Red Bay basketball success has family roots
Red Bay sophomore players Darby Madden and Allie Kennedy stand with their mothers and Head Coach Donnie Roberts.
by Bart Moss for the FCT
The Red Bay Lady Tigers victory in the 2A state championship game was the epitome of a team effort.
There was a touching family moment during the celebration as well. Sitting in the stands cheering the Tigers on and celebrating the victory were members of Donnie Roberts first Red Bay state championship team from 1987: Kim Carnes Brooks, Penny Williams, Crista Massey Madden and, at the scorer’s table keeping the book, was Beverly Massey Kennedy.
Two of those parents, Crista Madden and Beverly Kennedy, have daughters who are now state champions as well: Darby Madden and Allie Kennedy.
All were coached by Donnie Roberts who now has six state titles and is Alabama’s all-time leader in wins for a girls basketball coach with 835 wins.
How does that make Roberts feel?
“Old,” he said emphatically.
“Basketball has always been my life,” Roberts said. “I never really thought I would be coaching at this age but I am and its still fun. I’ve been fortunate to coach a lot of great girls at Red Bay. They all become like family. It’s neat to see these girls experience the same thing their mothers did years ago. It’s a connection they will always have and I’m proud to be a part of it.”
Darby Madden, this year’s tournament Most Valuable Player said she now understands what her mom has been trying to tell her about winning this game. It took the bad taste of last year’s defeat to Woodland in the championship game for it to sink in.
“Last year, we came down here and got beat, and that feeling of getting beat stuck with us throughout the whole year,” Madden said. “Everyday at practice, we would think about that day. We got back here, and we didn’t want that feeling ever again. We just had so much determination.”
“Mom always told me how great it would feel to win a championship,” said Madden. “But she said you won’t understand until you experience it for yourself. Now I know exactly what she meant. Mom has always supported me in everything I have done. It means so much to follow in her footsteps.”
Crista Madden said her 1987 championship season was great but nothing like watching her daughter experience it.
“Winning the state championship was the highlight of my high school days,” said Madden. “But to get to watch my daughter do it is even better. It’s also more nerve wracking. She has become such a good ball player and had done much more than I could have done on that court today. She still has two more years. So, hopefully, we aren’t through celebrating.”
Madden also is glad Roberts is a part of her daughters life.
“Coach Roberts is a remarkable coach and even better man. He had such a great influence on me in school and still does. I am so glad he is Darby’s coach. She will learn a lot of great life lessons from him.”
Allie Kennedy, ever the competitor, is already looking forward to one-upping her mom.
“Mom and I are very competitive with each other. She had one. Now I’ve got one. I still have a chance to get two more and that’s the goal,” said Kennedy. “I love her so much. She has worked with me and supported me in everything I’ve ever done. It just feels great to share this with her.”
Beverly Kennedy confirmed the competitiveness between mother and daughter but with a soft spot.
“Yes, we are competitive but momma knows when to give,” said Kennedy. “It was fun during my time. You can’t describe the experience unless you’ve been there. To experience your daughter do it is even better because you understand it better. You understand how hard it is to accomplish this goal and all the hard work and long hours that go into it.”
Beverly Kennedy also echoed Crista Madden’s sentiments about Coach Roberts.
“Coach Roberts is like a dad to me. He still is. I love that he’s coaching Allie and she is getting to learn from him. He’s the best. He’s the same today as he was then,” Kennedy said.
Allie Kennedy also said last year’s loss had a big impact on the team this year.
“That feeling was the worst feeling in the world,” said Allie. “We knew when we got back here this year that it [losing] just wasn’t going to be an option.”
With four of his five starters returning next year (Madden, Kennedy, Hope Cook, Morgan Pierce) Donnie Roberts was already talking about next year just a few minutes into his post game press conference.
“This team is still young,” said Roberts. “We played good today, but we’ve still got some growing up to do. I think we’re going to have a shot at it the next couple of years, too. That’s what we plan on anyway.”
That will be just fine with these competitive daughters, trying to get at least one more trophy than their mothers.
