The West Prairie Press

By Brecken Smith

West Prairie High School honored its senior girls basketball players Feb. 12 as the Cyclones faced Lewistown on Senior Night. West Prairie fell 53-25, but the evening centered less on the final score and more on celebrating the careers and memories of seniors Melodee Ford, Madelyn Sullivan and Maicyn Shipman.

For Shipman, who has played basketball for 14 years as both a forward and a guard, the night marked the end of a long journey on the court.

Her favorite high school memory came during a lighthearted practice moment.

“Coach Grant Bland played 5-on-5 with the team and tripped over my foot,” Shipman said. “He fell flat on his face and then got right back up and acted like nothing happened.”

Shipman said the reality of being finished with basketball still feels strange.

“It feels weird to be completely done with basketball,” she said. “I feel like I’m just going to come back to practice next year, but I can’t, and that’s the hard part. Coach Bland has been with us for eight years, between being our junior high P.E. teacher and now our high school coach. I’ve seen the worst and the best of the girls basketball program.”

She reflected on having just six players her sophomore year, which forced the team to forfeit regular games, and contrasted it with this season’s success.

“The best has been this year, making history for our program,” Shipman said. “It feels sad to be done, but I can’t wait to come back and see the program grow.”

Her advice to younger players: “Four years go by fast, so don’t take anything for granted. Work hard, don’t give up and cherish every moment you have. Respect your coaches, teammates and refs, and most importantly, be confident and coachable.”

Ford, who has played four years at the varsity level as both a guard and a post player, said her favorite memories include hitting a 3-pointer against Bushnell-Prairie City and the team’s locker room jam sessions.

“It feels weird that my senior year of basketball is already over because it went by so fast,” Ford said.

Sullivan, a point guard who has played since she was 5 years old, highlighted reaching a major milestone as her favorite memory.

“My favorite high school basketball memory was getting my 1,000th career point in the regional championship game and having the entire crowd cheering for me,” Sullivan said. “That was an amazing accomplishment that I’ve been working toward.”

Sullivan encouraged younger athletes to stay committed to improvement.

“My advice to younger players would be to practice how you play, watch as much film as you can and cherish your time in the gym with your best friends,” she said. “For girls wanting to join the upcoming season, put in just as much work as the others. Your role may be small as a new player, but your role matters by making your teammates better.”

While the final score did not fall in West Prairie’s favor, Senior Night served as a celebration of dedication, growth and the lasting impact these three athletes leave on the program.