Taylor Lamb- South Greene
Kara Meadows- Clarkrange
Chelsea Perry- Middleton
I have been to the state tournament for several years now and each year it seems like there are new amazing players to watch for. Here are my thoughts for the candidates this year:
Taylor Lamb (South Greene)- Lamb is a junior post with a deadly fake to get her defenders in the air and allows her to drive down the lane. I also made note from the season before last that she had added the ability to knock down jumpers very efficiently. She is averaging 13.2 PPG and shooting at a 51% clip. Some may think it is a low PPG but having seen South Greene play these past two years at the tournament, scoring is of equality for them, and other players get involved. She is the reigning tournament MVP and last year showed why she is my pick for the winner of Miss Basketball. She averaged 26.6 PPG and 10.6 RPG at the state tournament. She even went 10/10 from the free throw line in their game against Community. She takes over when she has to and is the leader for this team. South Greene is ranked 1st in the AP poll and has a record of 21-4 and has a strength rate of 2nd and a schedule rank of 10th. It is clear the wins are hard earned. I have noticed their losses are to current AP ranked teams such as Class AA sixth ranked Gatlinburg-Pittman, Class AAA sixth ranked Oak Ridge and eighth ranked Morristown West.
Kara Meadows (Clarkrange)- Meadows is a paint controller who is very hard, nearly unstoppable down low. She missed last season due to tearing her ACL, but that has not slowed her down from coming out strong for her senior season. She has had huge games this season, having some 30+ point games. Clarkrange does a spectacular job at getting Meadows the ball and letting her go to work. She can also step out and knock down a three. The team has had some solid wins this year, one recent being against AP Class A third ranked Pickett County where Kara had 31 of her team's 66 points. Her sophomore year was also a good year and she has greatly improved since then. With that being said Clarkrange has a strength rank of 11th and a schedule rank of 21st. Their record is 19-6. I have been to several of their games this year, including the ones they lost and it has been proven one cannot do it alone, no matter the stats.
Chelsea Perry (Middleton)- Perry is a tall, lanky player who swats shots and gobbles down rebounds. She has led Middleton to a state championship in 2015 over Meadows and Clarkrange, and was the tournament MVP. This year she averages 14.5 PPG and shoots at 50% from the field. She is averaging a double double so far with 12.4 RPG as well. Middleton has a strength rank of 26th and a schedule rank of 61st. They have kept it close with other Class A schools such as a solid Trinity Christian, but they have came up short in the end. In a very strong district, Perry is still finding great success within herself. Although with her success someone else needs to step it up. Perry is having to do much work to keep them in it. Warren is their leading scorer at 17.8 PPG but outside of scoring Perry is carrying them. Middleton's record stands at 12-6. Look for them to be back at the glass house this year.
