Running In the Family: Northside Lady Bear continues family legacy

One can make a case that Kaydence Flemming was destined to both attend Northside High School and play sports there. After all, it’s in her bloodline.

Her father, Cameron Flemming, was a standout football player for the Grizzlies in the late 1980s. Then she had three older sisters that all played for the Lady Bears basketball team: Kayla Flemming, Courtney Flemming and Kendra Roberts.

Now, Kaydence Flemming gets to continue forging that family path, playing basketball for the Lady Bears as well. A senior, she primarily plays shooting guard and has started since her sophomore year.

“I knew when I was born, I’m going to Northside High School just because my family has grown up in this school and everyone knows who I am and I know everyone just because I’ve been around this community for so long,” Flemming said. “It’s like I knew instantly this was going to be my home.”

Flemming also knew all eyes were going to be on her due to her name and family history. But she never let that be a burden.

“A lot of people think I have a lot of pressure on me, but I just truly rejoice in it because I feel like I’m so lucky to be able to have that and to be able to say I have this,” Flemming said. “My entire family has been here and we have a legacy that’s going to keep going through the generations.

“My sisters accomplished a lot of great things when they were here playing basketball for Coach (Rickey) Smith and so did my father playing football, and so it’s just like I have a lot to live up to and I try my best to do it.”

Flemming is part of a talented senior class that has Northside in the hunt for another state championship, which would be the ninth in Smith’s illustrious run with the Lady Bears. Northside went to 12-3 following a 6A-West win Tuesday (Jan. 7) at Rogers. The Lady Bears also won December’s Tournament of Champions, beating two high-caliber Oklahoma teams and a Texas squad in the event, which Northside hosted.

“I can’t believe that I’m here, with my fourth-grade year of me thinking, ‘Do I have a chance, do I have a chance,’ and now I get that chance and it’s just been great,” Flemming said.

“So far this year, we’ve accomplished so much. … We’ve had to overcome so many obstacles, so where we’re at right now for the things we’ve been through is honestly amazing. For us to get what it takes to win a championship, honestly I think we need to keep banding together and keep playing like that team.”

In an early-season win against Little Rock Central, Flemming scored 10 points. She also had six, including making a 3-pointer, in the conference win at Rogers. While she likes to shoot, and even play inside and attempt to grab offensive rebounds for second-chance shots, Flemming really emphasizes playing solid defense.

“I take pride in my defense; it’s effort and it’s all mentality, like, ‘I know where this girl’s going, so I know better than to let her go to that place,’” Flemming said. “That’s all defense is really, you don’t have to have talent to do defense, it’s all effort, it’s all mindset, it’s telling yourself, ‘I’m not going to let her do this,’ and just standing on exactly what you tell yourself to do.”

While she makes her own name, Flemming still gets reminders of her family legacy. One of her sisters, Kendra Roberts, is an assistant coach with the Lady Bears.

“I really love having her there just because I know she’s going to tell me what I need to do exactly,” Flemming said. “She’s not going to sugarcoat anything, she’s going to give me that tough, sisterly love that I need honestly, and any time that I mess up, I know instantly that she’s going to let me know what I did wrong and how to exactly fix it, and I’m just grateful for that.”

Flemming also has a younger sister, Kamdyn, who attends Northside but plays volleyball.

Away from the court, Flemming likes to work on vehicles with her dad. She remarked they truly bonded while working on a Ram 1500 pickup that belongs to Cameron Flemming.

Kaydence Flemming continues to savor the experience of living her childhood dream of playing for the Lady Bears, getting to play for Smith.

“He makes us feel like we were there, we have the power to be there, and he just guides us every step of the way,” Flemming said. “He doesn’t leave one thing unsaid, he lets us know exactly what we need to do and all of that. He’s really truly a great coach.”