Kentucky Miss Basketball watch: Who are this season’s leading contenders?
With the high school basketball season entering its final weeks, there’s the question: Who are the top players who could earn the title of Miss Basketball for 2020?
The official list of candidates will be announced this month by the Kentucky Lion’s Eye Foundation. Coaches and media members submitted nominees this week.
Below are 10 seniors, listed in alphabetical order by last name, who boast prime profiles for Miss Basketball candidacy. This is not an official list, merely an estimate of who could have the best shot at claiming the award once voting occurs in March. Each of the state’s 16 regions will have at least one nominee on the ballot. Last year, there were 17 girls’ nominees. All team rankings are from the latest Cantrall Ratings.
Shelby Calhoun
Team (record): No. 15 Christian Academy-Louisville (18-5)
Height, position: 5-10 guard
Preseason Herald-Leader player rank (coaches vote): No. 6
Region: 7th
College: Virginia Tech
Season averages: 15.6 points, 12.5 rebounds
The latest: Scored 18 points with 10 rebounds in a win over Ballard that stopped a three-game skid for the Centurions; had 19 points, 12 rebounds in loss to Manual; 16 points, 8 rebounds in loss to Incarnate Word (Mo.).
Ally Collett
Team (record): No. 14 South Laurel (18-4)
Height, position: 5-9 guard
Preseason Herald-Leader player rank (coaches vote): No. 3
Region: 13th
College: Western Kentucky
Season averages: 20.4 points, 3.4 rebounds.
The latest: Collett continues to rehab a partially torn PCL suffered in a practice on Jan. 9. Coach Chris Souder said Jan. 23. Collett could return in February if all goes well. Collett holds the program scoring record with 2,474 points and has handed out more than 700 assists, according to a tribute column by Les Dixon of the Times-Tribune (Corbin).
Whitney Hay
Team (record): No. 8 Elizabethtown (19-4)
Height, position: 6-1 guard
Preseason Herald-Leader player rank (coaches vote): No. 7
Region: 5th
College: Belmont
Season averages: 19.1 points, 5.1 rebounds
The latest: Scored 23 points in win over John Hardin; 15 points, 5 rebounds in loss to Manual; 22 points, 2 rebounds in loss to Hamilton Heights Christian (Tenn.).
Taziah Jenks
Team (record): No. 5 Mercy (15-9)
Height, position: 6-1 guard
Preseason Herald-Leader player rank (coaches vote): No. 2
Region: 6th
College: West Virginia
Season averages: 20 points, 10.4 rebounds
The latest: Had 26 points with 14 rebounds in loss to Manual; 27 points, 11 rebounds in win over Bethlehem.
Hannah McKay
Team (record): Owensboro Catholic (16-9)
Height, position: 6-0 forward
Preseason Herald-Leader player rank (coaches vote): No. 11
Region: 3rd
College: Murray State
Season averages: 19.1 points, 9.2 rebounds
The latest: Had 20 points, 8 boards in win over Daviess County; 27 points, 15 rebounds in win over Muhlenberg County.
Maddie Scherr
Team (record): No. 2 Ryle (12-10)
Height, position: 5-11 guard
Preseason Herald-Leader player rank (coaches vote): No. 1
Region: 9th
College: Oregon
Season averages: 16.4 points, 8.1 rebounds
The latest: Scored 14 points with 2 rebounds in win over Cooper; 19 points, 7 rebounds in loss to Sacred Heart; Named to the 2020 McDonald’s All-American Game roster, the only Kentucky representative among the eight nominated. She’s the 2019 Kentucky Gatorade Player of the Year.
Erin Toller
Team (record): No. 1 Sacred Heart (22-1)
Height, position: 5-6 guard
Preseason Herald-Leader player rank (coaches vote): No. 8
Region: 7th
College: Kentucky
Season averages: 17.2 points, 5.5 rebounds
The latest: Scored 18 points with 7 rebounds in win over Central; 26 points, 1 rebound in win over Manual; 16 points, 9 rebounds in win over Ryle.
Charlee Settle
Team (record): Calloway County (13-9)
Height, position: 6-2 forward
Preseason Herald-Leader player rank (coaches vote): 12
Region: 1st
College: Murray State
Season averages: 20.1 points, 12.6 rebounds
The latest: Scored 17 points with 8 rebounds in win over Mayfield; 28 points, 9 boards in win over Caldwell County; 8 points, 19 rebounds in loss to Madisonville .
Malea Williams
Team (record): No. 12 Scott County (19-5)
Height, position: 6-3 guard/forward
Preseason Herald-Leader player rank (coaches vote): No. 5
Region: 11th
College: Undecided
Season averages: 18.4 points, 13.1 rebounds
The latest: Scored 24 points with 14 rebounds in win over Bryan Station; 11 points, 10 rebounds in win over Sayre; 8 points, 0 rebounds in win over Frederick Douglass .
Kendall Wingler
Team (record): Meade County (9-8)
Height, position: 5-10 guard
Preseason Herald-Leader player rank (coaches vote): No. 13
Region: 3rd
College: Eastern Kentucky
Season averages: 32.5 points, 6.5 rebounds.
The latest: Scored 35 points with 4 rebounds in win over Frederick Fraize; 50 points, 6 rebounds in win over John Hardin; 26 points, 13 rebounds in win over Breckinridge County. State leader in points per game and program’s all-time points leader.
Don’t forget
Katlyn Ball, Belfry; Kristen Clemons*, Sacred Heart; Morgan DeFoor, Scott County; Emilee Hope, Henderson County; Kennedy Igo, Clark County; Destinee Marshall*, Sacred Heart; Kaylee Mathis, Clay County; Lexy Meyers, Leslie County; Hope Sivori*, Mercy; Hailey Smith, Wolfe County; Amerah Steele, South Laurel.
*Nominated for the McDonald’s All-American Game.
This story was originally published January 23, 2020 at 10:59 AM.
