Messenger file photo by Chris McCarthy
By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor
A Conqueror and a Warrior made their presence felt this past season in local high school basketball.
Coosa Christian sophomore guard Bella Millirons and Westbrook Christian so-phomore forward Cade Phillips are the respective boys and girls’ Players of the Year of the 2020-21 All-Messenger basketball teams.
In 26 games, Millirons (pictured above) averaged 28.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 5.0 steals and 2.0 assists while shooting 34 percent from the three-point line. She scored her 1,000th career point during the season while helping the Lady Conquerors to a 23-4 final record, a No. 5 ranking in the final regular season poll and a berth in the Northeast Regional Tournament for the first time in four years. Millirons was named both the All-Area 10 MVP and the All-Area Tournament MVP.
In 23 games, the 6-8 Phillips averaged 18.4 points, 9.1 rebounds 2.5 blocks and 1.3 steals while helping the Warriors go 17-6. Phillips currently has scholarship offers from Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Virginia Tech, Tulane, Samford, Middle Tennessee and UNC-Greensboro.
Joining Millirons on the girls first team is her backcourt mate, Chloe Davidson. After missing large portions of her sophomore and junior seasons to injury, the senior shoo-ting guard averaged 18.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.1 steals while blocking 27 shots. She signed with Gadsden State earlier this year. Gadsden City senior guard Camille Jenkins averaged 16 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists while helping the Lady Titans post a 14-7 record. As a true two-way center, Sardis sophomore Jayda Lacks averaged a double-double of 11.5 points and 12.8 rebounds while helping the Lady Lions win 12 games. She also contributed 2.6 blocks per game as Sardis finished as the area runner-up and made the state subregional playoff round. Kileigh Blackwell’s 11.2 points and 3.8 rebounds per game helped Hokes Bluff win is first Etowah County Schools championship in four years.
Phillips’ teammates on boys All-Messenger first team are Southside senior Michael Rich, Jr., Hokes Bluff sophomore Jordan Presley, Etowah sophomore Steven Jones and Coosa Christian senior Deonte Ford.
Rich was good for 11.3 points and 3.1 rebounds along with 34 assists and 20 steals as the Panthers won their second straight Etowah County Schools Tournament. Presley aided the Eagles’ cause with his 14.2 points, 4.0 rebounds 2.0 steals and 2.0 assists per game. Jones helped Etowah reach the subregional playoff after averaging 12.5 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. Ford powered the Conqueror offense and defense with 24.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 3.4 steals per game.
All-Messenger Girls All-Defensive Team
Ajainay Tinker, sophomore, Gadsden City
Lily Underwood, senior, Sardis
Abbi Martin, junior, Etowah
Meghan McCarthy, senior, Ashville
Kayla Traylor, sophomore, Glencoe
Ella Keane, sophomore, Westbrook
Erin Snow, junior, Coosa Christian
All-Messenger Boys All-Defensive Team
Jayden Lawson, junior, Gadsden City
Hunter Sitz, senior, Southside
Will Clemons, senior, Hokes Bluff
Caddon Moore, senior, Coosa Christian
Trent Davis, Sr., Etowah
Adriane Hernandez, Ashville
All-Messenger second team girls
Tameah Gaddis, junior, Gadsden City
Sydney Yancey, senior, Southside
Jaleigh Devine, sophomore, Etowah
Madison Parker, senior, West End
Maddie Smith, senior, Hokes Bluff
All-Messenger second team boys
Taylor Carr, junior, Southside
Christian Morris, senior, Westbrook
Avron Nix, junior, Hokes Bluff
Demarcus Macon, senior, Gadsden City
Dee Spears, Jr, Etowah
All-Messenger third team girls
Sera Beth Potter, junior, Ashville
McKayla Bean, sophomore, Westbrook
Lynnsey Hunt, senior, Southside
Jaxson Sizemore, Glencoe
Ryleigh Wade, senior, Ashville
All-Messenger third team boys
Nick Lewis, senior, Gaston
Owen Wescott, Southside
Kyle Patterson, junior, Hokes Bluff
Isaiah Cole, senior, Coosa Christian
Ratavious Hicks, senior, Gadsden City
Editor’s note: The 2020-21 All-Messenger basketball teams were compiled from season statistics sent from local high schools. Not every school submitted final statistics for consideration.
