Philadelphia’s Donald looking to make most of senior year

Philadelphia’s Donald looking to make most of senior year

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Hailey Donald said five years of playing varsity basketball for the Philadelphia High School Lady Tornadoes seem to have gone by fast now that she is a senior.

Donald has been playing basketball since her seventh-grade year. As an eighth-grader, she was moved up to the varsity team, and that’s where she has been ever since.

“It felt like a long time until my senior year started,” Donald said. “But right now, it feels like it has all happened so fast.

“I want to make the most of my senior year. I feel like we will make it to the Big House in Jackson. I want to see us become district champions, and I feel like we can do it. We have to step up and play our game. We can’t let anyone control the way we play.”

Donald plays guard for the Lady Tornadoes. “One, two or three, it doesn’t matter. I play where I am needed,” Donald said. She added that the team put in plenty of practice time during the summer to get ready for the season.

“We practiced a lot and even played in some tournaments,” Donald said. “We did well in those games.”

Donald said she wants to be a dentist when she grows up. She likes science courses, especially biology. She has a 4.0-grade point average.

“I plan to attend Jackson State University and go in as a pre-dental major,” Donald said. “I knew I wanted to be in the biology field. I did some research about all the career paths I could take with a biology major, and I chose dentistry. And, I have a cousin who is a dentist in Texas.”

Donald is a member of the Beta Club and FBLA. She is a cheerleader and also runs for the track team. She will be trying out for the cheerleader squad at Jackson State this spring.

“I will be going over for cheerleader tryouts in March or April,” Donald said. “I’m looking forward to that.

“We didn’t get to run track last year because of COVID-19. But this year, I want to make it to Jackson for the state meet and earn a medal.”

Academically, Donald’s senior year is going to be extra hard. She is taking dual credit courses through East Central Community College. This semester, she is taking college algebra, comp I and American history. Next semester, she is taking comp II, trigonometry and American history II.

“It’s a lot, but we have great teachers at Philadelphia who help us out,” Donald said. “They do a good job.”

Donald lists as her favorites:

• Class – English Composition;

• Dinner – Shrimp and Grits;

• Movie - The Hate U Give; and,

• Video game – doesn’t play but likes to watch them.

Donald is an active member of the Good Way Missionary Baptist Church. She is the daughter of Kizzy and Keaton Donald. She isn’t working right now but did secretary work last summer at the funeral home where her mom works.

“Hailey is one of our leaders,” said Coach Danielle Spurlock. “She is our best defensive player. I can put her on anyone of the opposing team, and she will match up well. She works hard in practice and in the games.”






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