Rivals on the court became allies at University of the Cumberlands

(Story by Trevor Sherman)

Former Whitley County Lady Colonel Abbey Estes and Williamsburg Lady Jacket Lillie Hall have led their respective teams in many past 50th District showdowns. Both competitors started meeting up with each other on a varsity basketball court during the 2014-15 high school basketball season, with Estes a freshman at WCHS and Hall contributing as a seventh grader for Williamsburg.

Lillie Hall (above) and Abbey Estes (below) were once fierce competitors on the court, with Estes suiting up for the Whitley County Lady Colonels and Hall leading the charge for the Williamsburg Lady Jackets, but they would eventually come together as members of the Univ. of the Cumberlands women’s basketball team.

The Lady Colonels would dominate the intercounty series over the next several years, going 8-1 against the Jackets through Estes’ senior season in 2017-18. That same year, Estes and teammate Sierra Feltner teamed up to score a combined 950 points, leading Whitley to an appearance in the 13th Region championship tournament where they pulled off a thrilling 53-52 overtime win against Knox Central in the opening round.

The Williamsburg Lady Jackets navigated their way through an up-and-down season during Lillie Hall’s junior campaign in 2018-19, but the team found success in the winter of 19-20 with an All “A” regional championship win and victories over both Whitley County and Corbin during the regular season. Hall led the way in overall scoring her senior year by a wide margin, finishing with 460 points.

Estes and Hall would both stay close to home as they continued their athletic careers at the collegiate level, with Estes suiting up for the University of the Cumberlands women’s basketball program beginning in 2018-19, and Hall joining her on the Patriots roster in 20-21.

This past season, with Estes as a senior and Hall a sophomore, the UC women compiled 20 wins, including a semifinal round appearance in the Mid-South Conference Tournament, and an appearance in the opening round of the NAIA National Championship Tourney.

Reflecting on her now completed college basketball career, Estes

Photos courtesy of UNIVERSITY of the CUMBERLANDS SPORTS INFORMATION

said, “I am thankful that I have gotten the opportunity to play college basketball. I have had some of the best teammates throughout the years, and memories that will stay with me forever. I have enjoyed being a part of changing the culture, and turning the program around during my four years.”

Estes also thanked her father and former coach at the middle and high school levels, David Estes, saying, “My favorite memory from high school was being coached by my father. I would love to play for him just one more time. All of my success was because of my dad. He made it possible for me to be the player that I am, and I am thankful that he devoted so much time and effort to helping me reach my full potential as a player.”

Estes has made plans to work in a critical care unit as a registered nurse after graduating.

As for Hall, she is looking forward to continuing her career at UC, saying that her ultimate goal is to help lead the Patriots to a national championship title before her time in red, white and blue is done. She already knows from experience, however, that is much easier said than done, especially considering the level of competition in the MSC.

“The pace of the game is so much faster,” Hall said when asked about playing in the college ranks. “Everyone at this level has a higher IQ about the game, along with quicker movements. Every team in the Mid-South Conference is well coached, and I have never experienced competition this intense. It has been a humbling, but very exciting and rewarding experience.”

When asked to offer up some words of advice for high school players hoping to make their own mark at the college level one day, Estes said, “Always be willing to do the things that others are not willing to do. Being a college athlete takes dedication, and you have to want it more than anything. Coaches want players that have heart, and that are willing to work hard. Constantly continue to keep improving your game, and never be satisfied.”

Hall added, “Have an open mind to the changes that you’ll be faced with, and continue to work hard. It’s important to have mental and physical toughness. Most importantly, don’t be afraid of failure.”

To learn more about the University of the Cumberlands women’s basketball team, and all other Patriot athletics, visit them at cumberlandspatriots.com.

Additional info on Mid-South Conference athletics can be found at mid-southconference.org, and for more on the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), please visit www.naia.org.