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Jefferson County High School's Antrell Gales and Kailyn Hammett, front row, signed Wednesday to play basketball at Hinds Community College. Pictured with the duo are, back row, from left, basketball coach Flora McKnight, Gales' mother Stephanie Gales, athletic director Marcus Walton, principal Adrian Turner, Hammett's mother Angelia Shelvy and Superintendent Vincent Turner. (Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat)

Jefferson County High School's Kailyn Hammett, front, center, signed Wednesday to play basketball at Hinds Community College. Pictured with Hammett are front row, from left, brother, Marlon Berry, mother Angelia Shelvy, grandmother, Lela Shelvy, grandfather Robert Floyd Shelvy; back row, Superintendent Vincent Turner, basketball coach Flora McKnight and athletic director Marcus Walton. (Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat)

Jefferson County High School's Kailyn Hammett, front, center, signed Wednesday to play basketball at Hinds Community College. Pictured with Hammett are from left, mother Angelia Shelvy and grandmother Lela Shelvy. (Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat)

Jefferson County High School's Antrell Gales, front, center, signed Wednesday to play basketball at Hinds Community College. Pictured with Gales are front row, from left, basketball coach Flora McKnight, mother Stephanie Gales; back row, Superintendent Vincent Turner and athletic director Marcus Walton. (Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat)

Stephanie Gales, left, and Angelia Shelvy, right, help their daughters, Antrell Gales and Kailyn Hammett Wednesday while signing scholarship papers to play basketball at Hinds Community College. (Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat)

Jefferson County High School’s Kailyn Hammett and Antrell Gales have gotten accustomed to playing together.

Now it’s a good thing they don’t have to change.

The Lady Tiger duo both signed scholarship papers to play basketball at Hinds Community College Wednesday in front of an elated group of family and friends.

“I’ve been thinking about this ever since I started playing basketball,” Hammett said. “This is going to feel like high school all over again. We knew whatever we did, we would do it together.”

As the pair of seniors has grown, Hammett — a point guard — and Gales — a center — learned to be each other’s go-to person.

Gales added how special the sentiment was since she shared it with her best friend.

“When one of us is missing, it just isn’t the same,” she said. “We’ve both been through the same things.”

In her final campaign, Hammett averaged 14 points, eight assists, five rebounds and three blocks a game. On the other hand, Gales had 11 points, nine rebounds, eight blocks, seven assists and three steals a game.

Hammett was recently named The Natchez Democrat’s All-Metro Player of the Year, and also the MHSAA Region 7-3A All-Region Player of the Year. Gales was named to the all-region team.

The duo added how thankful they were for the support of coaches and family, especially, and said how excited they were to not be too far from home.

“It’s big to have the support,” Gales said. “It gives you that extra boost you need.”

At the Raymond-based campus, Gales said she plans to study criminal justice, while Hammett hopes to pick up classes in sports medicine.

While they both agreed they aren’t quite ready to graduate yet, Gales and Hammett said they were excited for the future.

“It’s on to the next thing now,” Gales said.

“Go Bulldogs,” Hammett added.

Jefferson County girls basketball coach Flora McKnight said she was happy for her Lady Tigers, too.

“I’m not going to cry yet,” she said. “Maybe it’ll sink in during next season.”

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