Mesquite Horn head coach Christina Bradford has the first three months of her year planned out -- win district, go to Austin, have a baby.
"I was talking to my mom this morning," says Bradford," and I said, You know you're going to have to drive and help me, because if we go, this is my dream. I'm going to be there. I promise you that.
Bradford, already a mother of three, is in her sixth season at Horn, and her dream may become reality -- the Lady Jaguars are 25-3 and ranked 9th in the latest state poll. And if the baby comes a little early ...
"These are my kids too, and I'm not going to let them down," Bradford says. "I'm not going to let my family down. I'll be where I need to be, and I believe God will make sure of that."
Coach Bradford has mellowed just over the last year alone, and there's a couple of reasons for that, depending on who you talk to. Bradford attributes it to a very good and veteran team. Her player attribute it to her pregnancy.
"Her temper used to be up there," says senior forward Kelsi Baker. "But I guess since she's pregnant she's kind of mellowed out."
Breanna Hall admits, "I asked her why she's nicer, and she said when you have Kobe and Shaq on the floor, Phil Jackson just sits back and watches.
"I mean I think it's the baby, but that's what she says it is."
"I don't think it's because I'm mellow," says Bradford. "I think as a person, I may be getting a little more mature, I want to be more like Phil Jackson. He just sits there and lets Kobe score, and that's what I'm trying to do. Hopefully I'll get a championship too."
That would make for an especially memorable March.
