CHOCTAW — Kaedre Denson’s high school career has come full circle.

Denson was just a green freshman in 2016 when Choctaw Central appeared in its MHSAA Class 3A state championship against Booneville.

“I was nervous because that was my first time going in there,” Denson said of the 2016 title game. “Walking in, I was looking at the crowd and was like, ‘Whoa.’”

The Lady Warriors lost to the Lady Blue Devils, 58-49, that night at the Mississippi Coliseum, but Choctaw Central has since rattled off 87 wins against just five losses and won back-to-back Class 3A state titles.

The 6-foot Denson has played a large role in that success.

Choctaw Central sits at 22-1 this year, its lone blemish being a 1-point overtime November loss against Neshoba Central. The Lady Warriors have defeated seven MaxPreps.com Top 25 teams, including a 70-65 win against then-undefeated Pearl in December’s Choctaw Central Invitational. Denson finished with 10 points against the Lady Pirates.

Last Saturday against 21-win Olive Branch, Denson ended with 13 points to go with 14 rebounds, four assists and one block. She also torched Forest last Tuesday to the tune of 31 points, nine rebounds, four steals and one block. And against Philadelphia last Thursday, Denson finished second on her team in scoring with 10 points.

Because of those strong performances, Denson is The Meridian Star’s Athlete of the Week.

“It’s an honor,” Denson said of the distinction. 

As one of two seniors on this year’s team, Denson said it’s incumbent on her to set a positive example for her younger teammates. To help do so, before the start of the season, Denson took over the Lady Warriors’ team group chat, where players send messages on game days, birthdays or whenever they just want to connect with each other.

Denson said there was a small learning curve at the beginning of the year due to new players adjusting to their roles, but the Lady Warriors have jelled. They’re currently riding a 14-game win streak that dates back to Dec. 4, and they’ve outscored their opponents 1,404-935.

Denson said she and her teammates take pride in the fact they’ve been able to add to Choctaw Central’s rich basketball history. And as back-to-back state champions that appear to be the favorite to win another in March, it would be easy to classify Choctaw Central as 3A’s current dynasty. However, Denson said she nor other Lady Warriors view it as such. They’re opting for a game-by-game approach.

“Coach really doesn’t like to put it like that, because anybody can get beat on any given night,” Denson said. “We have to keep our heads focused and just work hard every day. We’re never going to slack off. Coach does a good job with that.”

Six games remain on Choctaw Central’s regular-season schedule, and they’ll close out those slate of contests at Forest on Feb. 8.  

Lady Warriors coach Bill Smith is looking for his senior to turn her four years of experience into another state title in the Big House.

“When you go as a freshman and start at the Coliseum, it’s a new experience,” Smith said. “Since that time, as she has progressed to become a senior and winning back-to-back state championships — and hopefully going to have a chance for a third, possibly — as she has gotten better, it’s made us better.”