The Lake Highlands girls basketball team had a special guest at Thursday’s practice. Dallas Cowboys radio sideline reporter Kristi Scales, a former Lady Wildcat point guard, watched the workout, then gave a inspiriing pep talk and took questions from the players.
Scales started her speech by removing her Cowboys windbreaker to reveal a T-shirt from her LH playing days underneath. The shirt had a drawing of a basketball with the words "Wildcat Defense" around it.
"That’s all I preach is defense," LH coach Holly Mulligan said. "That was perfect."
Scales, recognized as one of the top sideline reporters in the NFL, talked about her playing days and how precious this time is in the players’ lives. She also spoke about her career and what motivates the superstar athletes on the Cowboys’ roster.
"It’s really nice seeing someone from LH and hearing their story and how successful they can be," senior guard Samantha Couch said. "I really admire how hard she works. It’s easy to relate to her."
Scales also entertained the players with some behind-the-scenes stories and funny moments from her career covering the Cowboys. Scales, a 1985 LH graduate, was a recent guest on the Advocate’s Wildcat Sports Report and offered her help to the girls basketball program.
The thrust of Scales’ talk to the players was a couple of motivational phrases she’s picked up while following the Cowboys. The first was about preparation: "Knowledge is confidence. Knowledge is speed." The second was about making the most of your time as an athlete: "It’s important not only to do things right, but to do them exactly right."
"I knew she used to be a player here and that she would be great motivation for the players," Mulligan said. "So of course, that’s exactly what she is."
Scales was impressed with the players’ skill level and intensity during practice.
"It makes me miss it," Scales said. "It brought back a lot of good memories. The locker room is a lot bigger than it used to be and there are many more championship banners hanging on the wall."
