PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL: Cold Springs’ Willoughby, Hanceville’s Hollingsworth earn All-State nods

Published 12:00 am Friday, March 18, 2016

Tammy West apparently wasn’t the only one to catch on to Emme Willoughby’s natural progression this past basketball season.

After recognizing the Cold Springs superstar as a third-teamer a winter ago, the Alabama Sports Writers Association promoted Willoughby to second-team status for Class 2A on this year’s All-State Girls Basketball Team, which was released late Friday night.

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Hanceville’s Taylor Hollingsworth accounted for the area’s only other All-State hoopster as a third-teamer in 3A. Cold Springs’ Bailey West (2A), Holly Pond’s Ruth Horton, Good Hope’s Kaylee Maddox (4A) and Fairview’s Taylor Ann Yeager (5A) were honorable mentions.

Willoughby replaced a once-timid demeanor with a newfound aggression for her junior campaign, averaging 18 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.2 assists a game. The versatile playmaker added 54 blocks and 47 steals for the Lady Eagles, who finished 19-13.

“I can’t believe how much she improved from her 10th- through her 11th-grade year,” said West, Cold Springs’ longtime coach. “She really lacked confidence, hadn’t matured yet. This year, I think she played like a senior. I was just proud of the way she would take a game over. She really embraced that role this year.”

Willoughby’s efforts were recently rewarded with her first college offer, courtesy of Division II UAH.

“We’re all extremely happy about that,” said West. “She definitely has deserved it. She works all the time. Spends her summers in the gym. Always playing travel ball. She’s very, very dedicated.”

So what does the high school future hold for Willoughby? A first-team pick to go with her third- and now second-team accolades?

There’s not a doubt in West’s mind.

“I think she’s first-team material this year,” she said with a laugh. “I definitely think she’ll have a great year next year.”

Hanceville’s waited 13 years between All-State representatives. Care to take a stab at who last pulled off the feat for the Lady Bulldogs?

Why, current Hanceville coach Christina Watson (formerly Warren), of course.

With a deserving license to discuss All-State talent — she graced the first team in 2002 and second in 2003 — Watson strongly feels Hollingsworth fits the bill.

“If it had to be somebody after me, I would definitely pick her,” she said. “She works so hard. She just has a motor that doesn’t quit. And it’s not just at games. It’s that way at practice. No matter what I ask her to do. If I ask her to run through a brick wall, she would find a way to get through the wall.”

Hollingsworth was a jill of all trades in her fifth and final varsity season, leading The Times’ coverage area in scoring average at 18.8 points. Her 8.5 rebounds and 5.1 assists a night weren’t exactly shabby, either.

And that’s just what Watson got on the court from Hollingsworth, who nearly willed Hanceville (11-12) to a first-round area tourney upset of Susan Moore.

“I’ve seen her grow up a lot in two years,” the coach said. “She took on a leadership role. Even in the classroom, her teachers talk about how she’s grown up. At her job (Chick-fil-A), they rave about how wonderful she is. She’s just a great kid.”

West, a second-teamer in 2014-15, and Maddox made their honorable mention lists as seniors. Horton earned hers as a junior Yeager, who’s just a sophomore, now has two HM nods in a row.

See complete All-State teams below:

CLASS 7A

First Team

Katie Krout, Tuscaloosa Co., Sr., F, 6-1

Haley Troup, Gadsden City, Jr., G, 5-10

Ahyiona Vason, Jeff Davis, Sr., G, 5-4

Jasmine Walker, Jeff Davis, Sr., F, 6-3

Tykeria Williams, Lee-Montgomery, Sr., G, 5-6

Second Team

Sara Carr, Mountain Brook, Sr., F, 5-10

Dana Echols, Auburn, Sr., G, 5-6

Brooke Hampel, Hazel Green, So., F, 5-10

Jailyn Maddox, Hoover, Sr., G, 5-10

Ryann Sylvester, McGill-Toolen, Sr., G-F, 5-9

Third Team

Zipporah Broughton, Lee-Montgomery, So., G, 5-9

Brooke Burns, Gadsden City, Jr., G, 5-10

Kaitlyn Hadley, Buckhorn, Sr., C, 5-11

Quan Holton, Smiths Station, So., G, 5-7

Caitlin Hose, Hazel Green, So., G, 5-9

Honorable Mention

Shauntai Battle, McGill-Toolen, Jr., G-F, 5-9

Jordan LeNoir, Thompson, Sr., C, 5-9

Coach of the Year

Steve Clemons, Buckhorn


CLASS 6A

First Team

Hannah Barber, Homewood, So., G, 5-5

Jas Hill, LeFlore, Sr., G, 5-7

Japonica James, LeFlore, Sr., F, 5-9

Cierra Johnson, Blount, Sr., PG, 5-10

Tyra Johnson, Austin, Sr., G, 5-7

Second Team

Katie Allen, Albertville, Sr., G-F, 5-11

Daisha Bradford, LeFlore, So., G, 5-7

Kenysha Coulson, Lee-Huntsville, Sr., G, 5-9

Moriah Taylor, Hartselle, Fr., G, 5-4

Ajah Wayne, Homewood, So., F, 5-10

Third Team

Shaforia Kines, Huffman, Sr., PG, 5-6

Camyrn London, Shades Valley, Sr., G, 5-7

Amber Rivers, Center Point, Sr., F, 6-2

Daja Woodard, Blount, So., G-F-C, 6-2

Alexis Woods, Athens, So., C, 5-10

Honorable Mention

Amanda Ford, Paul Bryant, Sr., F-C, 6-2

Janeen Johnson, Williamson, Sr., PG, 5-8

Tiara McLeod, Carroll, So., F, 5-11

Coach of the Year

Darrell Walton, LeFlore


CLASS 5A

First Team

Rachael Childress, Lawrence Co., Sr., G-F, 5-10

Maori Davenport, Charles Henderson, Fr., F, 6-4

Bianca Jackson, Brewbaker Tech, Jr., G, 5-11

Kaitlyn Rodgers, Wenonah, Sr., F, 6-2

Unique Thompson, Faith Academy, Jr., C, 6-3

Second Team

Madison Baggett, Madison Co., Sr., PG, 5-6

India Blakely, Charles Henderson, Sr., G, 5-7

Alexus Dye, Wenonah, Jr., F, 6-0

Tyesha Haynes, Calera, Sr., G, 5-6

Lakashia Hill, Eufaula, Sr., F, 6-0

Third Team

Raven Cooley, Anniston, Sr., G, 5-5

Traniya Pitts, Central-Tuscaloosa, Sr., G, 5-7

Lakhlian Rankins, Faith Academy, So., G, 5-4

Faith Reynolds, Wenonah, So., G, 5-8

Daja Walker, BTW-Tuskegee, Sr., G, 5-7

Honorable Mention

Antiyocka Howard, Central-Tuscaloosa, Jr., F, 5-7

Ivery Moore, Demopolis, Sr., F, 5-8

Hannah Williams, Douglas, Sr., F-G, 5-9

Taylor Ann Yeager, Fairview, So., G, 5-2

Coach of the Year

Jarvis Wilson, Carver-Birmingham


CLASS 4A

First Team

Ashlyn Adkins, Locust Fork, Jr., G, 5-7

Charity Brown, Sipsey Valley, Sr., G, 5-7

Lauryn Lilly, Montevallo, So., G, 5-7

Ashley Scott, UMS-Wright, Sr., C, 6-2

Karleigh Sledge, Deshler, So., C, 5-10

Second Team

Taylor Aikerson, Deshler, So., G, 5-7

Elissa Brown, Elmore Co., Sr., G, 5-3

Jasmine Finley-Kimble, Handley, Sr., F-C, 6-0

Queen Ford, Sipsey Valley, Jr., F, 6-3

Jaime Gail Hudson, Locust Fork, Sr., F, 5-9

Third Team

Erin Bowman, BTW Magnet, Sr., F, 5-10

Alexis Cooper, Cordova, Sr., G, 5-7

Kendall Johnson, Hokes Bluff, Jr., C, 6-1

Shanda Pugh, Clarke Co., Sr., G, 5-8

Iyana Tate, Catholic-Montgomery, Jr., C, 6-0

Honorable Mention

Kaylee Maddox, Good Hope, Sr., F, 5-8

Kathleen Wheeler, Priceville, Fr., G, 5-10

Coach of the Year

Barbara Roy, Locust Fork


CLASS 3A

First Team

Jade Brooks, Montgomery Academy, Jr., G, 5-8

Allie Craig Cruce, Lauderdale Co., So., F, 6-1

Presley Johnson, Pisgah, Sr., C, 5-11

Abby Lockridge, Westbrook Christian, Sr., G, 5-8

Emma Wallen, Lauderdale Co., Sr., G, 5-7

Second Team

Elexis Evans, Greensboro, Jr., C, 6-3

Jasonie Guice, Barbour Co., Sr., PG, 5-1

Chelsea Leach, Colbert Co., So., F-C, 5-8

Destinee McGhee, Madison Academy, 8th, C, 6-1

Courtney Yarbrough, Brindlee Mountain, Sr., F, 5-10

Third Team

Mia Creech, Dale Co., So., F, 5-8

Rebekah Hambright, Lexington, Sr., SF, 5-10

Taylor Hollingsworth, Hanceville, Sr., G, 5-10

Nakia Kincey, Abbeville, Jr., PG, 5-5

Kayla White, Montgomery Academy, Jr., F, 5-7

Honorable Mention

Ruth Horton, Holly Pond, Jr., G, 5-5

Haleigh Howell, American Christian, Sr., F, 5-11

Madison McCullough, Sand Rock, Sr., G, 5-6

Coach of the Year

Barry Fencher, Montgomery Academy


CLASS 2A

First Team

Ataiya Bridges, Lanett, Jr., G, 5-5

Kirstin Brown, Tanner, Jr., F, 5-11

Janesha Green, Samson, Sr., G, 5-5

Darby Madden, Red Bay, Jr., F, 5-11

Lacy Stafford, Geneva Co., Sr., G, 5-8

Second Team

Kortney Barnes, Mobile Christian, Jr., C, 6-0

Ashley Chapman, St. Luke’s, Sr., PF, 6-0

LaTascya Duff, Samson, So., G, 5-7

Ty’Quajah Griffin, Goshen, Fr., PG, 5-6

Emme Willoughby, Cold Springs, Jr., G, 5-10

Third Team

Hannah Culpepper, Ider, Jr., G, 5-6

LaTora Duff, Samson, So., G, 5-7

Allie Kennedy, Red Bay, Jr., G, 5-9

Victoria Lavender, Holy Spirit, Sr., G-F, 5-5

Ka’Lasha Patterson, R.C. Hatch, Sr., F, 5-9

Honorable Mention

Abby Stutts, Mars Hill Bible, Sr., G, 5-7

Bailey West, Cold Springs, Sr., G, 5-5

Coach of the Year

Chad McKnight, Samson

CLASS 1A

First Team

River Baldwin, Pleasant Home, Fr., C, 6-5

Taylor Jones, Berry, Sr., F-C, 5-10

Tykeah Rogers, Spring Garden, Sr., F, 5-9

Amber Richardson, Linden, So., G-F, 5-5

Harriet Winchester, Keith, Sr., G, 5-9

Second Team

Karlie Milligan, Berry, Sr., SG, 5-8

Savanna Naylor, Decatur Heritage, Sr., G, 5-10

Zykia Pettway, Keith, Sr., F, 5-10

Normesha Pitts, Loachapoka, Sr., G, 5-8

Madison Sides, Spring Garden, Sr., G, 5-10

Third Team

Tiffany Barber, A.L. Johnson, Sr., SG, 5-8

Delilah Price, Cedar Bluff, Sr., PG, 5-7

Kayla Pruitt, Lynn, Sr., F, 5-10

Chandler Sparkman, Decatur Heritage, Jr., C, 5-11

Anslea Twymon, Winterboro, Sr., G, 5-8

Honorable Mention

Lexie Gann, Covenant Christian, So., G, 5-7

Olivia Jones, Brantley, Fr., G, 5-6

Coach of the Year

Ricky Austin, Spring Garden


AISA

First Team

Tyler Armistead, Patrician, Jr., F, 5-10

Audrey Crowe, Glenwood, Sr., F, 6-0

Tazsa Garrett-Hammett, Springwood, Jr., C, 5-11

Mackenzie Smelley, Tuscaloosa Academy, Sr., F, 5-11

Emily Quattlebaum, Northside Methodist, Sr., G, 5-7

Second Team

Logan Dees, South Choctaw Academy, Fr., G, 5-8

Fannasy Garrett-Hammett, Springwood, Sr., PG, 5-7

Joiner Hughes, Lakeside, Fr., G, 5-4

Abby Ray, Lowndes Academy, Jr., F, 5-6

Claudia Tucker, Lee-Scott, Jr., G, 5-7

Third Team

Jesi Garrett, Macon-East, Sr., F, 5-11

Madison Ann Gaston, Fort Dale Academy, Jr., F, 5-7

Morgan Grant, Glenwood, Fr., F, 5-9

Kevi Hansen, Edgewood, Jr., F, 5-10

Lauren Johnson, Pike Liberal Arts, Jr., G-F, 5-8

Honorable Mention

Mary Giles, Abbeville Christian, Sr., G, 5-7

Paige McCord, Autauga Academy, Sr., G, 5-6

Sydney Sessions, Wilcox Academy, Jr., F-C, 6-0

Coach of the Year

David Ingram, Patrician