Baylor's Abby Hubert (11) goes up for a shot against Meigs County.Best of Preps tournament teams
Baylor Lady Red Raiders (7-1) Coach: John Gibson Players to watch: Kaleigh Clemons, Jr., G (12 ppg, 8 apg); Abby Hubert, Jr., F (10 ppg); Mya Long, So., G (15 ppg); Selena Popp, Sr., F (5 ppg, 8 rpg). Chattanooga Christian Lady Chargers (5-8) Coach: Laura Cottrell Players to watch: Joanna Smith, Sr., F (22 ppg, 7 rpg); Sarah Farlett, Sr., G; Morgan Royer, Sr., C; Stephanie Van Horn, Jr., W. GPS Bruisers (9-4) Coach: Jennifer Williams Players to watch: Akia Harris, Jr., G (16 ppg, 5 apg, 5 spg); Gabria Hubbard, So., G (4.5 spg); Brooke McCurdy, Fr., G (10 ppg); Kara Ware, Sr., F (7.5 rpg); Reagan Williams, Sr., F (7.5 rpg). Heritage Generals (4-4) Coach: Eddie Bryant Players to watch: Jada Hubbard, Sr., G, (12 ppg, 8 rpg); Rachel Thomas, So., W, (12 ppg, 10 rpg); Tori Harvey, So., G (11 ppg, 5 rpg); Sydney Smith, So., W (10 ppg, 5 rpg). Meigs County Lady Tigers (9-4) Coach: Jason Powell Players to watch: Taylor Boggess, Jr., W (22 ppg); Alyson Crowder, So., P (11 ppg); Kelsey Woods, Jr., G (7 ppg, 4.5 apg). Notre Dame Lady Irish (8-3) Coach: Wes Moore Players to watch: Morgan Cantrell, Sr., G (8.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 3 apg); Adia Colvin, Jr., G (10.5 ppg, 3.5 apg); Emma Higgins, Jr., G (4 ppg, 6.5 spg); Annie Ripper, Jr., G (9.5 ppg, 4 rpg, 2.5 spg). Signal Mountain Lady Eagles (8-3) Coach: Kendra Bell Players to watch: Aryn Sanders, Jr., G (25.7 ppg, 5 spg); Brooke Whitmire, So., W (9 ppg); Lydia Bledsoe, Jr., W (9 ppg); Janie Boals, So., P (6 rpg). Tyner Lady Rams (4-6) Coach: Katrich Williams Players to watch: Jerri Christopher, Sr., G (top defender, 4 spg); Samantha Maffett, Jr., G (10 ppg, 5 apg); Porchia Turner, Sr. F (16 ppg, 10 rpg). Compiled by Lindsey Young and Kelley Smiddie
After the week he's had leading up to the annual Times Free Press Best of Preps basketball tournament, Jason Powell will consider being back on the sideline a victory in itself. The Meigs County girls' coach has been bedridden with the flu for several days, even missing a couple of days of practice.
"I haven't had the flu in years, but this time it hit me hard," Powell said. "We even had a couple of players miss practice with it. Hopefully we'll all be feeling better and ready to go by the weekend."
Until that nagging bug hit the Lady Tigers, it had been their defense making opponents feel puny. Coming into this weekend's tournament, which begins Friday at Chattanooga State, Meigs County has won five straight games by an average margin of 61-30 and is 9-4 overall.
"When we make a few shots, we're a pretty good team," Powell said. "We can play sound defense and that's our strength. We're not as consistent shooting the ball as I'd like, but we can make it tough on other people to score."
Meigs County, which reached the TSSAA state tournament last season, will open against Heritage at 2:30 p.m., the last of four girls' games on the first day. Play begins at 10 a.m. with Baylor vs. Signal Mountain, followed by Tyner vs. Notre Dame and GPS vs. Chattanooga Christian.
Boys' games begin at 4 with Hamilton Heights playing Notre Dame, followed by Central against Boyd-Buchanan, Baylor against Ooltewah and Brainerd against Ringgold.
Junior wing Taylor Boggess is the only Meigs starter returning from last year's state-tournament team that won more than 30 games. She has picked up the scoring slack left by the departure of Emileigh Swafford, a 2,300-point scorer now starting for Lee University.
With more expected of her this season, Boggess has responded to average 22 points per game. She's getting help from sophomore post Alyson Crowder's 11 points per game and junior point guard Kelsey Woods, Levi Woods' younger sister who's averaging 7 points and 4.5 assists.
"Kelsey really knows how to take care of the ball and get it to our scorers," Powell said. "She's been solid for us, not turning the ball over and running the offense.
"When you lose a player like Emileigh it usually takes a couple of people to step in and fill that role. We also lost two other players who are now at Cleveland State and another who's at Roane State, so there was a lot of rebuilding to do. But I like the way this team is starting to play together."
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293.