Remembering and honoring a fellow teacher and former Lady Blackhawk mother, Lady Blackhawk head coach Heath Neal instituted the Talina McDonald Memorial Hustle Award for the first Pea Ridge Holiday Tournament.
One player from each team of all 12 games of the Pea Ridge Holiday Tournament was selected for one of two awards. Sponsor C.R. Crawford employees presented an MVP (most valuable player) award to a player of the winning team. A member of the Talina McDonald family presented a Talina McDonald Memorial Hustle award to a player from the opposing team.
“We wanted to honor our sponsor, C.R. Crawford, and do something for the kids,” Neal said.
“Talina was a good friend of mine as a coworker and I had Kadense as a player,” Neal said of the Talina McDonald Memorial Hustle award. “She (Talina) was in our team mom program. She always took care of me as a coach and was a phenomenal parent in our program. Obviously, wanted to do something and recognize her kids and Matt keep her memory alive and how special she was for us as a Lady Blackhawk program and as a community member for all she did for our school district.”
Talina McDonald died Nov. 27, 2020, as a result of injuries sustained in a house fire Nov. 4, 2020. The family’s home was destroyed. Mrs. McDonald was an employee of the school district.
“Talina McDonald was tragically taken from us way too soon in the fall of 2020. Her love for her family, community, school and the Blackhawks always poured out every day,” according to the presentation read after the final game of the tournament. “Talina was an incredible co-worker, friend, wife and mother and in honor of her memory we would like to present our Memorial Hustle Award.”
Neal said that even though the players from out of town may not fully understand the meaning of the Talina McDonald Memorial Hustle Award, community members did and it honored Talina McDonald’s memory.
Matt McDonald: “It’s nice. It’s a real nice gesture for them to do that for us. It’s good for the kids. Keep her memory.”
“It’s very nice of them, very respectful,” Kadense McDonald said.
Over the three days of the tournament, presenters included Madison McDonald, Jayden Spillman, Noah McDonald, Tara Kennedy, Kadense McDonald and Matt McDonald.
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A player from the Providence Academy Lady Patriots was presented with the Talina McDonald Memorial Hustle Award presented by Madison and Noah McDonald and Jayden Spillman. The Lady Patriots lost to the Winnsboro, Texas, Lady Raiders 46 to 68 in the fourth game on the first day of the tournament.
TIMES photograph by Annette Beard
Brynn Washam with the Mammoth Springs Lady Bears was presented the Talina McDonald Memorial Hustle Award by Kadense, Madison and Noah McDonald, children of Talina McDonald. The Lady Bears lost to the Pea Ridge Lady Blackhawks 45 to 54 in the final game on the final day of the tournament.
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Melodey Sanders with the Green County, Okla., Lady Defenders was presented the Talina McDonald Memorial Hustle Award by Kadense, Madison and Noah McDonald, children of Talina McDonald. The Lady Defenders lost to the Providence Academy Lady Patriots 50 to 60 in the second game on the third day of the tournament.
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A player from the Little Rock Robinson Lady Senators was presented with the Talina McDonald Memorial Hustle Award presented by Madison and Noah McDonald and Jayden Spillman. The Lady Senators lost to the Mammoth Springs Lady Bears 78 to 25 in the first game Tuesday, Dec. 28, the first day of the tournament.
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Jasmine Daniels with the Little Rock Robinson Lady Senators was presented the Talina McDonald Memorial Hustle Award by Kadense, Madison and Noah McDonald, children of Talina McDonald. The Lady Senators lost to the Horatio Lady Lions 32 to 51 in the first game on Thursday, Dec. 30, the third day of the tournament.
TIMES photograph by Annette Beard
Gracie Muckleroy with the Star City Lady Bulldogs was presented the Talina McDonald Memorial Hustle Award by Kadense, Madison and Noah McDonald, children of Talina McDonald. The Lady Bulldogs lost to the Winnsboro, Texas, Lady Raiders in the third game on the third day of the tournament.
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Cadee Glasgow with the Horatio Lady Lions was presented the Talina McDonald Memorial Hustle Award by Tara Kennedy, sister of Talina McDonald. The Lady Lions lost to the Green County, Okla., Lady Defenders 44 to 49 in the first game Wednesday, Dec. 29, the second day of the tournament.
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A player from the Green County, Okla., Lady Defenders was presented with the Talina McDonald Memorial Hustle Award presented by Madison and Noah McDonald and Jayden Spillman. The Lady Defenders lost to the Star City Bulldogs 37 to 61 in the second game on the first day of the tournament.
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Jae Newton with the Little Rock Robinon Lady Senators was presented the Talina McDonald Memorial Hustle Award by Tara Kennedy, sister of Talina McDonald. The Lady Senators lost to the Providence Academy Lady Patriots 26 to 58 in the second game on the second day of the tournament.
TIMES photograph by Annette Beard
Faith Sechrist with the Winnsboro, Texas, Lady Raiders was presented the Talina McDonald Memorial Hustle Award by Tara Kennedy, sister of Talina McDonald. The Lady Raiders lost to the Mammoth Springs Lady Bears 55 to 59 in the third game on the second day of the tournament.
TIMES photograph by Annette Beard
Kyona Jackson with the Star City Lady Bulldogs was presented the Talina McDonald Memorial Hustle Award by Tara Kennedy, sister of Talina McDonald. The Lady Bulldogs lost to the Mammoth Springs Lady Bears 40 to 44 in the fourth game on the second day of the tournament.
TIMES photograph by Annette Beard
A player from the Horatio Lady Lions was presented with the Talina McDonald Memorial Hustle Award presented by Madison and Noah McDonald and Jayden Spillman. The Lady Lions lost to the Pea Ridge Lady Blackhawks 41 to 65 in the third game on the first day of the tournament.