When Armani Haskins and Keyasia Smith started playing basketball in sixth grade, neither had much experience with the sport. Just two years later, these eighth-grade team captains led Herrin Junior High School's girls basketball team to second place in the state championship.

"It was thrilling and nervous at the same time," recalls Haskins of their February 1st state championship game at Rend Lake. Smith adds, "It was fun."

Their path to the state tournament began with a regional victory over Carbondale, advancing them to compete against the top eight teams in Illinois Class L competition. At state, the Tigers defeated Hamilton County (McLeansboro) and Mount Carmel before falling to Salem in the championship game.

What makes this accomplishment even more remarkable is the youth of the team. Of the 13 varsity players, Haskins and Smith were the only eighth-graders in the starting lineup.

"It took a long way to get to the state championship," Haskins reflects. "A lot of hard work," Smith emphasizes.

That hard work includes a demanding practice schedule—Monday through Friday from 3-5 p.m., with occasional Saturday sessions. The team also practices during summer, playing about 15 games in May and June to help develop skills and make up for time lost during COVID years.

Coach Matt Zaranti, who appointed Haskins and Smith as team captains for their "dedication, leadership qualities, and positive attitudes," has created a comprehensive basketball program that goes beyond the regular season.

"All the younger classmen looked up to them," Zaranti says of his captains. "They could come to them and talk to them for anything they needed, and they set good examples."

Both captains play multiple positions—Haskins as shooting guard and Smith as point guard—though the team's leading scorer is actually sixth-grader Olivia Wade, with Smith coming in as the second-leading scorer.

The intensity of the program hasn't diminished the girls' love for the game. Both play travel ball in addition to their school team, and when asked if they could imagine life without basketball, both quickly responded, "No."

"If I don't have basketball, my life would be boring," says Haskins.

Smith agrees: "If I'm not here, then I'm at travel ball. If I'm not at travel ball, then I'm usually at a boys high school game or a girls high school game."

Their dedication has shaped more than just their athletic abilities. Basketball has helped them develop confidence, time-management skills, and academic discipline—players must maintain passing grades to remain eligible.

The experience has also inspired their future ambitions. Smith hopes to continue playing basketball in high school and college while pursuing her dream of becoming a teacher. Haskins plans to play at the high school level while working toward becoming an orthopedic surgeon.

While the team enjoyed substantial crowd support at the state tournament, they typically see only about 50 spectators at home games in a gym that could hold a thousand. Both captains acknowledge how much it would mean to have stronger community support during regular season games, with the first of three games (6th grade team, JV, Varsity) typically start at 4:30 p.m. with a modest $3 admission fee for adults and $2 for children.

As Haskins and Smith prepare to move on to high school next year, they leave behind a legacy of excellence and determination for the younger players to follow. With a team predominantly composed of sixth and seventh graders who now have state tournament experience, the future looks bright for Herrin Junior High girls basketball.

Coach Zaranti summarizes it well: "Very dedicated, very hard-working girls with a bright future in high school."