High school basketball: Millwood basketball teams pay tribute to Karisma Taylor

Spears said several of her players were crying before tipoff Friday night. The news of Taylor's death was announced at the school earlier in the day, she said.

Cramer asked her daughter before the game if she wanted to still play Friday night. Hinds assured her mother that she wanted to play for Karisma.

After the game, Hinds was fighting back tears while talking about her classmate.

“She was just really fun to be around. She would always laugh when you talked to her,” Hinds said. “She was just real quiet and always down to earth.”

Hinds said it was hard not to think about her friend during the game. It was Taylor's first year to play basketball, she said.

“It was difficult to come out here and play, but I am glad I did,” she said. “It was just really emotional for all of us.”

Spears said the Lady Falcons will wear purple bows in their hair for the rest of the season in memory of Taylor.

The color gray often is used to promote asthma awareness, so the team also will wear gray socks for the remainder of the season, Spears said.

“Our prayers go out to the family,” she said.