Central Baptist College Women’s Basketball
Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something! – Emma Kate McBride
That was what McBride wrote in her bio when she was recognized by the Jackson Parish Sports Hall of Fame as the 2023 Female Athlete of the Year from Weston High School.
It was more than some catchy-sounding cliche that the vicacious scholar athlete wrote. It was a deeply ingrained belief that she had always lived by and still carries in her spirit today.
That is one of the reasons that the junior at Central Baptist College in Arkansas is now believed to be the first female in Jackson Parish history to compete in two collegiate sports in the same year, being a member of the CBC Lady Mustang basketball and golf teams.
Ever since transferring from South Arkansas Community College, where the 5’6″ guard was an integral member and inspirational leader of the women’s basketball program for two years, McBride has been doing “double duty” this fall.
If you wanted to find her you had to catch up with her on the golf course during the day or on the basketball court in the evenings, as she prepared for the two seasons at the same time, with the fall portion of the golf schedule ending on October 14th and the basketball season beginning on October 23rd. After the long winter basketball season, in the spring of 2026, she will once again pick up her clubs for the golf spring schedule.
All the while, McBride has been maintaining her scholar athlete status as an All-Academic team member with an outstanding 3.7 GPA while working toward a degree in exercise science, which she plans on being the springboard to a career in physical therapy when she graduates.
How does someone find the strength and resolution to be able to stay true to the commitment to do all this? For McBride, the answer comes from Chapter 8, Verse 31, of the book of Romans in the Bible.
“If God is for us, who can be against us?”
By definition, the verse provides assurance of God’s support and protection, particularly for Christians facing hardship, by emphasizing that with God on their side, no opposing force can ultimately succeed.
She has also benefited from a tremendous family support system that she grew up with and continues to receive the blessings of today. It all begins at home with parents Jeff and Rebecca (Tilley) McBride, along with brother Andrew, who not only exemplified basic Christian principles that she learned from, but also shared friendship and inspiration, and provided her every opportunity to pursue her dreams and ambitions.
“I am fortunate to have such a great family behind me,” said McBride. “I got my courage to try new things because I knew that even if I failed that they would always be there for me, loving me no matter what.”
Whether it was transportation to and from activities, practices, and games, to sitting down to have brotherly, motherly, and/or fatherly discussions, and even to the point of being active coaches during her athletic career, they were there for her and still are.
(l-r) Andrew, Rebecca, Emma Kate, Jeff
Not only is there the “immediate” family that stands behind her and lends her support, she also has an “extended” family comprising of her grandmother Rhonda Self Griffin and family friends Kay Farrer, Maureen Britt that stays in constant contact with her, even to the point of loading up in the SUV and making long trips all over the south to be in person at her games.
“They are amazing. Even if we are playing way off, they are there. It gives me so much encouragement,” reflected McBride. “Even if things aren’t going good, I can look up and see them there and it makes everything better.”
(l-r) Rhonda Self Griffin, Kay Farrer, Maureen Britt constantly make trips to watch Emma Kate play
After leading Weston High School to the District 1B championship in 2023, McBride was named first team All-District and selected to compete in the Louisiana High School Coaches Association (LHSCA) All-Star game as a member of the East team. The standout student/athlete at Weston High School was recruited by several in-state universities, including Centenary College in Shreveport and Louisiana Christian University in Pineville, before signing with South Arkansas Community College in El Dorado.
(front row) Rebecca McBride, WHS Coach Jennifer Tolar, Emma Kate McBride, WHS Coach Stacy Tucker (back row) Andrew McBride, Jeff McBride
Being a standout scholar/athlete is something that was perfected while at Weston High School. For all four years of her high school career, McBride earned LHSAA Composite All-Academic team honors before graduating as class Valedictorian with a stellar 4.33 grade point average leading to several academic scholarship awards.
Is it possible to sustain a collegiate athletic career in two totally different sports? The answer is yes. It has been done before. But it takes a special kind of person to do it. One like Emma Kate McBride, who has the fortitude, courage, and character to do what it takes and isn’t going to let anyone tell her she can’t. The guess here is that not only will she continue to compete in two sports, she will excel in both AND anything else she decides to do.