Baylor's Kaleigh Clemons surprised by Miss Basketball announcement

Three Chattanooga area female athletes earn finalist honors

Baylor's Kaleigh Clemons, right, steals the ball from CSAS's Keturah Billen during their Times Free Press Best of Preps basketball tournament championship game at Chattanooga State Technical Community College on Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Baylor's Kaleigh Clemons, right, steals the ball from CSAS's Keturah Billen during their Times Free Press Best of Preps basketball tournament championship game at Chattanooga State Technical Community College on Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn.
photo Lakelyn Bouldin, Van Buren County basketball player and a first teamer on the 2015 best of preps girl' basketball
photo Best of Prep hoops include: Jacobi Lynn, McMinn Central.

More than five hours after the official announcement Friday, Baylor's Kaleigh Clemons still had no idea she was a finalist for Tennessee's Miss Basketball award.

The senior point guard had spent the afternoon traveling with her team to Nashville for a game against Father Ryan, but as she took the court to warm up, word finally reached her.

"I'm kind of in shock right now," Clemons said. "It's such a blessing, but I didn't expect it this year because I'm in a different role for the team, so my numbers aren't what they were last year.

"But I'm stoked right now. It's an honor and it definitely gives me an extra push to go out there and show people why I'm a finalist and that I'm not overrated. I want to prove that I belong as one of the best players in Division II."

Clemons is one of three players from the Chattanooga area to earn Miss Basketball finalist honors in her respective classification. There are three finalists each for Mr. and Miss Basketball in each of the state's five classifications, and while there were no area boys on the list, Clemons (Division II-AA), McMinn Central's Jacobi Lynn (Class AA) and Van Buren County's Lakelyn Bouldin (Class A) did earn finalist honors.

Clemons, who has signed with Vanderbilt, was named Miss Basketball last season, becoming the first Baylor player to do so. This season she is averaging 12 points, 7 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 3.5 steals per game.

"We're down to six healthy players, but she continues to lead us," Baylor coach John Gibson said. "Being a finalist for this award is indicative of the type player she is and the type season she's had so far."

McMinn Central's Lynn is a junior who is being recruited by the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Liberty and Tennessee Tech. She averages 22.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2 steals per game.

Van Buren County's Bouldin, who has already signed with UTC, is averaging 20.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 3.4 steals per game.

Winners, as selected by a statewide committee of sports writers, will be announced March 8 at Middle Tennessee State University.

Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293. Follow him on Twitter @StephenHargis.

TSSAA Miss Basketball finalists

Division II-AAshtyn Baker, Northpoint ChristianAnna Jones, USJMicah Scheetz, Webb School of KnoxvilleDivision II-AATaylor Barnes, St. Benedict at AuburndaleKaleigh Clemons, BaylorSydni Harvey, Brentwood AcademyClass ALakelyn Bouldin, Van Buren CountyTaylor Lamb, South GreeneAshlynd Wilkerson, MTCSClass AAAkira Levy, UppermanJacobi Lynn, McMinn CentralKayla Marosites, ElizabethtonClass AAACrystal Dangerfield, BlackmanAnastasia Hayes, RiverdaleKendall Spray, Wilson Central

TSSAA Mr. Basketball finalists

Division II-AKenny Cooper, FRAChase Hayden, St. George’sClayton Hughes, USJDivision II-AAJordan Bone, EnsworthWilliam Douglas, Christian BrothersDarius Garland, Brentwood AcademyClass AKobe Foster, HuntlandTyreke Key, Clay CountyNicholas Hopkins, FayettevilleClass AAAustin Douglas, Cheatham CountyBo Hodges, MaplewoodGarrett Sams, WestviewClass AAATee Higgins, Oak RidgeNathan Hoover, ArlingtonAlex Lomax, Memphis East

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