Court is in Session with Samantha Hernandez of Southmoore – Presented by Eskridge
By Mike Moguin
Basketball season is already in full swing in Oklahoma, and some players have already made their favorite memories early in the campaign.
Southmoore’s Samantha Hernandez is one of them. The junior made an impact in the SaberCats’ 49-46 win against Plainview in the Wynnewood Tournament back on Dec. 11.
“I was so hard on myself the whole game for not doing enough,” Hernandez said. “Until the end, when my coaches pulled me aside and told me, ‘to do me.’ I then went on and made the game-tying 3-pointer to go into overtime and win it. (Basketball) has taught me that just because you don’t feel like you aren’t doing enough doesn’t mean you did nothing,” Hernandez said.
When not in the gym, Hernandez has another sport she likes as her favorite activity. That is golf.
“It shows me a whole different level of toughness mentally,” she said.
Hernandez said she will be starting golf at Southmoore when basketball is over.
Enabling her success are Hernandez’s supporters.
“My teammate from my freshman year, Kenzi Shipman, was my biggest supporter, who showed me everything it means to be a leader,” she said. “My inspiration is Sarika Crosslin (Coach C), who has shown me that no matter the situation, she will always choose to find a positive. I know she is so busy with her personal life, but no matter what, she will always find time to be there for my teammates and me.”
Her favorite part about representing Southmoore is that “all athletes will support each other,” Hernandez said.
The best advice someone has given her is “That you will have good games and bad games, but it is important to always point out the good, or nothing will ever be good enough,” she said.
One of Hernandez’s favorite hobbies outside of sports is cooking, “just not the cleaning up part,” she said.
Her favorite teams are the Oklahoma Sooners in women’s college basketball, the Oklahoma City Thunder of the NBA, and the New York Liberty of the WNBA. Her number one favorite player of all time is Peyton Verhulst of OU. “She is such a good teammate to all, and no matter what, she will always find a way to contribute to her team,” she said. “I would like to say thank you to all my family, coaches, and friends because I would be nowhere near here without them,” Hernandez said.
Follow Samantha on Instagram @bridez_21
