Story and Photos by Rusty Ellis
Monday was a historic day for the Upperman basketball program, as they celebrated the Lady Bees’ 2022 State Championship and named the court after head coach Dana McWilliams.
This came after the Lady Bees defeated Jackson South Side in the Class AAA State Championship to finish the season with a 32-5 overall record.
Needless to say, it was a really big surprise for the head coach celebrating the third gold ball she’s helped bring to Baxter.
“I didn’t know (it was happening), I was just hoping it was a celebration for the kids,” McWilliams said. “It means a lot to me for them to be celebrated…I was really excited for them to get some recognition.”
McWilliams began her stint at Upperman when she was 23 years old, and one thing she’s always raved about has been the support she’s received from both administration and the community.
“It’s really special,” McWilliams said. “A lot of special people and players here, they’re the reason I’ve had this opportunity. I’ve had such great community support…I’ve always felt support here. All of my administrations have always been supportive. The fans are always here, and the students are always phenomenal here.”
And with just about everyone in attendance that has guided McWilliams along the way in this journey, the three-time state champion coach was almost speechless.
“My high school coach is here, and he kind of taught me a lot of things,” McWilliams said. “My college coach from (Tennessee Tech) was here…it just means a lot. It’s really special for me. I really don’t know what to say.”
