‘Safest option for everyone.’ Mr., Miss Basketball to be named in virtual ceremony.
For the first time, Kentucky’s Mr. and Miss Basketball will be honored virtually.
On Wednesday, the Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation announced that an awards ceremony naming the top players in Kentucky high school basketball will be held Sunday, June 28. The annual celebration of Mr. and Miss Basketball was originally scheduled for April, but was delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Kentucky’s high school basketball season was suspended in March in the middle of the Girls’ Sweet Sixteen because of COVID-19. The remainder of the girls’ tournament and the entire boys’ tournament was eventually canceled.
“While we understand that this is the safest option for everyone, we are sad that we were not able to host our 2020 Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Awards as originally planned in April and although we had hoped to reschedule the event to be held in person on June 28th, unfortunately this will not be possible,” Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation Executive Director Lindy Lamkin said in a press release. “Although our Awards Ceremony is going to look a bit different this year, the meaning of the moment remains the same. This event is intended to recognize each of our candidates and award winners and their accomplishments on and off the basketball court over their careers.”
Details about the event are forthcoming and updates will be regularly posted at mrandmisskybasketball.com.
Among the finalists for the boys’ award is Henry Clay’s Marques Warrick, a Northern Kentucky University commit who averaged 23.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and shot 43.4 percent from three-point range for a Blue Devils squad that entered the postseason with a 13-game win streak before falling in the 42nd District Tournament.
Bourbon County’s Amirion Joyce, who averaged 20.5 points and 4.0 rebounds, is also a finalist along with John Hardin’s Alex Matthews, who averaged 23.5 points and 10.5 rebounds. Louisville commit JJ Traynor of Bardstown is also a finalist.
Maddie Scherr, from last year’s Sweet Sixteen champion Ryle, is a leading contender for Miss Basketball. The Oregon commit averaged 16.1 points and 8.1 rebounds this season. Sacred Heart’s Erin Toller, a Kentucky commit, is also in the mix. Toller missed two seasons due to knee injuries, before averaging 16.8 points and 5.5 rebounds for the 25-1 Valkyries as a senior.
