Bradley Central player Rhyne Howard is photographed for the Times Free Press Best of Preps basketball team Thursday, March 22, 2017, in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Van Buren player Caden Mills is photographed for the Times Free Press Best of Preps basketball team Thursday, March 22, 2017, in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Van Buren’s Jared Binkley, left, watches teammate Caden Mills shoot ahead of Brainerd’s Malik Hymon during their Times Free Press Best of Preps basketball tournament consolation game at Chattanooga State Technical Community College on Saturday, Dec. 30, 2017, in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Bradley Central’s Rhyne Howard (23) watches as a teammate shoots foul shots.Rhyne Howard continued her knack for coming up big in the clutch Tuesday night when she was named Class AAA Miss Basketball for Tennessee.
The Bradley Central senior, who has led her team to the state tournament, won the state’s highest prep basketball award Tuesday night during a ceremony at Middle Tennessee State University.
Also, Van Buren County senior Caden Mills was named Class A Mr. Basketball, becoming the first winner of the award in program history.
Brainerd’s Jessie Walker (Class AA) and McCallie’s Jr. Clay (Division II-AA) were Mr. Basketball finalists in their classifications but did not win.
“I felt pretty confident before, but it was a huge relief to actually hear my name called,” said Howard, who is the Bearettes’ third all-time leading scorer but ranks first since the girls’ game switched from 6-on-6. She joins former University of Tennessee player Brittany Jackson as the only Miss Basketball winners in Bradley history.