Redus is All-State: Doniphan senior honored for play on the court

DONIPHAN — One local athlete went from not playing much basketball early in her career to becoming one of the best players in the state.

Senior Kenzie Redus added to the legacy of the Doniphan Donettes on Wednesday by being named a Missouri Class 4 All-State player, snapping an 18-year gap when Morgan Davis was the last Donette to receive the honor in 2006.

Though Redus had applied all the work and dedication to become an all-state player, she still couldn’t wrap her mind around the news.

“Whenever I found out, I was completely shocked,” Redus said. “I was super excited because it’s always been a dream, but I never really knew if I could get there. Being able to realize that it was real was super exciting. I give a lot of credit to everyone who helped me because it’s been a lot of hard work and consistency from my coaches pushing me and my teammates. Without them, I wouldn’t have gotten here.”

Redus averaged 18 points a game for her final season, six rebounds and two blocks. In addition to receiving honors with the all-state nod, Redus was named the Class 4 District 1 Player of the Year and was All-Conference in the Ozark Foothills Conference. The Donettes finished with a 25-0 record for the regular season and collected their fourth straight OFC championship.

Redus played a significant role in helping the Donettes flourish this season, and it showed as they were named the No. 1 team in Class 4 for most of the season. She said playing her final season with the Donettes was exciting. Redus said they didn’t get to a historic season by luck. It was by showing up, working hard every day and always finding a way to win all season.

Despite Redus’s career with the Donettes, it didn’t happen overnight. When she first stepped onto the court, she was shy, hardly spoke and was afraid of physicality. Throughout the years, Redus discovered her confidence and style of play, and the rest was history.

“My teammates and coaches really brought me out of my shell,” she said. “They taught me to love that part of the game with getting physical, which was one of my favorite things towards the end. I’ve tried to come out of my shell by being like a leader and encouraging my teammates and they have done the same for me.”

Players can only reach their full potential with someone to back them, and head coach Adam Epps was there for Redus every step of the way. She said Epps pushed her to another level and always held her accountable. Redus is grateful that she had Epps leading her and helping her become the player she knew she could be.

Epps said the legacy of Redus with the Donettes will be talked about for a long time. He said everything she had accomplished was a process, but he’s happy that she bought into the vision he saw for her.

“Kenzie showed up every day and was very coachable,” Epps said. “If you showed her something, Kenzie was the type to work and work until she got it right. She was just the model for consistency. Coaching her made me a better coach, and I can’t thank her enough. I have to credit her for playing through an injury that no one knew about. That takes guts, and it shows how committed she was to the Donettes. She’s always been here and just progressed the whole way through, and the best thing about Kenzie Redus is that she’s a better person than she is a basketball player.”

Redus will leave a tough legacy to follow, and she made sure when someone thinks of Donette basketball, they must include her.

Redus will close out her chapter with the Donettes with a 95-13 record, two district titles, four OFC titles, two state appearances, All-Conference, All-District, District Play of the Year and a three-year letterman. Redus career stats include 984 points, 507 rebounds, 83 assists, 93 steals and 77 blocks.

With a solid high school career, some expect Redus to take her game to the next level, but that will not be the case. Redus plans to attend Arkansas State University to pursue a degree in Communication Disorders and become a speech pathologist.

“I love basketball, but I love Donette basketball,” she said. “After my first year, I just decided that I wanted to focus on my education and will do that at ASU. I can’t wait.”

Despite the accolades Redus has received, the one thing she will miss the most is being a part of the Doniphan Donettes basketball team.

“I love my teammates,” Redus said. “Being around them is what I will miss the most. I love basketball, but being around a family and having someone I can always count on away from the game is what matters the most to me. I know that I’ll still be able to count on them, and I am grateful that I’ve had this team. It’s going to be different not being around them every day, and I will miss that like crazy. I’m going to miss having fun in the locker room and in practice. This team is a part of me, and I will cherish them forever.”