The journey to the Class 2A state championship game was a defining moment for Lexis Vicars and her Hartshorne teammates. It was the culmination of months of dedication, sacrifice, and trust in one another. “It was so surreal, knowing how hard me, my girls, and my coaches worked from start to finish,” Vicars said. “It all made sense as to why we were there. We knew in the beginning where we could be if we gave it our all.”
Hartshorne’s road to the state tournament wasn’t without challenges. The team had to navigate changes, adversity, and moments of uncertainty. “Many know and have heard about the adversities all of us have faced, from last year, previous schools, and just hard times in general,” she shared. “This season, to me, one of the biggest challenges was overcoming ‘the new.’ We all had to figure out if we were going to connect and bond as a team or if we weren’t, and at the end of the day, we all overcame everything and became closer than ever, with the same goals in mind.”
When the team secured its spot in the championship game, the feeling was indescribable. “My favorite moment at the state tournament was the final win that took us to the championship,” Vicars said. “We were ecstatic; we were full of joy and happiness for one another, and there was nothing that could take away from that moment.”
For Vicars, representing Hartshorne on such a grand stage meant everything. “Being able to represent Hartshorne every second of every game is what I lived for,” she said. “Seeing so many people proud of us even after the loss is the reason I chose to play this game and why I chose Hartshorne. The Miner Nation is truly different.”
The lessons she gained from this experience will stay with her far beyond basketball. “When you get to the state tournament, all of the teams are great, and anybody can beat anybody,” she said. “But who’s going to really push to the finish and never give up? That’s what I’ll carry forward—do everything with a purpose and never slack, because there’s always someone around wanting whatever it is in your life more than you. Never stop working to be better.”
Photo by Priscilla Kirkes
