McMinn Central's Elizabeth Masengil gets the court to herself for free throws in this file photo.GPS senior point guard Chadarryl Clay and McMinn Central junior post Elizabeth Masengil have been named finalists for the TSSAA Miss Basketball awards.
Clay, who won the award last year in Division II-AA while helping the Bruisers claim the state championship, is an Auburn signee. Masengil was last season's Class AA state tournament MVP while leading the Chargerettes to that state title.
"Since day one, she's a kid that has shown a great love for the game of basketball and a willingness to work to be really good," GPS coach Susan Crownover said. "It's great for our program that she's played at such a high level and she deserves any recognition she gets."
Clay, who is rated by ESPN as one of the nation's top point guards, averages 16.6 points, 4.8 assists and 3.2 steals per game. Despite nearly a constant double-team from opposing defenses, the 5-foot-11 Masengil averages 24.3 points and 11.7 rebounds this season.
There are three finalists for Mr. and Miss Basketball in each of the state's five classifications and the winners will be announced following the boys' and girls' state championship games.
"I said something to her about it today, just trying to congratulate her on being a finalist, and she said she would trade it in a minute for another gold ball," McMinn Central coach Johnny Morgan said. "That sums up who she is. She's a physical player and very mentally tough, but her main focus is helping her team. But as her coach, I can say she is very deserving to be considered one of the top players in the state."
TSSAA Mr. and Miss Basketball Finalists
Class A Miss Basketball
T.T. Flowers, Lake County
Rachel Garland, Moore County
Kelsey Risner, Wayne County
Class AA Miss Basketball
Rachel Bell, Creek Wood
Elizabeth Masengil, McMinn Central
Abbey Sissom, Cannon County
Class AAA Miss Basketball
Shacobia Barbee, Riverdale
Nina Davis, Memphis Central
Bashaara Graves, Clarksville
Division II-A Miss Basketball
Kaylah Keys, Harding Academy
Kaylan Pugh, St. Mary's
Derica Wyatt, Franklin Road Academy
Division II-AA Miss Basketball
Chadarryl Clay, Girls Preparatory School
Lauren Douglas, Briarcrest
Christina Slay, Ensworth
Class A Mr. Basketball
Alex Fountain, Wartburg Central
Martavious Newby, Booker T. Washington
Rafael Tyler, Lake County
Class AA Mr. Basketball
Craig Bradshaw, Christ Presbyterian Academy
Brandon Cole, Stone Memorial
Jalen Lindsey, Christ Presbyterian Academy
Class AAA Mr. Basketball
Cameron Golden, Ridgeway
Jajuan Johnson, Southwind
Alex Poythress, Northeast
Division II-A Mr. Basketball
John Ross Glover, University School of Jackson
Skal Labissiere, Evangelical Christian School
Cameron Payne, Lausanne
Division II-AA Mr. Basketball
Cornelius Elder, Ensworth
David Howard, Montgomery Bell Academy
Austin Nichols, Briarcrest