Hard Work Paying Off For Columbus’ White

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) — Alone at the top of the Region 2-6A standings, the Columbus Lady Falcons are off to its best start in the more than a decade.

Head coach Yvonne Hairston’s squads prides its on the defensive side of the ball, but senior guard Hannah White is the driving force behind what makes Columbus tick.

“She does whatever she needs to do to make this team successful,” Hairston said.

“If it means for her to go out and get us twenty-plus [points], then that’s what she does. In some games, she’ll only have fifteen points, but give us twelve rebounds. She’ll go for a double double, or a triple [double]…and that’s the sign of a great leader.”

Averaging 20 points, 7 rebounds, and three steals per game, White has worked her way into recruiters’ minds, receiving multiple Division One offers to this point in the season.

Basketball is a part of her past, present, and future, something she know she’s earned.

“When I was in ninth grade, I had ended up moving up, and I had stayed with the varsity and try to practice, then after they had practice, I’d practice,” White said, “I’d come to the gym on Saturdays. I’ll come to the gym, during school I’ll come by and practice. Sometimes I wouldn’t go to lunch because I’d shoot a bit to just work, and work out all the time.”

“My son used to say the lights never went off in the gym. So she was constantly calling, ‘Coach, can I get in the gym, can I get in the gym?’ And it’s really paid off for her because she put in the work.”

White will be the third Lady Falcon to represent Columbus in the Mississippi-Alabama All-Star Game, and has the chance to leave a lasting legacy in the “Friendly City”.

But basketball doesn’t define White.

The senior racking up the big-time stat of a 4.6 GPA, and the hopes of going into psychology to one day help others.

“My teammates, sometimes things be happening in our personal lives, so being able to help them and going to church all the time, and learning about the Lord, I’ve just been learning about how to give advice to others,” White said.

White and the Lady Falcons look to stay undefeated in the division, taking on South Panola at home, Friday.