Siblings share similar love for sport

The differences between brother and sister during the teenage years can be huge. Oftentimes, there isn’t a lot a brother and sister can say they have in common with one another. For Tyler and Kayla Johnson though, the love of basketball has created a bond between the two.

Kayla, a senior, starts on the girls varsity basketball team and is mostly a forward. Tyler, a sophomore, starts on the boys varsity basketball team and is a point guard. Their roles on the team are a bit different because of the shape of their team.

As a result of the girls’ team being young, Kayla has understood what her role needs to be, especially as being one of the few seniors on the team. “Because I have a young team, my job is to calm, teach, and lead the team,” Kayla says.

For Tyler, his job is to continue leading the team as the starting point guard. Even though he is only a sophomore, his role on the team is very important.

While they are on different teams and have different roles, they both have a huge love for the game of basketball.

“Basketball is a team sport and brings you really close to your teammates,” Kayla says. “It’s a great sport and the reason I play it today,” she adds.

“I’ve been playing basketball since kindergarten and have always like it,” Tyler says. “It’s an awesome sport to play,” he adds.

Having a brother and a sister playing the same sport in the same season, lends to an interesting family conversations.

“My parents, brother, and I talk a lot about basketball,” Kayla chuckles. “Especially during the season, it’s pretty much what we talk about. Basketball this, basketball that.”

However, outside of playing basketball for Howell, Tyler and Kayla are like normal siblings.

“I think the only things we have in common are that we both like to relax in our free time and hang out with friends,” Kayla says. “I like to read a lot, which I know Tyler doesn’t,” she adds.

Tyler during his down time likes to play video games and play other sports besides basketball. He was also the starting quarterback for the junior varsity football team last fall.

“I also like school a lot more than Tyler,” Kayla chuckles. “That’s the main difference between me and him.”

For Kayla, life after high school includes going to college for pre-med. Basketball, however, is still up in the air.

“I don’t know if I’m going to play basketball competitively after high school, but I’m not too worried about it if I don’t.”

Tyler, on the other hand, has his eyes set on basketball for many years to come.

“I want to go to college and get a scholarship for basketball after high school,” he says with confidence.

As Kayla being a senior and the big sister, watching her brother do well in the sport she also plays makes her proud.

“It’s awesome,” Kayla says with a smile. “Tyler works really hard and is a great player. He’s in the gym literally every day trying to get better. I’m sure he will go far in basketball.”