This past season can be considered a highly successful one for Boiling Springs. Kinard’s play helped coach Breanna Ray’s Bulldogs to its first season with double-digit victories (12) since the 2019-20 campaign when Boiling Springs won 11 games. She would play in all 27 games this past season with Boiling Springs while averaging 19.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.2 steals and 2.3 assists per contest. She participated with AEBL at the junior EYBL portion of Nike’s Session 2 in New Orleans. Kinard first played at the varsity level as a seventh grader and was the lone 2030 on last season’s Boiling Springs roster. 

When thinking about teams of the future, the Bulldogs of 5A Division 1 Boiling Springs have to certainly be in that conversation. That is because Boiling Springs has one of the premier state’s premier eighth grade guards at the controls. For the second consecutive season, Kinard earned all-region honors and she has reached 900 points for her career. She has also amassed 180 rebounds, 165 steals and 120 assists. One can count on Kinard reaching 1,000 points in the first few games of the 2026-27 campaign. Kinard helped the Bulldogs to its first season with a double-digit win total since 2019-20. The 19.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.2 steals Kinard averaged helped Boiling Springs earn a playoff berth. 

The eighth-grade phenom for 5A Division 1 Boiling Springs continues to make magic happen for the Bulldogs. She has spearheaded an improved Boiling Springs effort all season and continued that with a 26-point performance to lead the Bulldogs to a 56-38 result against 3A Chapman. Kinard as a defender can make things difficult for opposing ball carriers and that can lead to said ball carriers coughing up the rock, creating additional offensive possessions for Kinard’s team. She thrives as a transition playmaker but does so overall even in halfcourt sets. The attention she attracts from defenses can also open things up for teammates to make plays.

One of the more entertaining matchups of the day ensued between Kinard’s 5A Division 1 Boiling Springs team and 2A Landrum. Thanks to a 16-point effort courtesy of Kinard, the Bulldogs outlasted the Cardinals with the final score being 45-44. Kinard may be an eighth grader but she displays court instincts that are more indicative of veterans. She is a fearless attacker of the rim and knows how to find driving lanes to finish strong at the cup. Kinard also is unafraid of contact that can place her at the free throw line. With a year of varsity experience already under her belt, it should foretell improved fortunes for Boiling Springs. 

The last time Boiling Springs reached the eight-win threshold was in 2019-20 when the Bulldogs were victorious on 11 occasions. Kinard ensured last season’s version of 5A Division 1 Boiling Springs reached eight wins and earned a berth in the state tournament. Kinard wore the Bulldogs’ uniform on 26 occasions throughout the 2024-25 season. She averaged 14.1 points, 3.3 rebounds and three steals per contest. She led Boiling Springs in a number of statistical categories for last year’s team – including points per game, assists per game, steals per game and free throw percentage. Kinard can certainly lead the Bulldogs to what has to be a goal of its first double-digit winning season since that 2019-20 Boiling Springs version. 

Part of building something is going through the growing pains of losing games that one feels could have been wins. Kinard once again experienced that on Friday as her 5A Boiling Springs team matched up against 3A Broome. The Centurions defeated the Bulldogs by only five (43-38) but Kinard finished with 11 points which led all scorers for Boiling Springs. Kinard showcases that despite her youth, she is fearless. She has no problems attacking the rim even against several defenders and will find a way to put the ball through the hoop. Collecting steals, rebounding and getting to the line are strong points of her game that will continue to only improve as she gains more experience playing against – and amongst – high schoolers.

Boiling Springs was one of the eight teams that participated in this year’s Coach Varner Tip-Off at Woodruff. Kinard’s Bulldogs had a rough go of things with losses to the host Wolverines as well as another 3A team in Broome. The seventh grader was a bright spot for Boiling Springs in the matchup with Woodruff as she scored 12 points in a narrow 41-35 defeat. Kinard displayed a willingness to fearlessly attack the rim, organize an offense in a half court set and was accurate with her attempts from long range. Kinard also understands the art of getting her teammates involved in the flow of the game. She is just now getting her first bit of experience at the high school level – games like the one with Woodruff will be wins as her career blossoms.