WINTER HAVEN — It’s the story that dreams are made of when it comes Winter Haven’s four-time girls high school basketball Player of the Year Serenity Hardy.
Back when she was playing — and this time losing — against big brother and current Indiana Hoosier football national champion Rolijah Hardy in the Winter Haven High School gym in front of current head coach Jhonnie Lawson, she would be distraught at losing against her sibling in a game of baksetball.
In fifth grade she had an idea on how good she was, so going down to her brother was a big no no, which is the type of confidence built off of a family of sports stars, including her mom, Felecia Hawkins, who was awarded in 1994 as Polk County’s Track Athlete of the Year, her father Roger Hardy who was a very good football player at Lake Gibson High School, her two aunts, LaTonya Hawkins and Angela “Hawkins” Freeman who also achieved Polk County Girls Basketball Player of the Year back in 2000 and 2002 respectively and her sister, Trinity Hardy, who earned player of the year.
But now Serenity Hardy has experienced something for just the third time in Winter Haven High School girls basketball history. On Wednesday in the school’s auditorium, she was awarded the 2026 Florida Dairy Farmers Miss Basketball award in front dozens of her peers, players, coaches, administrators and family who erupted in a raucous frenzy.
“Words can’t even express it. I give all the glory to God. Without Him, I wouldn’t be here today. Obviously the last four years, (it’s been) my coaches (Billy D. Washington), teachers and teammates (who have helped me). I know it shows me the hard work I put in off the court, (and) during practice and in the gym (and) nobody is watching (but) coach Jhonnie and my dad. The hard work paid off in the end (and then) getting a crazy award like this. I’m just blessed,” Hardy said at the ceremony.
Hardy was the best player on what should have been the best team in the state. Hardy, who ruptured her Achilles in the second to last game of the season, averaged 23.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.8 steals, 1.1 assists — her best statistical season as a Winter Haven Lady Blue Devil (LBD). Her junior season — the season her team won the state title for the sixth time in school history — put up 19.2 points.
On a prestigious team that was started by current athletic director LeDawn Gibson (state champion coach) that boasts previous Miss Basketball players LaQwesha Gamble (2005) and Tiffany Hayes (2008), Lawson knows what kind of player he had on a 2026 team (20-7) that also featured Quin Sanders, Victoria Hall, Alyse Mercredi, Faith Thompson, Aubrey Hall, Lauren Jordan and Cierra Witherspoon who all had a hand in the state runner-up finish. There is a reason why Serenity Hardy racked up 95 points in the voting, which was 17 points over the second-place winner. And Lawson couldn’t be more elated.
“She deserves it. Her work ethic is after hours. Her dad is sending me video of him chasing her off the court at 1:30 in the morning. When practice is over, she’s pulling out the shooting machine. Dad’s calling me. She’s still in the gym at 10:30. … I don’t think people get it. It’s a lot of hard work. But the Winter Haven Lady Blue Devils girls basketball program has been put on the map,” Lawson said.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Winter Haven’s Serenity Hardy awarded 2026 Florida Miss Basketball
Reporting by Robert Magobet, Lakeland Ledger / The Ledger
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
