makes the team go. A four-year starter at Montcalm High School, Kendrick, though standing only 5’3, plays much bigger and has done everything on the court from running the point to grabbing rebounds in helping MHS to victories the past four seasons.
Last week in a pair of wins Kendrick again proved her versatility and importance to coach Jim McPherson’s team. Against Mercer Christian she scored 20 points, grabbed eight rebounds and had two assists and steals in a 59-32 win. In a 44-30 victory over Greater Beckley she had 17 points, eight boards and four steals.
For her performance Miranda Kendrick is the latest Pocahontas Coal Association/Bluefield Daily Telegraph girls player of the week.
Soft-spoken and quick to deflect attention from herself at a practice session Wednesday at the Deliverance Temple gymnasium, Kendrick spoke of the team winning those two games.
“I was happy (we won),” Kendrick said. “With it being my senior year I was really glad to bring it home for the rest of the ladies and get the win. It’s going to be upsetting for me to play my last game. Most of us have been together since middle school and it’s going to be hard leaving them all. We’re really close.”
McPherson knew Kendrick was special from the time she entered the program as a freshman.
“She’s a four-year starter for us and early in her career she basically played the point all the time, of course we had some other players her first year that played inside, but the last couple of year’s she’s had to move around quite a bit,” McPherson said. “She still plays the point quite a bit. We’ve moved Leslie (Kelley) up to that position sometimes to get Miranda in a position where she can score more.”
To say that Kendick is an important cog in Montcalm’s game is an understatement. McPherson said, “She’s a big part of everything we do. We move her around offensively and defensively in places where we get the most out of her and she helped us to two wins last week, which was a good thing.”
Kendrick began playing at a young age in the recreation leagues of Princeton and Bluefield, and that her father, Kevin, a former hoops player at Montcalm has been a motivating factor for her on the court. She also gives credit to her coach for helping her become a better player.
“He (McPherson) has pushed me, made me better, fussed at me a bunch and really pushed me to become a better basketball player,” Kendrick said.
McPherson has seen Kendrick grow since first taking to the court for MHS four seasons ago.
“She has definitely become smarter about the game,” McPherson noted. “The first year se was just thrust into the starting lineup. She has seen that she has to take in more of the load scoring wise and she has just continued to grow and progress throughout her career.”
Considered one of the primary leaders on the team, McPherson talked about her leadership skills.
“She leads a lot by example,” McPherson said. “She plays as hard as she can every second that she’s on the court. There will be times that she will get fired up at the other team, she’s got a little bit of temper on her. She leads by example and she helps motivate the other girls with her style of play.”
As for the future, Kendrick would like to play at the next level. She has been to several Bluefield State games and envisions herself as a member of the Lady Blues. At BSC she looks to major in computer engineering.

Player of Week Honorable Mention

(Jan. 22-28)
Bland County (1-1 during week): Kristin Dillow, 34 pts in 2 games (26 pts vs. Narrows); Julia Davis, 23 pts in 2 games; Alyssa Harris, 12 reb vs. Fort Chiswell
Bluefield (0-1): Shelia Hopkins, 14 pts vs. PikeView.
Council (0-1): Leann Hunt, 20 pts vs. Twin Valley; Adrianne Rasnake, 15 pts; Haley Stevens, 12 pts, 6 ast.
Giles (0-1): Marinna Dowdy, 9 pts vs. Glenvar; Karli Beechler, 9 pts.
Graham (1-2): Karly Morgan, 28 pts in 3 games; Emaleigh Gallinger, 15 pts vs. Galax; Bethany Evans, 10 reb vs. Virginia High; Ashley Moretto, 9 pts vs. Tazewell.
Haysi (1-0): Hannah Mondrage, 15 pts vs. Twin Valley; Montana Robinette, 10 pts.
Hurley (0-1): Kourtney Cook, 15 pts vs. Northwood; Adrianne Cline, 11 pts.
James Monroe (1-0): Carter Shiflet, 11 pts vs. Mount View; Jordan Page, 11 pts; Kelsie Mann, 8 pts.
Mercer Christian (0-1): Jamie Brown, 21 pts vs. Montcalm.
Montcalm (2-0): Leslie Kelley, 27 pts, 18 reb, 10 stls in 2 games (18 pts, 7 reb vs. Mercer Christian, 9 pts, 11 reb, 8 stls vs. Beckley Christian); Hannah Johnson, 18 pts in 2 games.
Mount View (0-2): Jordan Younger, 19 pts vs. River View; Gezelle Brown, 9 pts vs. James Monroe.
Narrows (0-1): Tiffany Perdue, 18 pts vs. Bland County.
PikeView (2-0): Hope Nester, 37 points in 2 games (19 pts, 8 reb vs. Bluefield); Lyndsey Hatfield, 26 pts in 2 games (18 pts vs. Summers County); Madison May, 7 pts, 13 reb vs. Bluefield.
Princeton (2-0): McKenzie Akers, 52 pts in games (30 pts, 14-15 FT vs. Riverside); Marissa Mullins, 18 pts in 2 games; Ashley Culicerto, 11 pts vs. Riverside.
Richlands (1-0): Cassidy Richardson, 19 pts, 9 ast vs. Marion; Brittany Allen, 12 pts; MaKenley Davis, 10 pts; Rachel Alley, 11 reb.
River View (1-0): Phyllis Waldron, 16 pts vs. Mount View.
Summers County (0-2): Avery Pivont, 38 pts in 2 games; Tyra Wynes, 19 pts in 2 games; Shelby Smith, 10 pts vs. Princeton.
Tazewell (1-0): Taylor Catron, 17 pts vs. Graham; Kate Snapp, 10 pts.
Twin Valley (1-1): Katelyn Jackson, 50 pts in 2 games (34 pts vs. Council); Kara Goodman, 26 pts in 2 games (18 pts, 11 reb vs. Council); Brandi Rose, 11 pts, 10 asts vs. Council.
Editor’s Note: Statistics are taken from games reported to the Daily Telegraph. Coaches are urged to make recommendations for the award. There are just two girls winners remaining this season.

2012-13 Girls Winners

Week 1: Emaleigh Gallinger, Graham
Week 2: Taylor Catron, Tazewell
Week 3: McKenzie Akers, Princeton
Week 4: Shelia Hopkins, Bluefield
Week 5: Chelsea Dobbs, River View
Week 6: Brittany Allen, Richlands
Week 7: Lyndsay Hatfield, PikeView
Week 8: Kelsie Mann, James Monroe
Week 9: Miranda Kendrick, Montcalm