
EDWARDSVILLE - Senior guard Kyridas Orr was one of the most important players for the Alton High School girls' basketball team in 2025-2026. She was a very dependable player who was always in position to grab the big rebounds or make a big defensive play to help the Redbirds when they needed it the most.
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In the IHSA Class 4A regional final win at Edwardsville's Lucco-Jackson Gym on Feb. 20, a 49-33 win for the Redbirds over the host Tigers, Orr was there, pulling down the big rebound, or was in her position to help make a big stop against Edwardsville, especially in times where the Tigers were fighting to get back into the game.
For the season, she averaged 6.4 points, and 4.9 rebounds-per-game, among the team leaders in rebounding. She also has 19 assists and 28 steals.
She is an Auto Butler Female Athlete of the Month for the Redbirds.
In a postgame interview conducted after Alton's regional championship win, Orr, a very personable player, expressed her happiness with the win.
It was Alton's fifth consecutive regional championship, and Orr couldn't have been any happier.
"We don't take anything for granted," Orr said, "We wanted to work together throughout the rest of the season and the postseason."
The Redbirds were able to withstand an Edwardsville run at the start of the second half to gain back control of the game, going on to win.
"We focus on defensive aspects," Orr said, "we want to get runs, play defense, and do our thing. We don't want to worry about what the crowd has to say, what the other players have to say. As long as we stay to ourselves and play as a team, we're good."
Orr said the Alton girls definitely had great chemistry together in 2025-2026.
"Our coaching staff is amazing, and playing together is just amazing, so I'm excited. I am just grateful for my team, and I love my coaches, and I love my girls."