Messenger file photo by Chris McCarthy
By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor
Southside senior center Grace Ann Rose was recently named Player of the Year for the All-Etowah County Schools girls basketball team. Rose’s coach, Justin Bowen, earned Coach of the Year honors. The team was selected by the head coaches at the six county schools in the district.
Rose’s average of 15 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals helped the Lady Panthers win the county and area tournaments and finish three points shy of the program’s first-ever berth in the Elite Eight. Rose (pictured above) signed with Faulkner University this past fall.
In his second season at the school, Bowen guided Southside to 25-6 record and the program’s second straight berth in the Northeast Regional Tournament finals.
Joining Rose on the all-county team from Southside were senior forward Laylah Davis (9.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.4 steals) and senior guard Madison Shaw (10.6 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.3 steals).
Making the team from Sardis were senior forward Kaylen Wallace (11.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.6 steals), senior center Adriana Pottier (8.2 pts, 4.0 rebounds, 2.9 assist, 2.1 steals) and junior guard Jordyn Knight (8.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.1 assist, 3.1 steals).
Named from Glencoe were junior Alli Jo Amos (9.9 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.1 steals) and freshmen Kinlee Montgomery (11.5 points, 3.0 steals) and Sarah Ponder (6.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.1 steals).
Representing Hokes Bluff were sophomore Emma Doss (6.1 points, 2.8 rebounds), eighth grade forward Addison Simmons (7.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.3 steals) and seventh grader Mazely Ball (6.7 points, 4.2 rebounds).
Selected from West End were sophomore Aubrey Haynes (10 points, 9.5 rebounds), freshman Daleigha Wheeler (6.8 points, 4.0 assists) and eighth grader Isabella Falkner (7.4 points, 2.5 steals, 2.1 assists). Picked from Gaston was junior Bella Holland.