Lincoln junior Kimetria Hayden spent much of the 4A state championship game telling her teammates not to be nervous and that everything would work out.
Deep down, though, Hayden was as edgy as ever. Lincoln had cut its deficit in the fourth quarter but still trailed Dickinson with a minute to go.
"I was talking to myself in my head, like what can I do?" Hayden said. "If I lose, then I would have to deal with it all my life."
Hayden responded by scoring the go-ahead layup with 23 seconds remaining, and Lincoln went onto beat Dickinson, 50-47.
Hayden, a versatile 5-11 guard/forward, is SportsDay's 2008 girls basketball player of the year.
WILLIAM DESHAZER / DMN
Junior Kimetria Hayden had 22 points, nine rebounds and four steals in Lincoln's state-title game victory over Dickinson.
Her season was notable not just for how it ended but also for the consistency with which she performed. She scored at least 14 points in all but two of her 29 games – Hayden missed four games in December because of a concussion – and notched 20 or more 13 times.
Hayden's presence alone had an impact on Lincoln's success. For example, she scored 17 points in the 73-63 state semifinal victory over Cibolo Steele but was most effective with her dribble penetration, which opened the floor and allowed teammate Taylor Morrow to convert a state-record seven 3-pointers.
Hayden has racked up several honors, from 13-4A MVP to the 4A state MVP, and now SportsDay player of the year. Hayden said the loss of her grandfather last summer inspired her to achieve higher heights.
"Before my Papiece died, he wanted me to get MVP," she added. "I thought about it, I got it and I did it for him."
Kimetria Hayden
LINCOLN, JR., G/F, 5-11
Stats: Averaged 17.9 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists for 4A state champion Lincoln.
About Hayden: Had 22 points, nine rebounds and four steals in 4A state title game victory over Dickinson. Being pursued by several colleges, with Baylor, Texas Tech and Texas showing the most interest.
Did you know? Hayden's favorite music artists are Lil' Wayne and Lil' Boosie.
RECENT WINNERS
| Year | Player | School | | 2002 | Erin Grant | Mansfield | | 2003 | Tiffany Jackson | Duncanville | | 2004 | Shannon Stueber | The Colony | | 2005 | Brittainey Raven | North Crowley | | 2006 | Allison Hightower | Arlington Seguin | | 2007 | Haley Day | Rockwall | |
