KBEC Sports report
There was no shortage of talent on the hardwood in Ellis County during the 2019-20 season.
When the dust settled and we all had a little time to breathe and reflect, the team at KBEC Sports compiled the 2020 KBEC Sports All-Ellis County girls’ basketball teams.
The teams were broken down into four parts — first- and second-team, honorable mention and superlative honors, and are presented by KBEC 1390AM/99.1FM and Estes Electric, Inc. in Waxahachie.
The superlatives include Offensive, Defensive, Newcomer, Coach and Team of the Year, as well as the countywide Most Valuable Player and the Ms. Hustle Award.
The All-Ellis County first-team consists of five starters plus a sixth woman, while the second-team afforded a few additional opportunities to include deserving student-athletes.
Superlative honors were first announced live on-air during the KBEC Sports weekly sports-talk show, “The Press Box,” on Monday, March 23. The show aired from 6-7 p.m. Those names and a “why she won” section have since been added to this updated article.
Miss Monday’s live on-air announcements? Click here to listen to the podcast!
“The Press Box” can be heard weekly on terrestrial radio on 1390AM or 99.1FM or streamed live by clicking on the “LISTEN LIVE” microphone on the top of elliscosports.com or through the KBEC app. The app is available on Apple and Android devices.
All honorees were selected based on postseason accolades, team success, input from coaches across Ellis County and firsthand observations by the KBEC Sports team.
In total, more than 50 student-athletes were recognized.
Each student-athlete honored will be presented with a commemorative All-EllisCounty certificate, with first- and second-team honorees to receive framed certificates. The individual superlative winners will receive a commemorative bobblehead award.
The awards are sponsored by KBEC 1390AM/99.1FM and Estes Electric, Inc. in Waxahachie.
Without further ado, congratulations to the 2020 KBEC Sports All-Ellis County girls’ basketball honorees!
Miss Monday’s live on-air announcements? Click here to listen to the podcast!
SUPERLATIVES
Player of the Year
Breanna Davis (Red Oak, sophomore)
Why she won: Davis was named the District 14-5A MVP, as well as to the TABC All-Region and All-State teams. The 5-foot-9 sophomore point guard averaged 16.7 PPG, 6.2 REB, 6.8 ASST, 3.8 STL for Red Oak. She was also voted by teammates and coaches to serve as a captain. The Lady Hawks bowed out of the 5A playoffs in the regional semifinal with a 28-7 overall record and as the third-ranked team in Class 5A. Davis and the Lady Hawks finished District 14-5A with a perfect 12-0 mark.
Offensive Player of the Year
Tatyana Williams (Ferris, sophomore)
Why she won: Tatyana was the District 17-4A Co-MVP and led the (19-14) Ferris Lady Yellowjackets to a district runner-up finish. The 5-foot-8 sophomore guard averaged an astounding 21.0 PPG, 5.6 REB and 2.5 STL for the season. She shot 73% from the charity stripe, 61% from the field and over 30% from beyond the arc, which included 80 made three-pointers on the season.
Defensive Player of the Year
Landri Schreier (Midlothian, junior)
Why she won: Schreier served as the primary defensive stopper for the Midlothian Lady Panthers this season, often charged to set the tone for the team each night while guarding the opposing team’s best guard. And, outside of the loss to Frisco Liberty in the 5A Region II championship, Schreier held the opposing guard under her season average each time out.
Schreier averaged 6.0 PPG, 2 REB, 2 STL and 2 deflections per game. The junior point guard was named to the All-District 14-5A first team.
“She is a true competitor, very tough, accepted her role on the team, and without her, we don’t have the success we had this year,” head coach Amy Tennison said. “She is a top-notch student as well, so she succeeds in both areas.”
Newcomer of the Year
Jerzie Bryant (Midlothian Heritage, freshman)
Why she won: Bryant was named the District 17-4A Offensive Player of the Year — as a freshman. The point guard set the program record for most assists in a season (127) and averaged 9.1 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 3.3 APG, 2.3 STL. She helped the Jaguars to a 26-12 overall record and undefeated 17-4A mark (10-0).
Ms. Hustle Award
Hallie Mayfield (Midlothian, senior)
Why she won: Standing at just 5-foot-7, Mayfield was tasked to play out of position and start in the low post for the Midlothian Lady Panthers.
The former guard turned post player ultimately set the program record for charges taken in a season (22) and finished second on the team in rebounding, averaging 4.5 boards per game. While often guarding the top post player on the opposing team, Mayfield also averaged 5.0 PPG and 1.3 STL. She was named to the All-District 14-5A second team.
“She made a huge sacrifice for us and did a tremendous job,” head coach Amy Tennison said. “Our guards were really able to put pressure on the ball on the perimeter knowing any dribble penetration she would be there to take the charge — so teams had to adjust.”
Coach of the Year
Amy Tennison
Why she won: Tennison led the unranked Lady Panthers on a magical postseason run to the 5A Region II championship. Though (21-11) Midlothian ultimately fell in triple-overtime heartbreak to Frisco Liberty, their run won’t soon be forgotten.
Midlothian ultimately finished second in District 14-5A with a 10-2 record (both losses against state-ranked Red Oak) and did so without the services of all-everything guard Kierra Middleton, who missed the season after tearing her ACL. The young roster, featuring two 2020 TABC All-Region honorees in Makayla Jackson (junior) and Jerica Henderson (senior), will not turn over much ahead of the 2020-21 season.
Tennison was also recently named the 2020 Dean Weese Award recipient for Class 5A by the TABC, which recognizes the most outstanding coach in each classification.
Team of the Year
Red Oak Lady Hawks
Why they won: The Lady Hawks were top to bottom the most dominant team in Ellis County throughout the season, as evidenced by the team remaining inside the TABC 5A top-25 from the opening tip to the last.
Red Oak bowed out of the 5A playoffs in the regional semifinal with a 28-7 overall record and as the third-ranked team in Class 5A, while also finishing District 14-5A with a perfect 12-0 mark and leading to head coach Darren Eubanks being named the District 14-5A Coach of the Year.
Two of the Lady Hawks regular-season losses came to out-of-state powerhouses and a third was to 6A state champion Duncanville, with all three coming in December.
Outside of those three outcomes against non-5A or Texas opponents, the Lady Hawks reeled off 23 wins between Nov 25 and Feb. 24. Red Oak outscored its opposition 2,0130-1,328, for an impressive +20 points per game mark (57.5ppg to 37.9ppg).
Miss Monday’s live on-air announcements? Click here to listen to the podcast!
FIRST-TEAM
? Breanna Davis (Red Oak, soph): District 14-5A MVP, TABC All-Region and All-State. The 5-foot-9 sophomore point guard averaged 15.6 PPG, 5.8 REB, 5.4 ASST, 3.8 STL
? Aniyah Johnson (Red Oak, junior): 14-5A Defensive Player of the Year, TABC All-Region and All-State. The 6-foot-2 forward averaged 10.4 PPG, 9.2 RBP and 2.2 ASST.
? Tatyana Williams (Ferris, soph): District 17-4A Co-MVP. Averaged 21.0 PPG, 5.6 REB and 2.5 STL on 61% shooting and 30% from three. Recorded 80 made three-pointers on the season.
? Mya Williams (Waxahachie, junior): All-District 7-6A first team. Averaged 16.8 PPG, 4.4 REB, 1.4 ASST, 2.1 STL.
? Maykayla Jackson (Midlothian, junior) District 14-5A Offensive Player of the Year. 11.0 PPG, 7 REB, 3.1 STL, 3.0 deflections per game. TABC All-Region.
? Danielle Wallace (Midlothian Heritage, senior): Set four program records for most made-free throws in a season (125), made-free throws in a career (270), rebounds in a season (269) and career field-goal percentage (46.4%). Averaged 11.5 PPG, 7.1 REB, 1.3 APG, 1.8 SPG.
SECOND-TEAM
Aliyah Harden (Red Oak, senior)
Micah Cooper (Red Oak, senior)
Rayna Ross (Waxahachie, senior)
Sol Cabuto (Maypearl, senior)
Hadlee Gibson (Maypearl, junior)
Jerica Henderson (Midlothian, senior)
Landri Schreier (Midlothian, junior)
Jerzie Bryant (Midlothian Heritage, freshman)
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Riley Pace (Ennis, soph)
Leah Harris (Ennis, senior)
Hailey Pace (Ennis, soph)
Ashanti Grimes (Ennis, junior)
Ziria Wright (Ferris, junior)
Lili Garcia (Ferris, soph)
Victoria Coronado (Ferris, senior)
Shaniaya Johnson (Italy, senior)
Keri Scott (Italy, soph)
Sadie Hinz (Italy, soph)
Taliyah Ezell (Italy, soph)
Micah Cooper (Life Waxahachie)
Destiny Harris (Life Waxahachie)
Leah Sneed (Life Waxahachie)
Lillie Beason (Maypearl, senior)
Morgan McAlister (Maypearl, junior)
Lex Berryman (Maypearl, sophomore)
Hallie Mayfield (Midlothian, senior)
Kadia Ward (Midlothian, freshman)
Elise Jones (Midlothian, freshman)
Elise Stafford (Midlothian Heritage, soph)
Kylar Kenter (Midlothian Heritage, junior)
Elizabeth Schmidt (Midlothian Heritage)
Kora Huff (Midlothian Heritage)
Gabriella Stripling (Midlothian Heritage)
Markia Houston (Milford, senior)
Lydia Brooks (Milford, junior)
Tessa Henry (Ovilla Christian, junior)
Raylee Parker (Ovilla Christian, soph)
Sabrina Benoist (Ovilla Christian, junior)
Maddie Remek (Ovilla Christian, soph)
Tiffany Sadler (Palmer, senior)
Chloe Cisneros (Palmer, freshman)
Macey Maxwell (Palmer, junior)
Molly Zagala (Palmer, soph)
Amyia Bowie (Red Oak, soph)
Deja Davis (Red Oak, senior)
Halle Becerra (Waxahachie, senior)
Taz Valencia (Waxahachie, junior)