From winning the championship for their Parks & Rec league in third grade, to winning Region Championships in both volleyball and basketball last year as high school seniors, Isabel Davenport and Makenzie Caldwell have spent countless hours together in the gym.
However, for the first time since that year of basketball in the third grade, Saturday the once dynamic duo shared the same gym, but not the same team.
Davenport, who signed with the University of North Georgia last winter, and her new team welcomed Caldwell and the Emmanuel College Lions to the UNG Convocation Center for a Saturday showdown.
“It was definitely weird seeing Kenz walk in with a different team and wearing a different jersey,” Davenport said. “Your first instinct is to dislike the opponent, that is until you see that your opponent was your best teammate.”
The game served as the finale to the Peach Belt Conference/Conference Carolinas Challenge, which saw the PBC’s Young Harris and UNG face off against Lees-McRae College and Emmanuel in the two-day event.
It also served as some of the first competition as collegiate athletes for the two freshmen, as the game was Davenport’s third and Caldwell’s second at the college level.
Caldwell shared some of the same emotions when it came to seeing her best friend, who she’s referred to for years as her “all-star,” suited up for the opposing team.
“That was the first time I’d seen her since the summer,” Caldwell said. “It was weird not to be on the same team as her walking in the gym. As soon as I saw her I wanted to hug her, but everything is so different now. I wasn’t even sure if I could go talk to her.”
For the two freshman, transitioning into college basketball has been a major adjustment.
“From high school to college has been a huge growing experience,” Davenport said. “You learn something new everyday and adjust to the faster pace.”
For Davenport, much of that learning has come from watching and absorbing as much as possible from the team’s veteran players, as the team returns an experienced roster including four seniors.
“The older players, especially our super seniors, have so much knowledge and advice,” she said. “It’s really crazy to see how they carry themselves day in and day out. They know how to prepare and know what it takes to be a part of a team. I’m thankful I have them to watch and learn from.”
The two teams battled to an epic game that saw 11 lead changes before UNG finally pulled away late in the fourth to take a 74-56 win over the Lions. While Davenport was able to log nine minutes in the Nighthawks’ previous game against Lees-McRae on Friday, neither of the former Indians made their way onto the floor in Saturday’s game.
That is, until the game was finished. Caldwell and Davenport were finally able to share a split second as the two teams congratulated each other and the two were able to reunite, briefly.
“Really the only time we got to see and embrace each other was shaking hands,” Davenport said. “It was sweet to see someone you know going down the line.”
Caldwell said despite the changes to their lives, and teams, the two friends always will be.
“No matter the color of our jerseys or if we are on the same team or not, she will always be my number one teammate and I will always cheer her on.”
