Murfreesboro area girls basketball: What you need to know

Murfreesboro area girls basketball has been some of the most successful in the state over recent years.

The 2018-19 season should follow suit, with a returning state champion and two final eight teams returning with a wealth of talent.

Here is a look at the upcoming girls basketball season:

Players to watch

Faith Adams, Oakland, Sr.: The UNC Asheville commitment averaged nine points and three assists last season.

Jaida Bond, Blackman, Sr.: The North Alabama commitment is one of the top 3-point shooters in the area and was second-team all-area last season.

Yaubryon Chambers, PCA, Sr.: The Vanderbilt commitment and 6-foot center is a Pearl-Cohn transfer and gives the Lady Lions a huge post presence. She averaged 18 points, 13 rebounds, four blocks and five assists last season.

Mariah Edmonds, PCA, So.: The talented and athletic guard made a big splash last season, averaging 10 points a game and earning third-team all-area honors.

Lauren Flowers, Stewarts Creek, Sr.: The athletic and versatile flowers was a second-team all-area performer last season. She is the team's top returning scorer.

Acacia Hayes, Riverdale, Fr.: The youngest of the talented Hayes sisters, she will step right into a starting guard position.

Aislynn Hayes, Riverdale, Sr.: The MTSU commitment and Class AAA state tournament MVP averaged 13.2 points and 6.9 assists a game last year. She also was first-team all-area.

Alasia Hayes, Riverdale, Jr.: She averaged 13 points, five rebounds and 2.7 assists a game as a sophomore to earn first-team all-area honors.

Leah Hennings, Siegel, Sr.: The forward averaged 6.2 points, three rebounds and four assists a game last year.

Jalyn Holcomb, Riverdale, Sr.: One of the area's top reserves for two years, the guard is expected to make a huge impact her senior year.

Anna Cait Markham, PCA, So.: Another of the talented young Lady Lions, Markham runs the floor well for a post player. She averaged nine points and 10 rebounds last year.

Claira McGowan, Oakland, So.: She had a big freshman season, averaging 8.5 points and 1.5 assists a game.

Makayla Moates, Eagleville, Jr.: She averaged 12 points and six rebounds as a sophomore.

Iyana Moore, Blackman, So.: The athletic combo guard is ranked by ESPN as the No. 17 player in the country in the 2021 class.

Kaylee Odom, Stewarts Creek, So.: She gained valuable experience in the post last season and is expected to take on a bigger scoring role.

Victoria Page, Blackman, So.: Page is athletic and can score from multiple positions on the floor.

Taylor Patterson, Siegel, Sr.: The four-year starting post player averaged 8.6 points, four rebounds and two assists a game last year.

Olivia Perry, Oakland, Sr.: The Lindsey Wilson commitment averaged four points and two rebounds a game last year.

Dakoria Puckett, Oakland, Sr.: The Tennessee Wesleyan commitment averaged five points and three rebounds a game last year.

Zhordan Shannon, Stewarts Creek, So.: One of the top sophomore guards in the area, she is athletic, a good shooter and strong defender. 

Lizzie Thompson, Eagleville, Jr.: The forward averaged nine points and nine rebounds a game last season.

Nia Vanzant, Blackman, Sr.: The versatile Vanzant is one of the area's top returning scorers and was third-team all-area last season.

Jacye Wilkerson, MTCS, Jr.: The forward is one of the most experienced returning players on a team that lost all of its starters.

Coley Whitley, Eagleville, Sr.: Whitley is one of the area's top returning 3-point shooters (37 percent last season).

Fast breaks

Fourpeat: Riverdale's girls are coming off a third consecutive Class AAA state championship and return two starters and the top reserve from last year's team. A fourth straight state title would make the Lady Warriors the first team to accomplish the feat in AAA since Shelbyville did it in from 1989-92. Riverdale will have to do it with a new coach, as Amy Josephson took over for three-time state champ Randy Coffman during the offseason.

Electric youth: The area is loaded with sophomore and freshman talent. Blackman, Stewarts Creek and Providence Christian are expected to start two sophomores, and Riverdale will start a freshman and could frequently have two in the lineup.

Crowded at the top: The District 7-AAA race should be a fun one to watch. With Riverdale returning from its state title and Blackman having reached the sectional last year, both teams should be strong again. Stewarts Creek has become one of the top teams in the area, and Oakland annually posts around 20 victories.

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