WELCH, Texas (AP) — Murissa Horton set her feet, steeled herself and was knocked to the court taking a charge from a barrel-chested teenage boy who outweighed her by more than 100 pounds.
The 5-foot-6 high school senior bounced back up, dusted herself off, adjusted her ponytail and got back to work.
kAmq@JD 282:?DE 8:C=D :D?VE ;FDE D@>6E9:?8 J@F D66 2E AC24E:46 7@C E96 s2HD@? sC28@?D] u@C @?6 @7 E96 D>2==6DE 9:89 D49@@=D :? %6I2D[ :?;FC:6D 2?5 5H:?5=:?8 6?C@==>6?E 7@C465 E96 sC28@?D E@ 4@?D@=:52E6 E96 k2 E2C86ElQU>52D9j3=2?<Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]J@FEF36]4@>^H2E49nGlqwg*;A_I_dgU2>AjElbDQm8:C=D 2?5 3@JD 32D<6E32== E62>D]k^2m %96 4@\65 DBF25 :D A=2J:?8 2 3@JD D4965F=6[ H:E9 w@CE@? 2D 2 DE2CE6C 2?5 @?6 @7 E96 E62>VD 36DE A=2J6CD]k^Am
kAmQ%92E w@CE@? 8:C= 42? A=2J[ x H@F=5 E2<6 96C 2?JE:>6[Q $2?5D 4@249 q:==J vCF>3=6D D2:5 27E6C 9:D E62> 362E s2HD@? d`\ab =2DE >@?E9]k^Am
kAm%@ F?56CDE2?5 E9:D F?FDF2= D:EF2E:@? C6BF:C6D 2 3:E @7 9:DE@CJ 23@FE E9:D D=:46 @7 (6DE %6I2D]k^Am
kAms2HD@? :D =@42E65 :? E96 E@H? @7 (6=49[ A@AF=2E:@? aaa 2?5 E96 <:?5 @7 A=246 H96C6 6G6CJ@?6 <?@HD J@FC ?2>6 2?5 E96J AC@323=J <?@H J@FC >@E96C[ 8C2?572E96C 2?5 D@>6 @7 J@FC 4@FD:?D[ E@@] %F>3=6H665D C@== 5@H? >2:? DEC66E[ 2?5 (6=49 :D DFCC@F?565 3J 24C6D FA@? 24C6D @7 4@EE@? 7:6=5D E92E 2C6 5@EE65 H:E9 @:= H6==D[ AF>A:?8 2=@?8 2?5 =62G:?8 2 D=:89E=J D@FC D>6== :? E96 2:C]k^Am
kAmxEVD 2 A=246 D@ D>2== E92E E96C6 :D?VE 6G6? 2 s2:CJ "F66?[ @7E6? 2 >2:?DE2J 7@C 92>=6ED :? 7=J@G6C DE2E6D] %96C6VD 2 =@?6 4@?G6?:6?46 DE@C6 2?5 E96 >2:? 3FD:?6DD :? E@H? :D 2 4@EE@? 8:?[ (6=49 r@EE@? x?4] %96 8:? :D E96 =:763=@@5 @7 (6=49] xE AC@G:56D ;@3D[ 8:G6D 2 3@@DE E@ E96 64@?@>J 2?5 D6CG6D 2D 2 4@>>F?:EJ @FEA@DE[ 2 A=246 H96C6 72C>6CD 2?5 @E96C E@H?D7@=< DE@A E@ 42E49 FA H:E9 @?6 2?@E96C 2?5 8@DD:A 23@FE E96 =@42= 8@:?8D @?]k^Am
kAmx? E9:D E@H? :EVD :>A@DD:3=6 E@ :8?@C6 E96 DH66A:?8 AC6D6?46 @7 4@EE@?] %96 8C2DD 2=@?8 E96 9:89H2JD 92D 2 H9:E6 E:?86 3642FD6 @7 2 4@EE@? 42?5J\=:<6 4@2E:?8 @7 E96 7:36C E92E 6D42A6D E96 8:? 2D :E D6A2C2E6D D665D 7C@> E96 4@EE@?] |@C6 @7 E96 56=:42E6 7:36C 7=@2ED E9C@F89 E96 2:C :? 8@DD2>6C\E9:? DEC:?8D E92E >2<6 :E D66> =:<6 DA:56CD 92G6 366? H@C<:?8 @G6CE:>6 DA:??:?8 H63D]k^Am
kAmv=6? !9:AAD @H?D (6=49 r@EE@? 2?5 :D @?6 @7 E96 D49@@=VD 3:886DE DFAA@CE6CD[ 5@?2E:?8 >@?6J E@ G2C:@FD 42FD6D 2E s2HD@? 2?5 32?<C@==:?8 2 EC:A 7@C 2== E96 D49@@=VD DEF56?ED E@ >2<6 E96 eb\>:=6 EC6< E@ {F33@4< E@ H2E49 2 %6I2D %649 32D<6E32== 82>6]k^Am
kAmw:D 72>:=J 92D 366? A2CE @7 E96 4@>>F?:EJ 7@C 86?6C2E:@?D] w6 8C25F2E65 7C@> 96C6 :? `hfb[ 9:D 8C2?572E96C H2D @? s2HD@?VD 7:CDE D49@@= 3@2C5 2?5 EH@ @E96C C6=2E:G6D 4FCC6?E=J D6CG6 @? E96 3@2C5]k^Am
kAmQ%96 D49@@= :D D@ :>A@CE2?E E@ >6[ >J 72>:=J 2?5 @FC 4@>>F?:EJ :? E92E E96 D49@@= 3C:?8D 6G6CJ3@5J E@86E96C[Q 96 D2:5] Q%96 D49@@= :D <:?5 @7 E92E E:6 E92E 3:?5D[ E92E >2<6D :E 2 4@>>F?:EJ 7@C 6G6CJ3@5J]Qk^Am
kAm%9:D E@H? <?@HD :E 42? 2=H2JD 4@F?E @? 4@EE@?[ 3FE @:= :D >F49 >@C6 7:4<=6 2?5 2 >2;@C 4@?EC:3FE@C E@ E96 D:EF2E:@? E96 32D<6E32== E62> :D :?] yFDE 7:G6 J62CD 28@[ AC@A6CEJ G2=F6D :? E96 5:DEC:4E H6C6 >@C6 E92? Sae_ >:==:@?] {2DE J62C[ A=F>>6E:?8 @:= AC:46D AFE E96 G2=F6D 2E ;FDE Sh_ >:==:@? 2?5 =67E s2HD@?[ =:<6 2== D49@@=D 56A6?56?E @? AC@A6CEJ E2I6D[ D4C2>3=:?8 7@C H2JD E@ C6>2:? @A6?]k^Am
kAm%96 F?46CE2:?EJ AC@>AE65 E96 >2;@C:EJ @7 s2HD@?VD `a\A6CD@? ;F?:@C 4=2DD E@ EC2?D76C 6=D6H96C6 =2DE DF>>6C] %92E 6I@5FD 4@>3:?65 H:E9 EH@ r9C:DE>2D 3C62< EC2?D76CD =67E E96 D49@@= H:E9 ;FDE `g DEF56?ED] %96J 925 D6G6? 3@JD E@ 7:6=5 E96:C D:I\>2? 7@@E32== E62> E9:D 72==[ 3FE H:E9 2 E9C66\A6CD@? 6:89E9 8C256 4=2DD[ 2== 8:C=D[ E96C6 H@?VE 36 6?@F89 DEF56?ED E@ A=2J 7@@E32== ?6IE D62D@?]k^Am
kAm%96C6 >2J ?@E 36 6?@F89 E@ AFE D6A2C2E6 32D<6E32== E62>D @? E96 4@FCE[ 6:E96C]k^Am
kAmQx? E96 3:886C D49@@=D[ :EVD ?6IE >2? FA[Q D2:5 y677 u=66?@C[ E96 AC:?4:A2= 2?5 DFA6C:?E6?56?E H9@ 92D EH@ 52F89E6CD @? E96 32D<6E32== E62>] Qw6C6 E96C6VD ?@E E92E ?6IE >2?]Qk^Am
kAms2HD@? 32D<6E32== E62>D A=2J65 D6A2C2E6=J 367@C6 E96 9@=:52J 3C62<[ 3FE ?288:?8 :?;FC:6D @7E6? =67E E96 7:G6\8:C= E62> H:E9 ;FDE E9C66 962=E9J A=2J6CD] p?5 27E6C EH@ @7 E96 D6G6? >6>36CD @7 E96 3@JD E62> C6EFC?65 E@ $@FE9 %6I2D 27E6C E96:C >:8C2?E\H@C<6C A2C6?ED 7:?:D965 D62D@?2= H@C<[ E96 D49@@=VD EH@ 4@2496D 2?5 u=66?@C 564:565 E@ >6=5 E96 8C@FA :?E@ @?6 E62> E@ 8F2C2?E66 2 4@>A=6E6 D62D@?]k^Am
kAm%96 &?:G6CD:EJ x?E6CD49@=2DE:4 {628F6[ H9:49 C68F=2E6D AF3=:4 9:89 D49@@= DA@CED :? %6I2D[ 2AAC@G65 E96 4@?D@=:52E:@? H:E9 E96 4@?5:E:@? E92E E96 E62> A=2J 2 3@JVD D4965F=6 E9C@F89 E96 D62D@?]k^Am
kAmQ%96 8:C=D H6C6 :? EC@F3=6[ E96 3@JD H6C6 :? EC@F3=6[Q 4@249 t5 #@3:D@? D2:5] QxE H2D?VE E92E H6 D2G65 E96 8:C=D AC@8C2> @C E96 3@JD[ 3FE H6 H6C6 23=6 E@ 96=A @FE 3@E9 AC@8C2>D 3J 4@>3:?:?8] pE =62DE H6 92G6 2 DE23=6 E62> E92E H:== D9@H FA 2?5 36 23=6 E@ A=2J 6G6CJ ?:89E]Qk^Am
kAm}@ @?6 42? C6>6>36C 2 E:>6 H96? E62>D H6C6 4@?D@=:52E65 =:<6 E9:D] qFE D6G6C2= 4@2496D :? E96 2C62 C642==65 E:>6D H96C6 D>2== D49@@=D 925 2 D:?8=6 8:C= H9@ >@DE=J C@56 E96 36?49 @? E96 3@JD E62> 3642FD6 E96C6 H2D?VE 2 8:C=D E62>]k^Am
kAm%96 sC28@?D A=2J :? 2 8J> E92E 92D ;FDE 7:G6 C@HD @7 D62ED @? E96 9@>6 D:56 2?5 E9C66 @? E96 G:D:E@CVD] xEVD E96 7@42= A@:?E @7 E96 @?6\3F:=5:?8 D49@@= E92E D6CG6D 49:=5C6? 7C@> <:?56C82CE6? E@ `aE9 8C256] p A2:?E:?8 @7 2 =2C86 AFCA=6 5C28@? :? >:57=:89E 5@>:?2E6D @?6 H2== 2?5 E96 H@C5D E@ E96 D49@@= D@?8 9:89=:89E 2?@E96C]k^Am
kAm%9@D6 H@C5D A2:?E 2 A:4EFC6 @7 E96 =2?5D42A6 E96 D49@@= 42==D 9@>6i Qx? E96 >:5DE @7 52C< @:= 56CC:4<D[ 4@EE@? 7:6=5D :? 3=@@>[ DE2?5D E96 36DE @7 C@J2= 9:89 D49@@=D[ s2HD@? 96C6VD E@ J@F]Qk^Am
kAm%96 `g\J62C\@=5 w@CE@? :D 6IA64E65 E@ 36 E96 D49@@=VD G2=65:4E@C:2? E9:D J62C] $96VD E9@F89E7F= 2?5 A@=:E6 2?5 6IF56D 2? 6=@BF6?46 @7 D@>6@?6 >F49 @=56C] $96 2G6C2865 2=>@DE a_ A@:?ED 7@C E96 8:C=VD E62>[ 3FE 92D 925 E@ 25;FDE 96C 82>6 2?5 364@>6 >@C6 @7 2 724:=:E2E@C ?@H E92E D96VD 4@>A6E:?8 282:?DE 3@JD]k^Am
kAmxEVD ?@E 2? :562= D:EF2E:@? 7@C 96C 2?5 E96 @E96C 7@FC 8:C=D @? E96 E62>[ 3FE w@CE@? 7@4FD6D @? E96 A@D:E:G6D @7 E96 4@>AC@>:D6]k^Am
kAmQ(6VC6 23=6 E@ C6DA64E E96 @AA@CEF?:EJ >@C6 2?5 H6VC6 6G6? >@C6 E92?<7F= 7@C :E[Q D96 D2:5] Q*629[ :E 42? 36 <:?5 @7 2 4FCD6 :? D@>6 H2JD 3FE >@C6 E92? E92E :EVD 2 3=6DD:?8 E92E H6VG6 =62C?65 E@ 92?5=6 25G6CD:EJ E92E ?@3@5J 6=D6 4@F=5 6G6? :>28:?6]Qk^Am
kAm%96 8:C=D D2J >@DE @7 s2HD@?VD @AA@?6?ED 92G6 366? C6DA64E7F=] %96C6 92G6 366? 2 76H D6I:DE 4@>>6?ED[ 2?5 #@3:D@? D2:5 96VD 962C5 D@>6 @7 E96 3@JD 7C@> @E96C E62>D D2J:?8 E9:?8D =:<6i Vw6J[ 3236[ H92EVD J@FC ?F>36Cn (92EVD 8@:?8 @?nVQk^Am
kAmw@CE@? EC:6D E@ EF?6 @FE E9@D6 E9:?8D 2?5 H:D96D :E H2D?VE 2? :DDF6]k^Am
kAmQ(6VC6 ?@E @FE 96C6 2D 8:C= 32D<6E32== A=2J6CD[ H6VC6 ;FDE 32D<6E32== A=2J6CD[Q D96 D2:5] Q(6 H2?E E@ A=2J E96 82>6] (6VC6 ?@E 2D<:?8 J@F E@ A=2J FD 5:776C6?E=J]Qk^Am
kAm%96 E62> 92D?VE 72C65 H6== D:?46 E96 4@?D@=:52E:@?[ 3FE 5:5 362E {@@A d`\a` :? >:5\y2?F2CJ 7@C :ED 7:CDE H:? 2D 2 4@\65 DBF25 E@ 62C? E62> @7 E96 H66< 9@?@CD 7C@> 2 {F33@4< E6=6G:D:@? DE2E:@?] r@2496D 2?5 A=2J6CD E2<6 8C62E AC:56 :? E92E C64@8?:E:@?] %9@F89 E96J @7E6? 6?5 FA @? E96 HC@?8 6?5 @7 =@AD:565 82>6D[ E96 sC28@?D 2C6 :>AC@G:?8 2?5 36=:6G6 E96JVC6 82:?:?8 C6DA64E 2C@F?5 E96 5:DEC:4E]k^Am
kAmQxEVD ?@E =:<6 2 D:56 D9@H[Q D2:5 4@249 %@?;2 t56?D[ E96 7@C>6C 8:C=D 4@249 H9@ E62>D H:E9 #@3:D@? E@ =625 E96 4@\65 8C@FA] Q(6VC6 @FE 96C6 4@>A6E:?8]Qk^Am
kAmvCF>3=6D[ E96 $2?5D 4@249[ D92C65 E96 >6DD286 96 925 7@C 9:D 8FJD 367@C6 E96J 72465 s2HD@?]k^Am
kAmQx E@=5 >J E62> J@FVG6 8@E E@ A=2J 282:?DE E96> ;FDE =:<6 E96JVC6 3@JD 3642FD6 H6VC6 A=2J:?8 2 3@JD D4965F=6[Q 96 D2:5] Q*@FVC6 ?@E A=2J:?8 282:?DE 8:C=D] *@FVG6 8@E E@ E2<6 E96> D6C:@FD=J] x? E9:D D:EF2E:@? :E 5@6D?VE >2EE6C H92E 86?56C E96J 2C6[ J@F 92G6 E@ A=2J =:<6 :EVD ;FDE 2?@E96C 9:89 D49@@= 82>6]Qk^Am
kAmt56?D[ H9@ A=2J65 4@==686 32D<6E32== 2E 2 s:G:D:@? xxx D49@@=[ D2:5 E96C6 H2D D@>6 4@?46C? 23@FE E96 D276EJ @7 E96 8:C=D 3642FD6 @7 E96 D:K6 2?5 DEC6?8E9 @7 G2CD:EJ 3@JD] %96J 2D<65 6249 8:C= 23@FE E96 C:D<D 2?5 2== 28C665 :E H2D H@CE9 :E E@ D2=G286 E96:C D62D@?]k^Am
kAm$96VD 925 E@ 25;FDE 96C 4@249:?8 DEJ=6 E@ 244@>>@52E6 E96 492?86]k^Am
kAmQ*@FVC6 ?@E 8@:?8 E@ 86E 3:886C E92? E96> @C DEC@?86C E92? E96>[Q D96 D2:5] Q$@ J@FVC6 8@:?8 E@ 92G6 E@ 86E D>2CE6C] *@F ?665 E@ DE2J @? E96 8C@F?5] *@F ?665 E@ 3=@4< E96> @FE]Qk^Am
kAms@?@G2? %9@C?E@? :D E96 @?=J D6?:@C 3@J @? E96 E62>[ ?@H DA=:E 6G6?=J H:E9 7:G6 3@JD 2?5 7:G6 8:C=D] %96 D@7E\DA@<6? %9@C?E@? C2G6D 23@FE E96 =6256CD9:A w@CE@? 92D AC@G:565 2?5 D2:5 D@>6 @7 E96 E9:?8D 96VD 962C5 7C@> @AA@D:?8 E62>D 92G6 E:4<65 9:> @77]k^Am
kAmQxE 5@6D FAD6E >6 3642FD6 H6 42>6 E@86E96C ;FDE E@ A=2J 32D<6E32==[Q 96 D2:5] Q(6 H2?E E@ A=2J 32D<6E32== 2?5 E96 724E E92E A6@A=6 H2?E E@ 5@H?8C256 FD[ :EVD ?@E C:89E]Qk^Am
kAm~E96C E92? E92E[ 96VD 366? A6C764E=J 92AAJ H:E9 E9:D D6E FA 3642FD6 :E 6?DFC65 E92E s2HD@? 86ED E@ A=2J 6G6CJ 82>6 :? 9:D =2DE D62D@?[ H9:49 92D @?=J 2 76H 82>6D =67E] w6 36=:6G6D E96 8C@FA 92D >6C865 H6== 2?5 D2:5 2 D:8? 92?8:?8 :? E96 >:55=6 @7 E96 8J> E92E C625i Q!62?FE qFEE6C U2>Aj y6==JQ :D 2 C6AC6D6?E2E:@? @7 E92E 724E]k^Am
kAmQxEVD 2? 2?2=@8J =:<6 E96 8:C=D 2?5 3@JD 8@ E@86E96C =:<6 A62?FE 3FEE6C 2?5 ;6==J 8@ E@86E96C @? 2 D2?5H:49[Q 96 D2:5 367@C6 7=2D9:?8 2 3:8 8C:? 2?5 EC@EE:?8 324< E@ AC24E:46]k^Am
Rules of Conduct
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Sign Up
A subscription service is required to post comments.