H.S. BASKETBALL: Four 15-A rivals will come together on same team
West Tennessee was represented by two teams from District 15-A — Middleton and Riverside — in the Class A girls' basketball state tournament.
Middleton went on to win the Class A state championship over perennial powerhouse Clarkrange to prove 15-A was one of the toughest districts in the state all season.
On Saturday, the top players from Middleton and Riverside will join forces on the South team in the West Tennessee All-Star game at Liberty.
The girls' game begins at 6 p.m. with the dunk contest and 3-point contest preceding tip-off. The boys' game will follow the girls' game.
Middleton's Averyale Joy and Rachelle Parks will get to play together once more. The last time the two walked off the court together they were carrying the gold ball home to Hardeman County.
"This is going to be a new experience, and we just want to have fun out there," Joy said. "We will just go out there, play hard and try to win."
Playing one more time is not the only special part of Saturday, as they will be coached by Middleton coach James Burkley, for whom they've started the last four seasons.
"Those two have been so good to me," Burkley said. "I have the opportunity now to work with them one more time and show my gratitude to them.
"When I told them they were playing in the all-star game, they were excited. They asked me if I was coaching, and I said yes. They said they didn't want it any other way. You couldn't ask for two better kids."
Three Riverside players were also drafted on the South team. Holly Chumney and Bree Linton will both be there on Saturday.
"We will each have a duo out there, with me having Bree, and them two together," Chumney said. "I think that will help each of us excel and score points."
Middleton and Riverside had some battles this past season, including a double overtime affair for the District 15-A title, but this time the four girls get an opportunity to play together and see how they do playing off the same side of the scorer's table.
"I think we will easily jell," Chumney said. "It helps that we know each other and have played against each other the last four years."
Parks feels the same way.
"The four of us know each other so well," she said. "It feels good to play in a game like this, and know that people notice how good you are."
Those four are not the only players that will get to team up with district adversaries. McNairy Central's Haven Phelps and Bolivar's Nakeeta Franklin from District 14-AA will also be on the South team.
The South team also has two players that have the opportunity to play against their teammates.
Greenfield's Brittany Peoples is on the South team, and Peoples will get to play against two teammates — Shaynece Clemons and Alle Dees — who are on the North team.
Liberty's Brindy Fuller and Kierra Linton will be playing in their home gym on Saturday, but the two will be on opposites sides of the court. Linton is on the South team, while Fuller is on the North team.
Michael Odom, 425-9754
South All-Stars
Rachelle Parks - Middleton
Averyale Joy - Middleton
Kendall Walker - Riverside
Myah Taylor - Dyersburg
Kimbrique Tate - Dyersburg
Nakeeta Franklin - Bolivar
Bree Linton - Riverside
Haven Phelps - McNairy Central
Holly Chumney - Riverside
Brittany Peoples - Greenfield
Kierra Linton - Liberty
Kaylah Johnson - Humboldt
Coaches - James Burkley (Middleton) and Katrisha Glass (Covington)