Martha adds another feather to cap

Former Whiteface High School girls’ basketball standout Allison Martha has added another feather in her basketball cap with a 59-37 win for the west in the Texas Six Man Coaches Association Girls’ Basketball All-Star game at D.L. Ligon Coliseum on the campus of Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls on Saturday.

Martha had 13 points in the win and was the recipient of a $1,400 scholarship from the TSMCA, but said the experience went beyond points scored and the scholarship.

“It was positive and unforgettable,” she said of the experience, including meeting and playing with girls who had been competitors during her high school career.

“I made friends with people I never thought I would,” she added.

One teammate Martha formed a friendship with was Elysa Martinez from Sands. Whiteface beat Sands 41-38 to advance to the UIL Regional Semifinals at South Plains College in Levelland.

“I thought, ‘I hope she doesn’t hate me,’” she said with a smile.

While she doesn’t plan to go on with her basketball career, Martha says she’s had a great experience “from freshman to senior.” She credits not only her teammates, but former Whiteface Lady Lope basketball coach Gary Simmons.

“He’s a great leader, on and off the court,” she said. Simmons had nothing but positive things to say about Martha as well.

“Allison is what every coach wants,” he said after she had amassed 1,500 points last season. “She is the complete team player.”

Simmons cited her 900 plus rebounds and 500 plus steals.

In addition to the all-star selection, Martha was UIL District 7-1A Most Valuable Player and was selected to the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches All-Region Team.

She accomplished these milestones in spite of missing more than 20 games her junior year with a broken hand.

“I didn’t notice it until I went in (to the doctor) with a hyperextended knee,” she said. “They said, ‘Oh, and you have a broken hand, too.”

Simmons also complemented Martha’s attitude beyond basketball.

“She’s a great young lady,” he added. “She cares about her school, her family and her community.”

Her commitment to her school and her community include membership on the Whiteface Volunteer Fire Department, election as Football Homecoming Queen her senior year as well as wearing the school mascot uniform and competing in cross country, tennis and track.

Martha plans to attend Texas A&M University and go into nursing.