Kara Overholt has always been a complete basketball player, one who throughout her Polk County career took as much pride in a good pass as a 3-point basket.
So it comes as no surprise that one of the memories she mentioned after Saturday’s Blue-White All-Star Game at T.C. Roberson was not of the nine points she scored.
No, Overholt talked first about taking a charge.
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“Tonight I had one charge, and after the game I thought, that is the last official charge I will ever take,” Overholt said. “It’s kind of crazy to think about that, to think this is the last time I will play the sport I have played all my life competitively. But life goes on.”
Overholt wrapped her high school career with the annual all-star game featuring many of the top players in Western North Carolina. Hayesville’s Amanda Thompson drilled a 3-pointer from the top of the key in the final minute to lift the White team to a 93-90 victory over Overholt and her Blue teammates.
The loss didn’t in any way diminish the experience for Overholt.
“I thought I did pretty well for not having played with these girls except for the three days we practiced,” she said. “It was so much fun. I tried to play hard and give it all I had.”
After battling players such as Mountain Heritage’s Destiny Elkins and Madison’s Bailey Loven in this season and years past, Overholt had a chance to play Saturday with her Western Highlands Conference rivals. Loven led the Blue team with 22 points and Elkins scored 15.
“That was interesting,” Overholt said of teaming with her former foes. “It was a lot of fun because they’re really good, but at the same time, you had the sense of it not being normal. But they were really nice, and I’m glad I got to be around them.
“At the start of the week I was kind of nervous because I didn’t know what to expect. But I talked to some people who had played in the game and they told me to just be myself and enjoy the experience.”
Helping make Saturday a fun evening was Overholt’s personal rooting section, with Polk County head coach Brandy Alm and Wolverine teammates such as fellow seniors Sarah Phipps and Ashley Kropp in the stands.
“I’m so thankful to the people who came out and supported me,” Overholt said. “That surprised me. I didn’t realize until after the game how many people were here, and it was great to see coaches and teachers and teammates here.”
Though Saturday marked the end of her basketball career, Overholt is hoping it won’t be her final athletic competition. She has a recruiting visit set for April to Coker College in Hartsville, S.C., where, if all goes well, Overholt could be playing volleyball next season.
For now, Overholt will return to her role as goalkeeper for Polk County’s soccer squad and cherish the memory of Saturday’s game.
“I wanted to be very open and I knew it would be very competitive,” she said. “I really enjoyed the experience.”
