Girls' Basketball
Monday, November 19, 2001
L to R: Arleigh Brackin, Shadonda Perkins, and Mary Beth Berry
LAWRENCEBURG - There is one more basketball season together for a trio of Lady Wildcats from Lawrence County High School.
Mary Beth Berry, Shadonda Perkins and Arleigh Brackin played at E.O. Coffman Middle School and are now in their fourth season for the Lady 'Cats.
Actually, they started playing hoops when they were eight-years old, so their hard work in school play, spring and summer in AAU and their early days in youth league action blended with their ability and desire has opened college doors.
On Thursday, all three inked scholarships with teams who have their programs with strong success.
Perkins, a 5-9 forward, is headed to Atlanta where she will play for Georgia State, who has posted back-to-back 24-win seasons.
Brackin, a 5-7 guard, inked with Tennessee Tech where she joins a program that has been the strongest in the OVC the last three years.
Berry, a 6-1 post player, signed with Freed-Hardeman. The Henderson, Tn. school, ranked sixth among NAIA schools in the preseason national poll, is bidding for its sixth straight national tournament bid.
"It's good that the girls have made a decision," said John Wild, who opened his initial year with Lawrence County with a win Friday night over BGA.
"It is difficult for a player to stay focused if they still have a decision hanging over them," Wild said. "If they hadn't made a decision, then coaches would be in the gym and things like that making it tough to concentrate."
The three girls would like to close their Lawrence County career with a state championship. When they were in the eighth grade at Coffman, the Lady Cats won the TSSAA Class AAA title. All five starters plus the top reserve from this team signed to play at a four-year school, or are playing at one now.
It's rare when three players from one senior class have an opportunity in preseason to sign with a four-year school for basketball and its the first time for Lawrence County.
"I believe we're going to have our best year yet," Berry said. "We've had a lot to learn. Everybody is working hard."
Perkins said, "We want to win it all this year. We're going for the state championship."
Brackin said. "This is our last chance. We need to have a big picture of our team on the wall like the girls did four years ago."
Berry to be Lady Lion
Berry, the daughter of Zeno and Cathy Berry, opted for Freed-Hardeman but had offers from UT-Chattanooga and the University of South Alabama.
"I would like to have her in our lineup tomorrow night," said Freed-Hardeman eighth-year head coach Dave Neal after signing the excellent post shooter.
"I think she will be an outstanding player for us."
Berry is the second signee for Neal, who previously inked Andrea Beck, a standout from Savannah. He has two more prospects he hopes to ink in the next two weeks.
Among the future teammates of Berry are guard Leslie Travis, Hampshire; post player Crystal Wallace, Loretto and Heather Walling, Cascade.
"I like the people at Freed-Hardeman," Berry said. "The school is closer and I have a lot of friends going to school there."
Freed-Hardeman compiled a 28-8 record last season finishing eighth in the national tourney held each year in Jackson. Freed-Hardeman competes in the TranSouth Conference. The 1999 team advanced to the final four. The Lady Lions have won 82 games over the past three seasons.
Perkins to the big city
Perkins, who's mother is Janette Perkins, considered UT-Martin and Austin Peay, before signing the dotted line for Georgia State.
"I like the people, the coaching staff and the players," Perkins said. "And the school's academics are great. They have an outstanding graduation rank."
The Lady Panther 's head coach is Lea Henry, who was an outstanding point guard for the Tennessee Lady Vols under Pat Summitt in 1980-83. The team qualified for the NCAA tournament last season and are picked to win their conference this season.
"Coach Henry has had experience in the Olympics (Gold Medal in 1984), the pros and has played overseas, too," Perkins said. "I am looking forward to playing for her."
Perkins, who will be counted on to pick her defensive intensity for coach Wild this season, adds a lot of athletic ability to the team. She missed most of sophomore season because of knee surgery after being a big addition to the team as a freshman.
The school, located in downtown Atlanta, plays its home games in the relative new 5,500-seat Georgia State Sports Arena located at the intersection of Piedmont and Decatur. They compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference with a wide range of schools which include Belmont University and the University of Central Florida.
Brackin to have familiar teammates
Brackin, the daughter of Mickey and Cindy Brackin, was recruited by Samford and Western Carolina, but picked the Cookeville school.
"I like the coaches and the school," Brackin said. "I know most of the players there now and the ones who will are going there next year."
Brackin's ability to pass to the post players, and also knock down the three-point shot, will fit into the system of Tech's head coach Bill Worrell.
"Yes, I like their style of play," said Brackin, who has played against many of the Tech players and future players and a teammate of one current Lady Eagle.
Tennessee Tech junior Wendi Hartsfield, who played her last two years at Columbia State, is doing well for the Lady Eagles.
Current Tech players include freshman Molly York (Wayne County) and ex-Shelbyville players Tynshia Alexander, Casey Bradford, Allison Clark and Jannifer
Wilhelm and OVC MVP Janet Holt, sister of coach Wild's wife Gail, who is an assistant for the Lady Wildcats.
Tech has compiled a 312-137 mark during Worrell's 16 years playing a strong schedule which for instance over this weekend includes games at home at Mississippi and in Starkville vs. Mississippi State. Tech has won 10 regular season titles and eight OVC tourneys with Worrell at the helm.
One more season before trio go to next level, different schools
LAWRENCEBURG - There is one more basketball season together for a trio of Lady Wildcats from Lawrence County High School.
Mary Beth Berry, Shadonda Perkins and Arleigh Brackin played at E.O. Coffman Middle School and are now in their fourth season for the Lady 'Cats.
Actually, they started playing hoops when they were eight-years old, so their hard work in school play, spring and summer in AAU and their early days in youth league action blended with their ability and desire has opened college doors.
On Thursday, all three inked scholarships with teams who have their programs with strong success.
Perkins, a 5-9 forward, is headed to Atlanta where she will play for Georgia State, who has posted back-to-back 24-win seasons.
Brackin, a 5-7 guard, inked with Tennessee Tech where she joins a program that has been the strongest in the OVC the last three years.
Berry, a 6-1 post player, signed with Freed-Hardeman. The Henderson, Tn. school, ranked sixth among NAIA schools in the preseason national poll, is bidding for its sixth straight national tournament bid.
"It's good that the girls have made a decision," said John Wild, who opened his initial year with Lawrence County with a win Friday night over BGA.
"It is difficult for a player to stay focused if they still have a decision hanging over them," Wild said. "If they hadn't made a decision, then coaches would be in the gym and things like that making it tough to concentrate."
The three girls would like to close their Lawrence County career with a state championship. When they were in the eighth grade at Coffman, the Lady Cats won the TSSAA Class AAA title. All five starters plus the top reserve from this team signed to play at a four-year school, or are playing at one now.
It's rare when three players from one senior class have an opportunity in preseason to sign with a four-year school for basketball and its the first time for Lawrence County.
"I believe we're going to have our best year yet," Berry said. "We've had a lot to learn. Everybody is working hard."
Perkins said, "We want to win it all this year. We're going for the state championship."
Brackin said. "This is our last chance. We need to have a big picture of our team on the wall like the girls did four years ago."
Berry to be Lady Lion
Berry, the daughter of Zeno and Cathy Berry, opted for Freed-Hardeman but had offers from UT-Chattanooga and the University of South Alabama.
"I would like to have her in our lineup tomorrow night," said Freed-Hardeman eighth-year head coach Dave Neal after signing the excellent post shooter.
"I think she will be an outstanding player for us."
Berry is the second signee for Neal, who previously inked Andrea Beck, a standout from Savannah. He has two more prospects he hopes to ink in the next two weeks.
Among the future teammates of Berry are guard Leslie Travis, Hampshire; post player Crystal Wallace, Loretto and Heather Walling, Cascade.
"I like the people at Freed-Hardeman," Berry said. "The school is closer and I have a lot of friends going to school there."
Freed-Hardeman compiled a 28-8 record last season finishing eighth in the national tourney held each year in Jackson. Freed-Hardeman competes in the TranSouth Conference. The 1999 team advanced to the final four. The Lady Lions have won 82 games over the past three seasons.
Perkins to the big city
Perkins, who's mother is Janette Perkins, considered UT-Martin and Austin Peay, before signing the dotted line for Georgia State.
"I like the people, the coaching staff and the players," Perkins said. "And the school's academics are great. They have an outstanding graduation rank."
The Lady Panther 's head coach is Lea Henry, who was an outstanding point guard for the Tennessee Lady Vols under Pat Summitt in 1980-83. The team qualified for the NCAA tournament last season and are picked to win their conference this season.
"Coach Henry has had experience in the Olympics (Gold Medal in 1984), the pros and has played overseas, too," Perkins said. "I am looking forward to playing for her."
Perkins, who will be counted on to pick her defensive intensity for coach Wild this season, adds a lot of athletic ability to the team. She missed most of sophomore season because of knee surgery after being a big addition to the team as a freshman.
The school, located in downtown Atlanta, plays its home games in the relative new 5,500-seat Georgia State Sports Arena located at the intersection of Piedmont and Decatur. They compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference with a wide range of schools which include Belmont University and the University of Central Florida.
Brackin to have familiar teammates
Brackin, the daughter of Mickey and Cindy Brackin, was recruited by Samford and Western Carolina, but picked the Cookeville school.
"I like the coaches and the school," Brackin said. "I know most of the players there now and the ones who will are going there next year."
Brackin's ability to pass to the post players, and also knock down the three-point shot, will fit into the system of Tech's head coach Bill Worrell.
"Yes, I like their style of play," said Brackin, who has played against many of the Tech players and future players and a teammate of one current Lady Eagle.
Tennessee Tech junior Wendi Hartsfield, who played her last two years at Columbia State, is doing well for the Lady Eagles.
Current Tech players include freshman Molly York (Wayne County) and ex-Shelbyville players Tynshia Alexander, Casey Bradford, Allison Clark and Jannifer
Wilhelm and OVC MVP Janet Holt, sister of coach Wild's wife Gail, who is an assistant for the Lady Wildcats.
Tech has compiled a 312-137 mark during Worrell's 16 years playing a strong schedule which for instance over this weekend includes games at home at Mississippi and in Starkville vs. Mississippi State. Tech has won 10 regular season titles and eight OVC tourneys with Worrell at the helm.
