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...Whenever they took the floor, be it for practice or a game, the girls on the Blue Heat All-Star basketball team always played hard for head coach Kirk Alford.
Now, more than a year after his death, they continue to play just as hard for him. Perhaps even a little bit harder.
Doing so, they say, is the best way to illustrate their admiration of Alford, who died unexpectedly of heart failure in May of 2007 — just months after he’d put the team together to compete in state and national tournaments.
This summer, the Blue Heat is upholding his legacy by displaying the work ethic and commitment to Christian principles that Alford instilled.
“It’s definitely an extra motivation for us to play well in his honor,” said Armuchee High’s Anna Catanzano, one of the nine local stars that comprise the team’s roster. “After what happened, it really makes you want to give everything you have — for God, for the team and for Kirk.”
Kirk Alford was the coach for the Blue Heat until his untimely death last year. |
The Blue Heat, which reunited about two months ago, is in Lakeland, Fla., this week for a prestigious national tournament. Naturally, the memories of Alford will be a driving factor for the team.
“We want to represent Kirk, and carry on the tradition he started,” said Cameron Fitch, the Heat’s current head coach and a former Berry College star. “He is still a big part of what we do.”
The Heat’s roster includes three players from Armuchee (Amanda Parris, Abby Monteith and Catanzano), three from Model (Maci Siniard, Shelby Farrer and Janaye Jasper) and three from Trion (Brittany White, Ali Witt and Sam Brown).
Not all of the players on this year’s squad were on the roster last season under Alford. But even the newcomers say they can sense this team plays with a special purpose.
“We really haven’t talked about what happened last year, but you can just tell there’s some (extra incentive),” said White, a play-making guard from Trion. “It’s hard to explain, but it’s there.”
Last year’s squad included Alford’s daughter, Sarah, who had just graduated from Model.
The team also featured five other players from Model, three from Armuchee and one from Calhoun.
Those who have returned to the team for a second season say they cherish the memories of their former coach.
“I always remember his sweet personality, and especially his dry sense of humor,” said Maci Siniard, a rising junior at Model and one of the Heat’s returnees. “He was very encouraging. He believed in me, and that meant so much.”
Alford had been working with the team for only a few weeks before he became ill with a virus.
Still, that was long enough for the team to see his dedication — to the sport of basketball and to his players.
“He taught us so many things, and spent so much time working with us, individually,” said Siniard. “I had only known him for two months, but he had already become like a second father to me.”
Fitch, the Heat’s current head coach, became involved with the team last spring when Alford first became ill.
At the time, Fitch was dating Sarah Alford, and she asked him to take over in place of her father. Fitch agreed, and he guided the team through the rest of its schedule.
This spring, Fitch, who teaches and coaches at North Cobb High during the school year, returned to coach the Heat again. Fitch said he is trying to maintain the philosophies that Alford put in place.
“Kirk always had the right perspective,” said Fitch. “He believed that this was all about building relationships, and that basketball was secondary.”
While in Florida this week for the YBOA (Youth Basketball Organization of America) tourney, the Blue Heat will play at least three games, with a chance to play more if they advance past the pool-play portion of the tournament.
“We’re expecting to do well,” said White. “We’ve got great team chemistry, and that’s big.”
The Blue Heat earned its berth to the national event by finishing in second place at the YBOA state tournament. The title game of that event was played on May 10 — just two days before the one year anniversary of Alford’s death.
Obviously, it was an emotional week for the team.
“You could see a lot of tears on the court,” said Donna Siniard, the mother of Maci and the Blue Heat’s official team mom.
Despite losing the title game of the state tourney, Donna Siniard said the Heat knew their former coach would have been pleased with their effort.
“The girls knew they would have made Kirk very proud because they gave it their all,” she said. “That is what he always required — 100 percent. (If they did that), they were winners, no matter the score.”
When the tournament was over, the Blue Heat visited the Alford’s house, and presented a tournament trophy to Kirk’s wife, Jill, and Sarah.
“Every girl (on the Heat) has such respect and love for Kirk and his family,” said Siniard. “They will always be a part of all of our families.”
And most assuredly, a part of this team.
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