Perhaps no Russell County basketball senior has been through the hardship that Lady Laker guard Kim Pierce has undergone in the past year.

Pierce, one of the Lady Lakers' perimeter threats, injured her left knee and had to have surgery near the midway point last season and then had to recover from the serious injury before resuming play her final year.

But through rigorous rehabilitation and a desire to compete, this senior leader has found a niche on this season's squad and even hit the game-winning shot on senior night over Adair County.

“It has been challenging,” she said of her time as a Lady Laker. “We've cried together, we've laughed together, and it has just been fun overall.”

She said the team has been closer this year than in previous seasons.

“We do a lot more together and everyone gets along real well,” she said.

Pierce says her biggest memory at this point in her career is going to play Barren County at E.A. Diddle Arena in Bowling Green during 4th region tournament play.

Although Russell County fell to the Lady Trojans in the opening round, the appearance at region helped to lay the groundwork for consecutive winning seasons the past two years.

“Everybody had an adrenaline rush,” she said of the game in Diddle.

“We were just all excited because it was the first time we had been there.”

Pierce also said Coach Craig Pippen had not only helped her with the game of basketball but also outside the gym.

“He's there outside of basketball for you,” she said. “He is someone you can go talk to if you need to and he's been a role model for the whole team.”

Pierce, who began playing the game at age five, also gave thanks to her parents, Ross and Lisa Russell, for allowing her to play the game.

“When I couldn't drive they would take me to all the games,” she said. “They come to the games and help out with the selling of the concessions and all that.”

When the season does finally come to a close, Pierce said she would miss playing the games, her coaches and her teammates. But the younger Lady Lakers can learn something from Kim Pierce.

Don't give up on something you love to do, even if there are some barriers in your way.