Heading into 2022-23 season, Quitman High School senior Bethany Leach had a plan. She was going to lead QHS to another successful basketball season and then sign with a school to compete collegiately.
It seemed reasonable. After all, the daughter of Leticia and QHS girls basketball coach Kyle Leach, was coming off being named first team all district for the third consecutive year.
Sometimes things just don’t work out as hoped for.
Leach lost a month of play, first to a shoulder injury, then mono. Working diligently, she managed to come back for a few final games, playing on sheer will and determination but what was hoped to be the “dream” season was lost. During the summer, more bad news fell as it was learned her labrum was torn in her shoulder. She had surgery to repair that in December & is currently in therapy.
After high school graduation, Leach enrolled at Louisiana Tech and even though it looked like her playing career was over, the love of the game was still strong in her. Wanting to be around the sport, she became a manager for the Lady Techsters, hoping that this would take the pain away from not getting a chance to pursue her dream.
It didn’t work.
Instead of helping matters, it made it worse as the desire to play grew stronger and stronger. It got to the point that Leach knew she had to pursue playing again and after much prayer and consultation with family members she started putting out feelers to see if anyone would be interested.
She got several responses and the family made visits to a few schools, but one stood out above all and on Monday, April 1st, Leach signed to play basketball for Centenary College in Shreveport. NO FOOLING!
Congratulations to Bethany for getting the opportunity to pursue her dream and for having the courage to stay with it through all the setbacks. You can take the girls out of the game, but you can’t take the game out of the girl!