By ROWENA PLETT

Staff writer

Alyssa and Samantha Espinoza grew up playing sports together, first soccer, and later volleyball, basketball, and track.

They will continue to be each other’s best teammates when they graduate from Centre High School this spring. The twins recently signed a letter of intent to join the basketball team at Hesston College.

They said their basketball coach Alan Stahlecker knew Michael Smalley the head coach for Hesston women’s basketball and brought them together.

When they visited the school this past week, Smalley let the sisters know that he was interested in them.

They also met with the volleyball coach Taylor Littleton, who assured them that they could play for her.

Centre’s basketball season got off to a slow start as players exposed to COVID-19 were sidelined in quarantine.

But Hesston’s head coach told the twins he already liked what he saw and wanted them to play for the Larks.

“We were happy the coach had reassured us before our season started that there would be a place for us at Hesston,” Alyssa said.

The girls said they are both competitive, but as twin sisters, they don’t compete against each other.

“We like to help each other out and help other players out if they are having a down night,” Samantha said.

“When you have a twin, you know that you always have a teammate,” Alyssa said.

Samantha said they are very alike, but they each have their own strengths to bring to a team.

In the 2019-20 season, Alyssa led Centre in scoring, and Samantha led in rebounds.

“We’re alike but different,” Samantha said. “We know each other’s abilities and we have fun. Having a twin is pretty great.”