PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Heaven Bailey makes an undeniable impact

Basketball has been part and parcel of Heaven Bailey’s identity since she was about two years old, when her father walked in and found her dribbling a basketball. From then on, Bailey and the game of basketball have been inseparable. 

“I played at a church league up in Florence,” Bailey said. “I started when I was like five, and I guess I started taking it really seriously around (when I was) seven or eight. Our rec team made it to the state championship, and we ended up losing. After I wore my jersey for a whole week. I wouldn’t take it off because I was so sad that we lost. From there on, I took basketball really seriously.”