Kara Simmons is used to change. The senior member of the HHS Girls Varsity Basketball team has had to adjust to different circumstances a lot throughout her career.

Simmons has been playing basketball since the first grade, when she first joined a Recreation League team.

“I actually started because a lot of my friends were doing it,” she said. “But I really fell in love with basketball in middle school. My coach, Mr. Sents, was so nice and helpful.”

Simmons said Sents helped her take her game to the next level, and that she got more involved with basketball both because the game was fun and because she was so close with her teammates.

Even now, Simmons said one of her favorite parts of being on the team is being around her friends.

“We’re really like a family. I enjoy hanging out with the girls, and we do everything with each other,” she said.

Simmons said that this season, the varsity team is younger than it has been in past years, forcing her to take on a leadership role.

“I was a little uncomfortable with the idea at first, because I started out my freshmen year as more of a listener, but I think I’m comfortable enough now to step up,” Simmons said. She played two full years, and half of her freshmen year, on the varsity squad.

For the fourth time in four years, there will be a new girls basketball coach at HHS. This year, Durmont Perry, known as DP to most students, will take charge. Simmons said that she’s excited about the change.

“Having four different coaches throughout high school has been hard. They all run slightly different systems and have had me in different roles,” she said. “DP has made basketball a lot more enjoyable than it’s been in the past. He’s disciplined and also helps us with lots of stuff outside the sport itself. I’m a lot more confident in myself now because of him.”

In addition to becoming more of a leader, Simmons has been working on improving certain parts of her game.

“I don’t like taking charges or driving into tall people, so I’ve been trying to get better at those things,” she said.

Simmons will play a key role this year at the forward position, and thinks that HHS will be competitive in all of their games.

“I’d like to go to regionals,” she said.

Although the varsity team only won twice last year, Simmons isn’t worried. The first varsity game of the year is scheduled for Dec. 3 at Wilson Memorial High School.

“I’m excited,” she said. “We’ve had to adapt to a lot, but I think we’re on the right path.”