‘ Give it all you got ’
Miller reflects on the emotional roller coaster of her senior year
Since her freshman year , Paris Miller has suited up with the varsity Bearettes and displayed her basketball talent for all to see . In just a few short months she will be off to college , continuing her basketball journey – one that started before elementary school .
Misty Peden loved basketball . She was a dynamic post player for the 1988 Bearette team that advanced to the state tournament . She graduated a year later and had college offers from the University of Arkansas and Colorado State .
Miller , the youngest of Peden ’ s two girls , picked up the game early in life and that immediately created a bond between mother and daughter . A bond that sparked conversations of Peden ’ s past on-court successes and the bright future ahead for Paris .
Instead of joining Miller on the sideline , Peden cheered on her daughter from the stands as Paris ’ basketball journey began like most girls in Brownsboro , with little dribblers . Reaching high school , Peden loved watching her daughter take the court as a Bearette and was often times the loudest cheerleader in the gym .
As Miller prepared for her senior season with AAU tournaments across the state , Peden unexpectedly went into the hospital . It was supposed to be for a day . Three months later she died from cirrhosis of the liver .
Knowing she was part of a special team , Miller began focusing more on the game that brought so much joy to her mother . Her team , several girls who she had played with since little dribblers , became more like family as she pushed harder and harder to do something her mother was unable to do – win a state championship for Brownsboro .
A month after the state championship , Miller sat down for an interview with journalism teacher Chad Wilson .
What age did you start playing basketball ?
As soon as I could . So , like little dribblers . But I would practice in the driveway dribbling , not so much shooting .
Photo by Gracey Tucker
She may have led the team in three-point shots , but Paris Miller can score from anywhere on the court as Hardin-Jefferson witnessed first hand in the state championship game . She finished the game with a team high 20 points . 48
How did basketball get on your radar as a little kid ?
I just I knew that my mom liked it and she had two D-1 offers . My sister ran track but she didn ’ t play basketball . She tried basketball , but Coach Griffin was like ‘ you ’ re not wasting my time or your time so please leave .’ So , I just fell in love with basketball . Then my