It was five years ago when Karry Callahan stepped foot in Vicksburg High’s gym to play for coach Barbara Hartzog.

Since then Callahan stepped up and improved her game every year under Hartzog’s guidance.

“I always knew what I was going to get from her each game. She showed up and knew what her expectations that I had for her, she met them,” Hartzog said.

As a freshman, Callahan set an ultimate goal for herself to be the best player in Warren County and accomplished this feat. Callahan received the 2016 Vicksburg Post girl’s basketball Player of the Year in her third consecutive and senior season.

“When she first came in that’s what her goal was,” Hartzog said. “It’s good to get it while you’re young but to be able to stay there and continue to get it, that shows how much work she put in and her desire and determination to get better each year and improve.”

Callahan’s game is easily recognizable on the court, as she’s the one hustling for rebounds, initiating fast breaks after securing the rebound and usually finishes with a signature spin move to shake defenders from blocking or contesting her shot.

She averaged a double double with 15.7 points and 16 rebounds as well as 4 assists, 4.3 steals and 3.7 blocks a game.

“She has a nose for the ball and she gets after it. That’s her biggest asset to the game,” Hartzog said. “She’s just going to give you everything she’s got for 32 minutes.”

Through experience in the game, Callahan has developed the ability to read where the ball as it falls off the rim. If the shot is long then the rebound will bounce farther away from the rim. If the shot is short, Callahan boxes out and hopes to grab the board.

Based on the stance of her defender, Callahan knows how to get around them to battle through for an offensive rebound.

“If they’re facing me I know I have to go around them or I could fake one way and go the other way and box them out not letting them get position on me to where I can’t get the rebound or go over their back,” Callahan said.

But, in spite of her offensive dominance Callahan is also known as a selfless basketball player.

Callahan would rather set her teammates up to score if they’re open than force a contested layup.

“Sometimes I see myself open but I see other players open too, and I know other players have the opportunity to have their moments to shine. If they’re right there why not pass the ball,” Callahan said.

Looking back on five seasons as a Missy Gator, Callahan’s favorite game of her Vicksburg career is playing Lanier in the first round of the Division 6-5A tournament sophomore year.

Vicksburg hosted a Lanier team that was No. 1 in the district that year. Callahan remembers the crowd chanting a phrase she deemed disrespectful and patronizing toward her team. Coach Hartzog encouraged her team and pushed them to fight hard.

The Missy Gators came away with a 54-46 win before losing to Pearl in the next round.

Since playing under Hartzog, the biggest lesson Callahan has learned is how to control her attitude. In turn, she was able to lead team and have her teammates gravitate toward her leadership.

“She makes them better,” Hartzog said. “They do depend on her a lot. She’s very unselfish, sometimes too unselfish. They just follow her lead.”

The Missy Gators advanced to the second round of the MHSAA Girls Basketball Championship by beating Germantown 46-38 at home, which served as Callahan’s final home game of her career. Oxford defeated the Missy Gators 50-29 putting an end to the Vicksburg season and closing the book on Callahan’s tenure.

After graduation Callahan wants to attend a junior college before transferring to a four-year university.

“I feel like I need to work on some things and as I work I think I’ll progress in time and everything will find a place,” Callahan said. “I’m going to miss my team and my coaches.”