Memphis-area players named best in state
MURFREESBORO — Ashtyn Baker has been changing the game for a while.
“I’ve been playing basketball since the first grade,” she said. “And in intramurals, they changed the rules to stop pressing because I’d always steal the ball.”
Baker — who led Northpoint to its second straight state championship last weekend — was one of three local players honored March 7 as she was named Miss Basketball in Division 2-A. The Liberty signee was honored over last year’s winner, Anna Jones of University School of Jackson, and Antoinette Lewis of Harding.
“It’s a nice way to go out, but I couldn’t have done it without my teammates,” said Baker, who was MVP at state for the second straight year.
“It (the ceremony) makes you kind of nervous, but it also makes you realize how many other great players there are.”
A standout since her eighth-grade year, the 5-6 Baker averaged 16.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 5.3 steals for a team that finished 29-2. Arguably even more impressive was the fact that she played in 162 straight high school games.
Alex Lomax hasn’t played in nearly that many but his impact on the East Mustangs has been just as great. The junior — who will lead the defending champions at next week’s state tournament — won the AAA Mr. Basketball title over Tyler Harris of Cordova and Taijon Jones of Oak Ridge.
On a team with several other Division 1 prospects, Lomax averages 16.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 4.3 steals per game. He accepted the award sporting a necktie imprinted with an image of the late East coach Desmond Merriweather.
“It feels great because it’s not what I was coming to achieve,” the junior said. “I just thank my teammates and my coaches for putting me in this situation. To get this award means a lot to me and my family and my coaching staff.
“Coach Dez is kind of the one who started it out for me; he gave me the love and the heart for the game. He’s always with me, but I just wanted to bring him with me tonight.”
Chase Hayden of St. George’s matched Lomax with his second consecutive award in D2-A boys. The University of Arkansas football signee — who also won the state’s top honor in that sport as a junior — won over Malik Riddle of Rossville and Chase Ridenhour of Knoxville Webb.
“I’ve been playing football since I was five and basketball since I was four,” said Hayden. “I tried not to think about it (repeating) too much but it feels great since this is the last award I’ll get for basketball. It’s special.”
Hayden averaged 24.4 points and 6.5 assists for the Gryphons.
Josh Conrad of W.E.B. DuBois was a finalist for the Class A award won by Tyreke Key of Clay County while Douglass’ Parrish Hewitt was honored in AA, with Bo Hodges of Maplewood taking the top honor.
St. Benedict’s Myah LeFlore was a finalist in D2-AA girls, which was won by Brentwood Academy’s Sydni Harvey. Jayla Hemingway — who will lead Houston against Clarksville in the state quarterfinals Wednesday — was a finalist for the AAA award won by Riverdale’s Anastasia Hayes.
TOURNAMENT DRAW SET
East and Southwind are on a collision course to meet in the AAA championship game this week at the Murphy Center.
By rule — since both teams come from Region 8 — the two schools were placed on opposite sides of the draw March 7. Southwind (31-6) opens against Murfreesboro Oakland (24-7) at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, while defending state champ East (29-3) takes on East Hamilton (25-10) at 1:15.
In AA, Sheffield (21-7), which is at state for the first time since 2009, takes on Whites Creek (28-5) at 6 p.m.
Mitchell (27-7) begins pursuit of its fourth straight Class A title against Harriman (30-6) at 6 p.m. on Thursday. The Tigers were drawn opposite Humboldt, setting up a potential title-game showdown against the state’s top-ranked team.
The AAA championship takes place at 1 p.m. on Saturday, followed by the AA game at 3:30 and the Class A game at 6.
Reach John Varlas at john.varlas@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @johnvarlas