PLAYER OF THE YEAR
TRAVIS CORE
In the Dade County senior guard's eyes, his final season leading the high-octane Wolverines was about two things. "The last couple of years I had something to prove," Core said. "This year I wanted to savor every moment as long as I could and hopefully go out as the best player to ever play at Dade County." In the three seasons he was a starter, the Wolverines went 77-13, earning three consecutive trips to the playoffs and exiting as the most successful group of seniors in school history. Core averaged 26 points per game as a senior, and he also dished out seven assists and secured nearly five rebounds per contest as well. "We were part of the class that turned Dade County basketball around," Core said. "That's something I will always remember."
COACH OF THE YEAR
GREG LINDER
Asked to name the one thing that stood out for his 26-3 team this season, the sixth-year Murray County head coach couldn't pick just one. "Several things stood out," Linder said of the Indians, who made it to the second round of the state playoffs, "like how
close they were together and how athletic they were and how well they matched up with other teams. This team took on all challenges." Seasoned teams often do. Ten seniors will leave the Region 7-AAA champs, a group that had been playing, and winning, together since they were in middle school. "They were a true team, and as tight-knit as any team you will ever see," Linder said. "We set our goals high and we achieved most of them."
FIRST TEAM
Daniel Brooks
GORDON LEE
Sophomore guard
The returning starter averaged 19 points, five assists, 4.3 rebounds and four steals a game.
Mason Harris
RIDGELAND
Senior forward
The South Carolina football signee led the Panthers with 22 points and 12 rebounds a game.
Watts Dantzler
DALTON
Senior center
The future Georgia lineman led the Catamounts with 18 points, nine rebounds and 4.1 blocks a game.
Nick Scott
RINGGOLD
Senior guard
He topped the Tigers with 21.5 points per game to go with 5.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 4.4 steals.
Taylor Patterson
MURRAY COUNTY
Senior forward
The three-sport star who will play baseball in college averaged 20 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.4 blocks.
SECOND TEAM
DEVAN BRUCE Trion Junior Forward
CHASE JONES Murray County Senior Guard
ANDREW REID Dade County Senior Center
RILEY SPARKS Heritage Senior Forward
JORDAN TEEMS LaFayette Junior Guard
TEAMS OF THE YEAR
1 MURRAY COUNTY (26-3)
The senior-laden Indians roared through Region 7-AAA with just one loss and nearly made the state quarterfinals.
2 DADE COUNTY (25-5)
The Wolverines were their usual run-and-gun selves, averaging over 90 points per game as they made the Class AA playoffs.
3 HERITAGE (18-9)
The Generals rode a strong inside game to secure a spot in the Class AAA state playoffs.
Photos by Jake Daniels. Text by Lindsey Young. Design by Stacey Wysong.