Holland and Irish represented MVE during all-star week

(Editor's note: This is the final story in the series of local players and coaches chosen for the Arkansas High School Coaches Association all-star games.)

Kendell Holland and P.J. Irish are Lady Warhawks through and through.

Holland has been the leading scorer for Mount Vernon-Enola's basketball team for the past three years. She has been at the top of every category statistically for the Lady Warhawks' basketball squad as well.

P.J. Irish was the same type of leader just on the softball diamond. Irish has been the Lady Warhawks' top ace on the mound the past couple of years.

"Those two are the model athletes and students here at Mt. Vernon-Enola," Mount Vernon-Enola coach Freeman Isaacs said. "Both of them are leaders and they are very hard workers. They spent a lot of time after practice trying to get better."

.story-ad {

width: 310px;

float: left;

margin: 0 10px 10px 0;

padding: 4px;

}

- Advertisement -

OAS_AD('x22');

Isaacs is the head coach of both the basketball and softball programs, so he has spent plenty of time with the two.

"They don't like to lose, that's for sure," Isaacs said. "They are competitors who love to play the game. Kendell is the type of player that made everyone better on the court. She has been one of the best shooters to have come through here. It didn't take long for other teams to realize that they ought to get on her."

Irish led the Lady Warhawks to the Class A state semifinal game two years ago, and she led them to a regional tournament appearance this past season.

"We may have been able to go a little deeper in the tournament but P.J. and a couple of other players were a little sick that weekend," Isaacs said. "P.J. could throw a curveball, fastball, change-up, and riseball. She could throw several different pitches to keep the batter off-balanced. We're going to miss her next season."

Both players were in Fayetteville last week for the Arkansas High School Coaches Association all-star games. Irish played in the softball game on Thursday. Holland played the final basketball game of her career on Thursday, but she said she was happy with how it ended.

"Bud Walton Arena was definitely the biggest arena that I've been in," Holland said. "It was also the biggest court that I've been on. It was a good experience to play against players who are going to play in college. I had a lot of fun and my family was there supporting me."