Kennett Lady Indian frosh phenom rips 645

KENNETT, Mo. - The Lady Indians varsity basketball program features three sisters.

All are freshmen.

All are athletic.

One shattered a near 30-year title for points scored by a freshman in a single season.

Alyce Edwards, a cute, tiny, soft-spoken wisp of a girl, nuked Kennett great Brandi Jackson's 1994 record of 448 by nearly 200 points when Edwards dropped 645 this season.

Barring unforseens, Alyce is on clip to lay waste to yet another of Jackson's achievements as Edwards approaches Jackson's 1996 record of 862 total points in a season.

“I just play the game,” a demure Edwards said during a recent interview at her family's Kennett home. “I just like playing.”

Alyce answers “yeah” and “no” quite a bit, single-word responses during conversations.

Not afraid to drive layups close inside?

“No,” she responds.

Not afraid to shoot threes from far outside?

“No,” she grins.

It's nearly a giggle now.

No fear at the foul line?

“No.”

That response is assisted by a sly smile that gives way to a blush, an eyeroll, then a stifled laugh through freshly-installed braces.

When she actually does peer from her shyness to offer more than a word or two, there's a perceivable gleam in her eyes.

Is there anything on the court you fear?

“Not really,” and now it's a wide-eyed, this-is-embarassing cover-her-mouth laugh.

She's practiced this sport since she toddled around the house, her family emphasized.

And this season, Alyce Edwards proved her mettle.

She and her sisters BrookLynn and Alaina inhabit a home with 10 other family members, including a dedicated step-mother, a father/coach who's committed to encouraging his daughters' skills, and a universally-shared passion for sports.

Alando Edwards and his daughter Alyce at their Kennett home. Photo by Steve Hankins

Alando Edwards, 38, a 2005 Kennett High School graduate, coached players for many years, still does, and his trio of daughter-athletes profited by his teaching since they were knee-high.

“When she was a toddler, Alyce took off dribbling,” the proud dad said. “When other kids couldn't dribble with two hands, she was passing the ball between both hands dribbling.

“As she got older there was some stuff she was doing that was far advanced for kids her age,” he added. “I thought, 'I'm gonna try to push this on her a little harder.' That's how we got here. I still push her.”

Since when?

“Since she was in what, about third grade?” Alando asks step-mom Ashley Edwards.

“Before that,” she answers.

It's a daily commitment.

“Everybody asks us how we do it with a family this size,” she continued. “It takes cooperation, love and patience. Time and patience. And more patience.”

Officially, Alyce said she started her basketball odyssey at Kennett.

“In seventh grade,” she said. “Middle school.

“It was fun,” she added. “I liked playing with the girls.”

Her small stature didn't matter. That might be her secret weapon.

“Alyce is a natural athlete,” Alando said. “Alyce didn't become a player.

“She's a natural,” he added. “Between the other two, they work harder to accomplish the things Alyce does in the moment. And you'd think as sisters competing, they'd be after each other. They aren't. They hold each other up. They know when it's time to score a bucket, give the ball to Alyce.”

And Alyce's skills come with some amount of suffering for her game, Alando said.

“After games on the ride home, I give them little pep talks, you know?” he says. “Try to advise them on what they did wrong and what they did right to make them better ball players.

Kennett Lady Indian Alyce Edwards at the glass.Photo by Chris Wheeler Photography

“She'll come home and disappear into her room,” he continued. “We're like, 'What is she doing in there?'”

She's sequestered from outside influences. She's studying.

“Watching game films,” Ashley said. “She'll disappoint herself, go in her room and watch games back-to-back.”

Disappointed? Alyce recalled one game against rival Senath-Hornersville.

“I had some good clearance and scored 30 points,” Alyce said. “But I watch my games to see how I can improve.

“I like to work on crossovers right now,” she added. “It works on a lot of people and I can get by them fast. I just work at it until I think I'm good enough at it to add to my game.”

Speed is just one arrow in Alyce's hoops quiver. She runs a 13.06 100-meter dash.

“The biggest thing with Alyce is she always has to play up,” Alando remarked. “Last year we played up to ninth-grade level.

“This year she's in ninth grade and playing at varsity level,” he added. “I think that had a lot to do with her success so far. She plays better talent.”

Any sports heroes?

“She was all about Steph Curry,” Alando said. “She was stuck on Curry for years.”

Which might have inspired Alyce to play fiercely.

She practices “a couple of dribble moves,” and “I shoot layups“ all the time, she said.

“I wake up go to school come home and relax,” she said of her average day. “Do homework.”

Her GPA is in the high threes, approaching four.

“I practice every day outside,” she admitted. “I just go outside and play a couple minutes at a time.”

Kennett Lady Indian Alyce Edwards drives against Senath-Hornersville defenders. Edwards was top gun with 30 points.Photo by Christian Johnson, Delta Dunklin Democrat

She wants to go to college and play at the next level, Alando said.

“Had a couple colleges interested already,” he explained. “But colleges really start shopping at 11th grade.”

Alyce favors LSU, she said.

“I tell my daughters all the time they're going to get a state title before they graduate,” Alando noted. “My goal with them is push them hard to their limits so their skills and athletic abilities increase and they bring home a state championship.

“Ive not really found anybody else with the kind of talent Alyce has,” he added. “I've coached some very good girls. But not at the level she's at.”

Kennett Lady Indians head Coach Erika Cobb is a favored mentor, Alyce said.

“She's a good coach,” Alyce said. “I like her.

“She stresses what my dad teaches me and he does the same,” she added.

Alando agreed.

“It's crazy because Coach Cobb, we can tell by the way she works with kids, that she loves the game,” he said. “Before she came to varsity she worked with 10th graders.

“I knew then she was gonna be a good coach by the way she taught and by the way the kids responded,” he continued. “We trust her with our girls. They know they have the best of both worlds.”

And in coming months, Alyce, her sisters and her coaches, including Alando, will be busy.

This summer I'm gonna push a little harder,” Alando said. “By the middle of next season she should have 1,000 points.

“The record I think is 2,500,” he continued. “I think she can hit that with no problem.”

Alyce thinks so, too.

“Why not?” she asked.

Why not indeed.