State tournament trio leads All-Area girls basketball teams

Rutherford County area girls basketball teams enjoyed immense success during the 2016-17 season.

That success is reflected on the Daily News Journal's All-Area Team.

The team is topped by the three finalists for the Girls Player of the Year: Stewarts Creek senior Brianah Ferby and Riverdale's duo of Anastasia Hayes and Brinae Alexander.

Hayes is a McDonald's All-American, Gatorade state player of the year, Class AAA Miss Basketball and University of Tennessee signee, and helped Riverdale to its second straight Class AAA state title. She averaged 22.5 points, five rebounds and five assists for the Lady Warriors.

Ferby helped Stewarts Creek reach the state tournament for the first time. The Austin Peay commitment averaged 13.7 points, six rebounds and three assists a game for the Lady Red Hawks.

Alexander, a junior, was a force both inside and out for Riverdale, averaging 12.6 points and 5.8 rebounds, and shooting almost 40 percent from 3-point range.

All five of the first-team members were on state tournament teams. The list is rounded out with Stewarts Creek senior guard and Austin Peay commitment Brandi Ferby and Riverdale junior and MTSU commitment Alexis Whittington.

The Player of the Year will be announced at a reception hosted by the DNJ near the end of the school year.

Reach Cecil Joyce at cjoyce@dnj.com or 615-278-5168 and on Twitter, @Cecil_Joyce.