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KaLee Jones and Kenley Kauffman are more than just senior athletes at Morgan Academy.

Jones and Kauffman are also step sisters who always support each through family, academics and athletics. Their parents, Lebo Jones and Jennifer Jones, have been married for seven years.

Jones made The Selma Times-Journal All Dallas County basketball team and also plays volleyball and soccer. She played in the AISA All-Star basketball game.

Kauffman made The Selma Times-Journal All Dallas County volleyball team and played for the Lady Senators’ basketball team. She also played in the AISA All-Star volleyball game.

For Kauffman, going through the COVID-19 pandemic with Jones at her side has provided a huge lift.

“I’m especially happy that I have my stepsister Kalee Jones by my side to walk through This with,” Kauffman said. “We have always been reallly close and it’s cool to have her not only as my sister but one of my best friends to do school work with and everything else.”

Kauffman said the coronavirus strengthened the family.

“Even though this has been tough it’s brought us close to family before heading off to college,” Kauffman said.

Jones said Gov. Ivey closing down K-12 schools statewide last month was a huge adjustment to make.

“Transitioning from normal life before all of this madness to quarantine has been interesting,” Jones said. “It’s definitely a big change from going from the traditional classroom to online school, but my wonderful teachers have tried their hardest to make it as simple as possible; which I am very thankful for.”

Kauffman, the 2019 Miss Morgan Academy, said she misses going through the normal routine at Morgan Academy.

“Not being able to finish senior year out the right way with friends and my teachers in a regular classroom scenario has definitely been tough,” Kauffman said. “But we have some awesome teachers at Morgan Academy who never fail to make us seniors still feel special and help us in every way they can through these times. I’m happy that we did get to have our senior prom unlike most schools.”

Jones said it was tough not to finish her athletic career at Morgan Academy.

“It was my first year playing soccer and I loved it and now I’m very sad that it had to come to an end so early like it did,” Jones said. “I’m very fortunate to finish volleyball and basketball.”

Kauffman and Jones are both excited to attend Troy University in the fall and will be rooming with two other girls. The step sisters will add another chapter to their family scrapbook.