Every once in awhile, a sport will give us something to truly cheer.

We’ll always enjoy the plays that make the highlight reel, the big wins, the drama.

But give us an incredible storyline any day of the week over a buzzer beater. The best storylines often offer a compelling look at something much bigger than sports.

Telegram sports writer Justin Hite shared one of those stories in Sunday’s sports section. Nash Central senior Charnise Speight has been putting together a solid season as she caps her prep hoops career. In a real sense, Speight is a walking contradiction. She excels at a sport that requires its athletes to perpetually push their limits, but she constantly must be aware of her own at any given moment.

Speight has sickle cell SC, a disease that demands a heightened attention to hydration.

You wouldn’t know it watching her in action on the court. In fact, our sports staff didn’t know it until a casual conversation. That’s because Speight’s attention isn’t focused on sickle cell being a curse; instead, she looks at what she’s able to do athletically as a blessing.

She is a leader and an inspiration to her teammates. But her story transcends sports and teaches us a great lesson about hard work and dedication.