Coaches name 2024 All-11th Region girls basketball team
Frederick Douglass’ Ayanna-Sarai Darrington and Franklin County’s Joey Thacker took top honors as coaches from the 11th Region announced the 2023-24 All-11th Region Girls Basketball Team and Coach of the Year on Monday.
Darrington, a 6-foot-2 forward signed with Central Michigan, has averaged 15.3 points and 11.1 rebounds per game this season for the defending region champions. She was also recently named region player of the year and a Miss Basketball candidate by the Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches.
Darrington and teammate Niah Rhodes were the top two vote-getters for the all-region team. Franklin County’s three honorees, Rachel Shropshire, Juliana Frazee and Leia Hogan, were the most of any of the region’s 18 schools.
Franklin County’s Thacker has led the Flyers to a 24-6 record this season, a No. 11 ranking in the final Kentucky Girls Basketball Media Poll and a No. 7 ranking in the Herald-Leader’s Dave Cantrall Ratings.
In his 23rd season of coaching, Thacker ranks among Kentucky girls basketball’s all-time coaching wins leaders and reached the 500-win milestone this season. He also recently received coach of the year honors from the Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches.
Girls All-11th Region Team
(Listed in order of coaches’ votes)
Player of the Year: Ayanna-Sarai Darrington, Frederick Douglass.
Niah Rhodes, Frederick Douglass.
Hadley French, Madison Southern.
Rachel Shropshire, Franklin County.
Nataya Strader, Madison Central.
Allison Stone, Henry Clay.
Juliana Frazee, Franklin County.
Abigail Beard, Berea.
Leia Hogan, Franklin County.
Isabelle Combs, Lafayette.
Kailyn Gentry, Bryan Station.
Timarri Miller, Henry Clay.
Honorable mention: (in alphabetical order): Chapel Brown, Lexington Christian; Brittany Campbell, Madison Central; Albertine Cyuzuzo, Bryan Station; Ashton Harris, Tates Creek; Kennedy Harrison, Great Crossing; Bailey Hensley, Madison Southern; Lydia Kennedy, Lexington Catholic; Jaylee Knowles, Frederick Douglass; Maleiyah Moore, Scott County; Claire Roberts, Lexington Christian; Charlianne Robinson, Frankfort; Laci Sandlin, Madison Southern; Ava Schureman, Great Crossing; Olivia Tierney, Great Crossing; Akiyah Wade, Bryan Station.
Coach of the Year: Joey Thacker, Franklin County.
This story was originally published February 26, 2024 at 10:05 AM.
