Gibson County's KJ White provides spark off the bench for Lady Pioneers

Luis Torres
Jackson Sun
Gibson County's KJ White tries to get past a Middleton defender during the Lady Pioneers' 38-29 win in the District 14-A title game on Feb. 19, 2018.

KJ White went to coach Mitch Wilkins and had a request after Gibson County’s final exhibition game against Dyersburg.

It can be categorized as an odd favor in high school basketball, but White felt it was necessary for her to ask for it. The Gibson County junior wanted to be taken out of the starting lineup.

More: Jackson area basketball scoreboard for Week 2 of the postseason.

She felt her abilities were better suited to come off the bench. Wilkins honored her request.

“I came up to him and I said, ‘I think I’m one of those players that’s better coming off the bench,’” White recalled. “And he said if that’s what you think, then we can work with that. He was fine with it. I typically get nervous whenever I start and so I’m a little spastic, and I don’t typically do very well.”

The favor has worked out well for both parties. White is a spark off the bench for the Lady Pioneers. Wilkins leans on her to come right off the bench and do anything asked of her. White is more comfortable doing it.

She won’t go on and score 20 points per game. But she does the little things that are paramount for a team to have success.

“I say I do more of the dirty work,” White said. “I don’t score that much typically, but I work hard on defense and I kind of make things happen, I guess.”

More: Vote for the Jackson area girls basketball player of the week.

Against Middleton in the District 14-A championship game on Monday night, White had the task of guarding the Lady Tigers’ best player, Sequoya Warren. White contained Warren by staying in front of her and making it hard to shoot over the top.

“She’s just a very smart basketball player,” Wilkins said. “She’s very athletic. She just has the ability to score, but she also can defend very well.”

Gibson County's KJ White defends Middleton's Kenyarrie Luellen during the Lady Pioneers' 38-29 win in the District 14-A title game on Feb. 19, 2018.

The confidence Wilkins has in White to guard an opposing team’s best perimeter player rubs off on her. She embraces the role of being one of the first players off the bench.

“KJ just wants to please and wants to do whatever you want her to do every possession,” Wilkins said.

At the start of the season, White didn’t think she would play a vital role coming off the bench. But as the season as gone on, she’s improved different aspects of her game. Her energy on both ends of the court is contagious.

Her teammates feed off of it and it allows them to pick up their effort.

“At the start of the season, I didn’t think I was much of anything,” White said. “As time as moved on, I started shooting more and doing more.”

Wilkins will need White to keep being a spark as the Lady Pioneers move onto Region 7-A play on Thursday. Gibson County will host Union City.

More: Vote for the Jackson area boys basketball player of the week. 

White just wants to keep things simple in hopes of winning the region tournament.

“I think we really need to come together as a team,” White said. “We just need to focus. And we just want to do our best and have fun.”

Reach Luis Torres at ltorres1@jacksonsun.com or 731-425-9638 and follow him on Twitter @LFTorresIII.