Here are the top boys and girls basketball standouts for games played on Jan. 23 as reported to The Commercial Appeal. To submit your players for consideration e-mail reporter John Varlas (John.Varlas@commercialappeal.com) or reach him on Twitter (@johnvarlas).
Janina Barber, Macon Road Baptist: Barber scored 15 to lead three players in double figures in a 53-16 victory over Calvary Christian. Isabella Everett added 14 and Hope Howlett contributed 12.
Lytia Flowers, Catholic: The Chargers got 19 points from Flowers in a 63-17 win over Rossville that improved their record to 13-6.
Lily Gleneck, St. Benedict: Gleneck scored 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds as the Eagles improved to 3-0 in region play with a 52-34 victory over St. Mary's. Catalina Carrasco added 12 points while Kristina Ferris and Deja Pryor scored 10 each.
Markesha Hayes, Mitchell: Hayes scored 32 as the Tigers ran their record to 15-6 with an 84-7 victory over Sheffield. Tashun Bryson added 20 and Miata Borders 18 for the District 16-AA leaders.
Jayla Hemingway, Houston: With Mississippi State coach Vic Schaffer in attendance, the junior had a monster game in a 67-48 victory over Ridgeway and McDonald's All-American Elizabeth Dixon. Hemingway scored 35 points to go along with 12 rebounds, two assists and six steals.
Sade Hudson, Trezevant: The Bears topped Raleigh-Egypt 66-56 in an afternoon matinee and Hudson was the star, scoring 34 points to go along with 10 rebounds and six steals. Quinterria Foster added 13 for Trezevant.
Darrenishia Jackson, BTW: The Warriors had no trouble with Middle College, winning 56-16 behind Jackson's 13 points and six steals. Tranae Carter scored 11 while Carnessia Griggs had a great all-around game with eight points, five rebounds, eight assists and seven steals as the Warriors improve to 13-3.
Brittni Moore, White Station: The UT-Martin signee scored 15 and freshman Lyric Cole had 12 as the Spartans downed Overton, 57-34 in 16-AAA.
Diamond Nelson, Oakhaven: Nelson had 14 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals as the Hawks rolled past Freedom Prep, 58-12.
Jada Taylor and Lauren Taylor, Collierville: The two unrelated Taylors scored 19 and 17 apiece as Collierville improved to 12-5 with a 50-32 victory over Kirby.
Abby West, Tipton-Rosemark: The sophomore led the way with 16 in a 53-21 victory over Fayette Academy. Briana Hall added 14 for the Rebels, who improve to 17-5.
Taylor Woodhouse, Southaven: Woodhouse scored 19 points and had four assists as the Chargers remained perfect in league play with a 73-56 win over DeSoto Central. Tye Metcalf finished with 18 for Southaven.
October 6, 2018 - High School Session
Wednesday, January 24, 2018
Tuesday, January 23, 2018
Family ties, ferocious schedule fuel Arlington girls basketball team
article and image from Commercial Appeal
For the Arlington High girls basketball team, success is relative.
Literally.
This year's Tigers team, which is currently ranked fifth in The Commercial Appeal's Dandy Dozen, has two sets of twins on the team, juniors Lanetta and Lanyce Williams and freshmen Carmen and Charmen Taylor. Sophomore starter Nya Stewart's sister Shanobia is one of the team's managers.
"Lanyce and Lanetta ... they don't look anything alike so they're easy to tell apart," said Tigers coach Wes Shappley. "My younger set, to this day I'm looking for cues trying to tell which one is which. One wears her hair longer than the other; one wears tall socks and the other wears short socks.
"It makes it tough. We even have referees that have been thrown off ... Having three sets of sisters in the program definitely brings that family feeling in. But our girls do a good job relating with one another any way."
Which is one of the reasons why the Tigers look certain to be in the mix for one of the area's two spots in this year's Class AAA state tournament. Despite — or maybe because of — playing the toughest schedule in town, Arlington began this week with a 14-6 record.
Counted among those defeats are losses to Olive Branch and Houston, who are ranked second and fourth in this week's Dandy Dozen. The Tigers also lost to Hamilton Heights from Chattanooga, which is sending two players to the McDonald's All-American game, undefeated Bradley Central and Murfreesboro Riverdale, the defending state and USA Today national champions.
If Arlington does make it to Murfreesboro in March, it will have been well-earned.
"Playing a tough schedule is very beneficial when it comes to district play," said senior Sarah Grandberry. "We know what tough games are like ... and we learn from our mistakes. Those games are exciting though. I love challenges."
The challenge for Arlington will be having to go forward without leading scorer Caitlyn Wilson, who provided 15 points per game but is out for the year with a torn MCL.
But there's plenty of talent still on hand, lead by Lanetta Williams, an almost-freakishly athletic 6-3 junior who is ranked 35th in the Class of 2019 according to ESPN. The left-hander boasts excellent length, a soft touch around the hoop and — most impressively — the ability to handle the ball like a much smaller player.
Her basketball lineage is solid too; the twins' father Lance played at DePaul before carving out a 15-year career overseas.
"He played in Greece, Bosnia, Turkey ... most of our life we've been overseas," said Lanetta. "Watching basketball all the time, that was one of the things that influenced me.
"(With ball-handling), honestly my coaches gave me the freedom to do it and our guards also. That was really important to me and they let me learn and develop and make mistakes. And also my sister helping me."
Lanyce is also out for the year through injury so her contribution will be supporting her sister, whether it be by timing Lanetta's post-practice sprints or using what Shappley calls their "twin telepathy" to motivate and encourage.
"We critique each other all the time," Lanyce said. "Now I'm on sitting the sideline but I'll turn around and tell Lanetta 'hey, that wasn't the smartest move' or 'I know you can do better than what you're doing. And she understands. She'll say, 'yeah, I know what you're trying to say.'"
The Tigers square off against Hamilton Heights again Saturday at the Robertson Sportswear Classic in Baldwin, Miss. After that, it will be strictly local competition. Shappley thinks his team will be ready.
"Taylor Lattimore, she's a senior and a Jackson State signee and she's been playing really good basketball for the last month and a half," he said. "She's provided scoring but even defensively and rebounding ... she's providing what that senior is supposed to be.
"Her and Lanetta are going to carry a lot of the weight but I've got five or six girls that are sophomores and freshman and I told them, 'quite honestly, ya'll have got to pick up the weight.' And they can. They're capable."
For the Arlington High girls basketball team, success is relative.
Literally.
This year's Tigers team, which is currently ranked fifth in The Commercial Appeal's Dandy Dozen, has two sets of twins on the team, juniors Lanetta and Lanyce Williams and freshmen Carmen and Charmen Taylor. Sophomore starter Nya Stewart's sister Shanobia is one of the team's managers.
"Lanyce and Lanetta ... they don't look anything alike so they're easy to tell apart," said Tigers coach Wes Shappley. "My younger set, to this day I'm looking for cues trying to tell which one is which. One wears her hair longer than the other; one wears tall socks and the other wears short socks.
"It makes it tough. We even have referees that have been thrown off ... Having three sets of sisters in the program definitely brings that family feeling in. But our girls do a good job relating with one another any way."
Which is one of the reasons why the Tigers look certain to be in the mix for one of the area's two spots in this year's Class AAA state tournament. Despite — or maybe because of — playing the toughest schedule in town, Arlington began this week with a 14-6 record.
Counted among those defeats are losses to Olive Branch and Houston, who are ranked second and fourth in this week's Dandy Dozen. The Tigers also lost to Hamilton Heights from Chattanooga, which is sending two players to the McDonald's All-American game, undefeated Bradley Central and Murfreesboro Riverdale, the defending state and USA Today national champions.
If Arlington does make it to Murfreesboro in March, it will have been well-earned.
"Playing a tough schedule is very beneficial when it comes to district play," said senior Sarah Grandberry. "We know what tough games are like ... and we learn from our mistakes. Those games are exciting though. I love challenges."
The challenge for Arlington will be having to go forward without leading scorer Caitlyn Wilson, who provided 15 points per game but is out for the year with a torn MCL.
But there's plenty of talent still on hand, lead by Lanetta Williams, an almost-freakishly athletic 6-3 junior who is ranked 35th in the Class of 2019 according to ESPN. The left-hander boasts excellent length, a soft touch around the hoop and — most impressively — the ability to handle the ball like a much smaller player.
Her basketball lineage is solid too; the twins' father Lance played at DePaul before carving out a 15-year career overseas.
"He played in Greece, Bosnia, Turkey ... most of our life we've been overseas," said Lanetta. "Watching basketball all the time, that was one of the things that influenced me.
"(With ball-handling), honestly my coaches gave me the freedom to do it and our guards also. That was really important to me and they let me learn and develop and make mistakes. And also my sister helping me."
Lanyce is also out for the year through injury so her contribution will be supporting her sister, whether it be by timing Lanetta's post-practice sprints or using what Shappley calls their "twin telepathy" to motivate and encourage.
"We critique each other all the time," Lanyce said. "Now I'm on sitting the sideline but I'll turn around and tell Lanetta 'hey, that wasn't the smartest move' or 'I know you can do better than what you're doing. And she understands. She'll say, 'yeah, I know what you're trying to say.'"
The Tigers square off against Hamilton Heights again Saturday at the Robertson Sportswear Classic in Baldwin, Miss. After that, it will be strictly local competition. Shappley thinks his team will be ready.
"Taylor Lattimore, she's a senior and a Jackson State signee and she's been playing really good basketball for the last month and a half," he said. "She's provided scoring but even defensively and rebounding ... she's providing what that senior is supposed to be.
"Her and Lanetta are going to carry a lot of the weight but I've got five or six girls that are sophomores and freshman and I told them, 'quite honestly, ya'll have got to pick up the weight.' And they can. They're capable."
Girls Basketball Dandy Dozen
Released by the Commercial Appeal on 1/23/18
Here is this week's Commercial Appeal girls basketball Dandy Dozen. Rankings are based on games played through Jan. 20. Please note, SCIAA schools have until Wednesday to submit their make-up dates prompted by last week's school closures.
1. Whitehaven (12-3)
Last week: 1
This week: Friday at East
2. Olive Branch (15-4)
Last week: 2
This week: Tuesday vs. Lewisburg; Friday vs. Center Hill
3. Central (9-4)
Last week: 3
This week: Played Overton Monday; Friday at White Station
4. Houston (11-5)
Last week: 4
This week: Tuesday vs. Ridgeway; Friday vs. Germantown
5. Arlington (14-5)
Last week: 5
This week: Saturday vs. Whitehaven
6. Horn Lake (15-3)
Last week: 6
This week: Friday vs. Southaven
7. MHEA (19-5)
Last week: 7
This week: Friday at BTW
8. Northpoint (16-2)
Last week: 8
This week: Friday vs. Catholic; Saturday vs. Westminster
9. Southaven (15-6)
Last week: 9
This week: Tuesday at DeSoto Central; Friday vs. Horn Lake
10. Munford (13-5)
Last week: 10
This week: Tuesday at Dyer County
11. Bolton (12-4)
Last week: 12
This week: Played Kingsbury Monday; Wednesday at Cordova; Friday at Bartlett
12. Hernando (17-2)
Last week: NR
This week: Friday at DeSoto Central
Dropped out: Southwind (13-6)
Bubbling under: Trezevant (10-4); White Station (11-6); East (10-6); Tipton-Rosemark (15-5); Collierville (11-5); Oakhaven (10-2) Reach John Varlas at john.varlas@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @johnvarlas.
Here is this week's Commercial Appeal girls basketball Dandy Dozen. Rankings are based on games played through Jan. 20. Please note, SCIAA schools have until Wednesday to submit their make-up dates prompted by last week's school closures.
1. Whitehaven (12-3)
Last week: 1
This week: Friday at East
2. Olive Branch (15-4)
Last week: 2
This week: Tuesday vs. Lewisburg; Friday vs. Center Hill
3. Central (9-4)
Last week: 3
This week: Played Overton Monday; Friday at White Station
4. Houston (11-5)
Last week: 4
This week: Tuesday vs. Ridgeway; Friday vs. Germantown
5. Arlington (14-5)
Last week: 5
This week: Saturday vs. Whitehaven
6. Horn Lake (15-3)
Last week: 6
This week: Friday vs. Southaven
7. MHEA (19-5)
Last week: 7
This week: Friday at BTW
8. Northpoint (16-2)
Last week: 8
This week: Friday vs. Catholic; Saturday vs. Westminster
9. Southaven (15-6)
Last week: 9
This week: Tuesday at DeSoto Central; Friday vs. Horn Lake
10. Munford (13-5)
Last week: 10
This week: Tuesday at Dyer County
11. Bolton (12-4)
Last week: 12
This week: Played Kingsbury Monday; Wednesday at Cordova; Friday at Bartlett
12. Hernando (17-2)
Last week: NR
This week: Friday at DeSoto Central
Dropped out: Southwind (13-6)
Bubbling under: Trezevant (10-4); White Station (11-6); East (10-6); Tipton-Rosemark (15-5); Collierville (11-5); Oakhaven (10-2) Reach John Varlas at john.varlas@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @johnvarlas.
Hadley Horner, Commercial Appeal Player of the Week
released 1/23/18
Hadley Horner, Harding: Horner turned in two strong performances in victories over St. George's and Rossville Christian. The junior had 13 points and seven steals against the Gryphons on Friday before dropping 30 on the Wolves on Saturday to help Harding improve to 12-7.
Hadley Horner, Harding: Horner turned in two strong performances in victories over St. George's and Rossville Christian. The junior had 13 points and seven steals against the Gryphons on Friday before dropping 30 on the Wolves on Saturday to help Harding improve to 12-7.
Sunday, January 21, 2018
Gabby Crawford, Commercial Appeal Player of the Week
released 1/16/18
Gabby Crawford, Munford: One the same night her future school won the college football national championship, Alabama signee Crawford had a memorable night of her own in a 63-53 victory over Dyer County. The 6-1 senior finished with 26 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and three steals as the Cougars improved their record to 13-5.
Gabby Crawford, Munford: One the same night her future school won the college football national championship, Alabama signee Crawford had a memorable night of her own in a 63-53 victory over Dyer County. The 6-1 senior finished with 26 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and three steals as the Cougars improved their record to 13-5.
Friday, January 19, 2018
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