Every successful team needs a player who sets the tone — and for Latta High School’s Kelbey Parnacher, that’s her role. The 5’3” senior point guard brings leadership, grit, and energy every time she steps on the floor. “When I step on the court as a point guard, my mindset is to lead through defense and teamwork,” Kelbey said. “I take pride in setting the tone on defense and bringing energy right away. On offense, I focus on finding my teammates and getting everyone involved. I’ll take the shot if it’s there, but I’m always looking to create opportunities for others and keep the team flowing.”
Kelbey’s commitment to her teammates runs deep. “My personal goal this season is to make sure every teammate feels involved in the offense and earn my teammates’ trust through consistency and effort,” she said. That mindset shows her maturity as both a player and a leader.
For Latta, this season has already been a learning experience. “It’s been up and down,” Kelbey admitted. “We’ve had some great practices where the energy is high and played as one unit, but there’ve been stretches where frustration and lack of focus hurts us. But we’re still learning as we go.” Despite the growing pains, Kelbey has seen progress.
Team goals are always a focus for Kelbey and her teammates. “A big team goal is to become one of the best defensive teams in our league,” she said. “We’ve been working on talking more on defense, rotating quicker, and making sure everyone’s locked in on every possession.”
She describes their biggest strength as their togetherness. “Our biggest strength right now is our chemistry. Everyone knows their role, we trust each other, and we move the ball really well. You can tell we enjoy playing together.”
When it comes to her legacy at Latta, Kelbey knows exactly how she wants to be remembered. “When I graduate, I want my legacy to be that I was a playmaker — someone everyone wanted on their team. I want people to remember how I made plays for others, worked hard on defense, and gave my all every time I stepped on the court.”
After high school, Kelbey plans to continue her basketball career in college while also pursuing nail technician school.
