NATCHEZ — In Brandy and Sandy Hall’s case, the apple didn’t fall very far from the tree.

The twin daughters of Adams County Christian School girls basketball coach Melanie Hall have begun following in their mother’s footsteps, coaching in AYA basketball for the past three years.

The Hall twins coached the third- and fourth-grade ACCS teams in 2009 and 2010, and the fifth- and sixth-grade team this past season. With a 23-0 record from the past three seasons, the Hall sisters have taken the same group of girls and helped develop them into future cornerstones for the Lady Rebels.

“They have so much self confidence,” Brandy Hall said. “They know they’re going out there to play for the Lord and win.

“We cut them zero slack. With all the running and conditioning, it’s almost at the same level as the high school teams.”

Sandy Hall said her sister reminds her a lot of their mother.

“I’m more of the cheerleader, because she does the coaching part,” Sandy Hall said.

“Brandy is just like Mom — she’s a clone of her. They sound alike, they look alike and they coach alike. That’s good because when these girls move on (to the high school level), they’ll know her coaching style already. It won’t be like trying to start over.”

Brandy Hall said her mother was the main inspiration that led the two sisters into coaching.

“Everything I learned, I learned from her,” Brandy Hall said. “She helped me a lot, and I’m always asking her to watch me, look at the defenses and find out what we can do against certain teams.

“My grandmother really pounded into Mom’s head that there will always be more people for you than against you. Mom also taught me that layups, free throws and defense are what wins championships.”

And those three things are what the Hall sisters make sure their players understand, along with the importance of teamwork.

“We always do layups and free throws at the beginning of practice,” Brandy Hall said. “If you miss, you run.

“We tell them they have to play together. If they come in to play selfish, we’ll gladly sit them on the bench.”

Sandy Hall said the players have responded well to what’s being asked of them, and it doesn’t matter how inexperienced the girls are coming in.

“They’re coachable,” Sandy Hall said. “You can throw anyone at us, even someone who doesn’t have a lot of experience, and we’ll turn them into an athlete. It happens every year.”

The Hall sisters’ faith in Christ also plays a big part of their coaching, which they also get from their mother.

“At the end of each practice and game, we pray,” Brandy Hall said. “We also started praying with the parents. We really stress the power of prayer.”

One player in particular, Kaci Guedon, really took charge of post-basketball prayer this season, Sandy Hall said.

“This year in particular, she just expected to do it, and it was wonderful when she did,” Sandy Hall said. “It was absolutely incredible when she prayed — you know it couldn’t just be her.”

Next season will be the last season the Hall sisters coach in AYA, they said. Both sisters are currently studying at Copiah-Lincoln Community College, and will transfer to Alcorn State in the fall. They are majoring in elementary education.