By Scott Wallace
NASHVILLE, TN — Girls basketball had a banner year in 2019-20 and there were some young stars that shined throughout the year. The Tennessee Tribune, Wallace Media Group (WMG)’s top team the Maplewood Lady Panthers made it to the state championships in Murfreesboro for the first time in school history.
Head coach Tristin Johnson-Williams, the co-Teresa Phillips WMG Coach of the Year, took advantage of having a young but feisty team, led by Dr. Verla Vaughan Metro Player of the Year junior LaRose Morrow, to finally make it further than any Lady Panther team.
“Last year we were young, but they played a lot,” said Williams. We made it to the semi-finals of the regionals so they were ready to take that next step this season. They play together and they like each other. That simplifies it for us.”
The future is also bright at Hillsboro High School. Head coach Cherish Stringfield tied with Johnson-Williams in votes for the award. Her team is a young, up and coming led by Judge Rachel Bell Newcomer of the Year freshman Cori Allen and classmate Kimora Lockett.
The Cane Ridge Lady Ravens received a huge lift in the second half of the year. Junior A’Niya Young, the Rose M. Wallace Defensive Player of the Year joined an already talented group. She was a double-double machine helping the Lady Ravens make it to the regionals.
Rounding out the superlatives is Republic High School sophomore Jillian Lane who won the Roszetta Bibbs Heart & Hustle Award. Lane’s competitive spirit helped her team make it to the regional in the first year of them playing in AA. Her demeanor characterized the spirit of Bibbs who passed away after a long battle with cancer.
Look for girls’ basketball to be even better in 2020-21. Only three seniors were named to our top 15 spots.
Teresa Phillips Coach of the Year: Cherish Stringfield Hillsboro & Tristin Williams Maplewood
Dr. Verla Vaughan Player of the Year: LaRose Morrow Maplewood Junior
Rose M. Wallace Defensive Player of the Year: A’Niya Young Cane Ridge Junior
Judge Rachel Bell Newcomer of the Year: Cori Allen Hillsboro Freshman
Roszetta Bibbs Heart & Hustle: Jillian Lane Republic Sophomore
First Team
Forward: A’Niya Young Cane Ridge Junior
Guard: Tameia Shaw East Nashville Junior
Guard: Cori Allen Hillsboro Freshman
Guard: LaRose Morrow Maplewood Junior
Center: Daryana Thompson Maplewood Junior
Second Team
Forward: Aniyah Bailey Antioch Senior
Guard: Jada Anthony Cane Ridge Sophomore
Guard: London Fairs East Nashville Senior
Guard: LaTisha Parris Hillsboro Sophomore
Guard: Renata Watson Maplewood Sophomore
Third Team
Forward: Zayla Jones East Nashville Junior
Guard: Kimora Lockett Hillsboro Freshman
Guard: Ty Gardner Maplewood Junior
Forward: Jada Johnson McGavock Senior
Guard: Jillian Lane Republic Sophomore
Honorable Mention
Forward: Kayla Antoine Antioch Senior
Forward: Charlee Floyd Cane Ridge Junior
Guard: Jasmine Greer Cane Ridge Sophomore
Guard: Zoe Kerr Cane Ridge Sophomore
Guard: Jaelynn Knox East Nashville Senior
Guard: Derriona Salter Hillsboro Sophomore
Forward: Trechelle Burch Hillsboro Senior
Guard: Brooke Baker Hume-Fogg Junior
Guard: Elisabeth Peebles Hume-Fogg Sophomore
Guard: Eunique Hassell Hunters Lane Sophomore
Forward: Ja’Maria Rutherford Martin Luther King Senior
Forward: Tyler Holt Maplewood Senior
Forward: Zariah Cameron Maplewood Junior
Guard: Tia Floyd Martin Luther King Senior
Forward: Jaylah Edmondson Overton Junior
Forward: Destiny Poole Pearl-Cohn Sophomore
Guard: Emani Wofford Republic Sophomore