Messenger file photo by Chris McCarthy
By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor
Southside’s run to the Northeast Regional Tournament finals was fueled by a senior-laden starting lineup, and no upperclassman was more important to the Lady Panthers’ success than center Grace Ann Rose.
The Faulkner signee’s presence in the post spelled doom for 25 of the 31 teams Southside faced this past season. Rose’s average of 15 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals helped Southside win the county and area tournaments and finish three points shy of the program’s first-ever berth in the Final Four.
For that output, Rose is the 2023-24 All-Messenger Girls Player of the Year.
“Grace Ann is a special player,” said Southside girls basketball coach Justin Bowen. “She’s tough to guard down low, and if she gets a mismatch, she’s probably going to come out on the winning side of that battle. Plus, our guards did a good job this season of finding those mismatches for her.”
Two of Roses’ senior teammates joined her on the All-Messenger first team in Laylah Davis and Madison Shaw. Davis averaged 9.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.4 steals, while Shaw was good for 10.6 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game. Davis signed with Shelton State this past fall.
Rounding out the first team was Sardis senior Kaylen Wallace and Ashville senior Molly Northam. Wallace averaged 11.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.6 steals for the Lady Lions. She signed with Gadsden State earlier this year. Northam’s 16.1 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.7 steals, 2.5 assists and 1.3 blocks per game helped the Lady Bulldogs go 22-11 and win the program’s first area championship in 15 years. She signed with Millsaps College earlier this month.
Southside senior Jovi Marble earned All-Defensive Team Player of the Year honors after coming up with 101 forced turnovers and 105 tipped passes.
Bowen received All-Messenger Coach of the Year honors after guiding Southside to a 25-6 record, a county and area championship and a second straight Elite Eight appearance.
2023-24 All-Messenger girls basketball team
Player of the Year: Grace Ann Rose, Southside
Coach of the Year: Justin Bowen, Southside
Defensive MVP: Jovi Marble, Southside
First team
Grace Ann Rose, senior. Southside
Laylah Davis, senior, Southside
Madison Shaw, senior, Southside
Kaylen Wallace, senior, Sardis
Molly Northam, senior, Ashville
Second team
Mallory Brooks, senior, Southside
Allie Jo Amos, junior, Glencoe
Adriana Potter, senior, Sardis
Destiny Whiteside, junior, Gadsden City
Emma Doss, sophomore, Hokes Bluff
Third team
Sarakate Yancey, senior, Southside
Kinlee Montgomery, freshman, Glencoe
Jordyn Knight, junior, Sardis
Carlee Barksdale, senior, Etowah
Lydia Northam, sophomore, Ashville
Honorable mention
Vada Willmore, sophomore, Sardis
Aubrey Haynes, sophomore, West End
Autumn Green, senior, Glencoe
Addison Hammontree, freshman, Westbrook Christian
Natalie Delp, freshman, Coosa Christian
Bella Holland, junior, Gaston
All-Defensive team
Jovi Marble, senior, Southside
Mary Davenport, freshman, Hokes Bluff
Mia Fowler, senior, Sardis
Sarah Ponder, freshman, Glencoe
Kylee Roden, senior, Etowah
Catie O’Bryant, junior, Coosa Christian
Talisha Samaniego, freshman, Ashville