BLUFF CITY, Tenn. – One day, maybe Kara Stafford will look back on her first year as a head basketball coach, smile and realize how it helped make her the woman she turned out to be.
In the meantime, after her team suffered a 70-46 home-floor loss to Tennessee High on Friday, the 26-year-old still must deal with the reality of a very difficult time in a young person's life.
While the Vikings, in getting a 17-point game from Addie Wilhoit and a 13-point outing from Chase Wolfenbarger, solidified their spot as the No.3 seed in next week's District 1-3A tournament, the Patriots (3-21, 0-8) completed their Upper Lakes Conference season schedule with a seventh straight defeat.
"It's definitely frustrating, not because I don't believe in the girls," Stafford said. "It's more frustrating because I know what they're capable of ...we just haven't lived up to that expectation. It comes in spurts and waves.
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"It's just frustrating, knowing that we're so much better than we're portraying and that we're capable of so much more – and they get frustrated as well."
The cumulative effect of a 20-loss basketball season might weigh down a person, but the athletic, nearly 6-foot Stafford seems to be handling the challenge, quick to flash her big smile.
"It's been a long, hard-season, and it's not been – on paper – a very successful season, and especially as a first-year coach, you know, it is hard not seeing that," Stafford said. "And it does make you think a little bit as far as, you know, am I doing all the right things and all that stuff.
"But I get, you know, encouragement and, you know ... I guess, advice from my coaching staff and a lot of peers, that, you know, I am doing the right thing, we are in the right direction, that it's just a learning curve for all of us."
Stafford has to be strong not only for herself, but for her entire roster, her program.
"I've got to be there for them," Stafford said of her contingent. "As frustrating as it is for me, it's my job to be a leader on this floor, and just give it my best every single day regardless of how I may feel personally. That's the goal.
"It's frustrating, but it's also very rewarding. A lot of people would say, like, 'Oh, I bet she's miserable,' but I'm not. I love what I do. I love working with these girls.
"They keep me sane," she continued. "They also keep me stressed at times, but it's a good stress. They keep me humble and they push me to be better, and I love 'em for it."
Better days must surely lie ahead for Stafford and her Patriots, who trailed 22-4 after one quarter against the Vikings (17-10, 4-3) and never got any closer the rest of the night.
An ex-standout at East herself, as well as an all-conference player at Emory & Henry College, Stafford took over a program that had just graduated Jenna Hare, the all-time leading scorer in Sullivan County history with over 2,500 career points. Hare now plays at Milligan University.
"This year's been different than most are going to be," said Stafford, an East assistant the last two years under the successful Allan Aubrey, who gave up his position following the 2022-23 season. "I mean, we're taking in a whole new coaching staff ... you know, a new program, new plays, new everything ... new team. It's been a process, a slow work in progress."
The Patriots, who received a team-high 16 points from Asia Cairns in the loss to THS, close their regular season at home Saturday against Cloudland and on the road Tuesday at North Greene, while the Vikings end their regular season at home Tuesday against David Crockett.
The two teams will play in next week's district tournament. East will be the No.5 seed.
TENNESSEE HIGH (70) -- Carter 0 0-0 0, Wilhoit 6 3-4 17, Foote 4 2-5 10, Moore 2 3-4 7, Kinch 3 1-2 7, Linkous 1 0-0 2, Haga 0 0-0 0, Wilson 0 0-0 0, Wolfenbarger 6 0-0 13, Granger 0 0-0 0, West 0 0-0 0, Tabor 4 0-0 8, Hatcher 0 0-0 0, Canter 3 0-0 6. Totals 29 9-15 70.
SULLIVAN EAST (46) -- Hurley 3 0-0 9, Hofer 3 4-6 11, Cairns 3 8-8 16, Brewer 0 0-0 0, Johnson 4 2-7 10, Holly 0 0-4 0, Hall 0 0-0 0. Totals 13 14-25 46.
Tennessee High 22 17 17 14 -- 70
Sullivan East 4 14 15 13 -- 46
3-point goals - Tennessee High 3 (Wilhoit 2, Wolfenbarger), Sullivan East 6 (Hurley 3, Cairns 2, Hofer).