Teigh Yeast receives prestigious statewide honor
- 17 hours ago
- 4 min read
Teigh Yeast never needed to be the loudest player on the floor to be the most trusted.
Her leadership for GRC Hoops has long been measured less by celebration and more by steadiness.
Her excellence in all phases of the game has helped guide the Cardinals to their 33rd consecutive 40th District championship, their 19th overall and fifth straight 10th Region championship, and the No. 1 ranking in the state headed into this week's KHSAA State Tournament.
Now the spotlight is catching up to the player who never chased it.
Teigh will receive the 12th Annual Donna LJ Murphy Award during the Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Awards Ceremony on March 22. The Murphy award honors a senior whose excellence extends beyond the hardwood.
“It feels pretty amazing to receive this honor because not only does it show my talent on the court but more importantly it shows my character and the type of person I am off the court, so it's pretty special to have won this award,” Teigh said.
Indeed it is. The Donna L.J. Murphy Award is highly prestigious. Nominations come from across the state, making the final selection both competitive and meaningful.
For Coach Robbie Graham, the award reflects exactly the kind of player and person Teigh has been throughout her time in the program.
“This is a tremendous honor to bestowed on any female basketball player in Kentucky,” he said. “I'm just very proud and very happy for Teigh. She is super intelligent and has a very bright future ahead. It's an honor for me to be able to coach Teigh.”
Teigh has scored nearly 1,900 career points and helped lead GRC Hoops to the State Tournament for the fifth straight year. In defining moments, she has been the consistent presence her team depends on.
“She's such an even-keeled player," Coach Graham said. "She keeps the same poker face and solid composure if we're winning by 20 or down by 3 with 2 seconds to go. She's such a high character young lady, very respected in our building by both staff and students.”
Teigh is also a candidate for Miss Kentucky Basketball, another one of the state’s most esteemed individual honors.
A nine-time Kentucky state champion in track and a power in volleyball as well, Teigh has excelled across three sports while maintaining a GPA above 4.0.
Balancing practices, games, travel, and academics requires a level of discipline that has become second nature.
“It definitely takes some sacrifices, but when you want to be great in everything, you get it done," she said. "It’s a lot of time management trying to practice, get extra work in, study, and still have fun, but after doing it for so long, it’s just my normal life. I don’t know anything else so the balance isn’t too bad.”
Her foundation, she said, comes from home.
“My influence would have to be both of my parents," she said. "To them, it’s never just been about what happens on the court or track. They have always made sure that I’m doing what needs to be done in the classroom as well.”
Athletics run deep in the Yeast family. Her father, Terry Yeast, serves as GRC athletic director and track coach. Mom Tiffany was a high school basketball and track athlete before competing collegiately in the long and triple jump.
Teigh's sister, Timberlynn, plays basketball at Marshall University, while another sister, Trinity, a cosmetologist, keeps Teigh’s game-day hairstyles sharp.
“My family being full of athletes has given me something to live up to as I want to be able to continue that legacy,” Teigh said. “They have been through many of the same situations so they understand and give me advice to get through my own challenges.”
Though Teigh is a multi-sport star, excelling in volleyball and winning state championships in track, she will stick to basketball in college. Next fall, she will continue her basketball career at Robert Morris University.
“RMU is just a special place," she said. "I loved the coaches and the girls, and just how special they all made me feel through the recruiting process."
The school's strong nursing program also was a factor as Teigh is equally committed to her goal of becoming a certified registered nurse anesthetist. She has already earned her CNA.
"Nursing has been the career that has caught my eye since a young age," she said. "I want to be able to make a difference in people’s lives and give that compassionate care to patients. I love that it has a true purpose and that there’s always something new to learn keeping it interesting but challenging at the same time."
For now, she is concentrating on ending her high school playing career with a Sweet 16 run.
"It’s like a fresh new start and we all have one common goal," Teigh said. "We are locked in and focused, taking it one day at a time to reach that goal.”
Her connection with her teammates makes it all the more special.
“Ever since my first week being with GRC Hoops I have loved it," she said. "The girls and coaches welcomed me with open arms and now they have all become some of my best friends. Our bonds are like no other and it shows on the court as well. I wouldn’t want to go through the ups and downs of the long basketball season with any other team; they truly are my second family."
As Teigh prepares to accept the Kentucky Donna LJ Murphy Award, she represents its true purpose — a student-athlete whose legacy reaches far beyond the scoreboard.
“Teigh doesn't always lead verbally, but she leaves by example, with her hard work and her dedication," Coach Graham said. "Teigh's presence on our team is very important. Our kids think the world of her. She's a steady, respected leader in the locker room."
