Manchester Academy’s Jr High girls finished first in the District Tournament with a season record of 24-2.
Making history in Junior High Girls Basketball, the Lady Mavs completed the best season in school history. The Lady Mavs beat Tri-County in the first round 35-12 and moved on to defeat Greenville Christian 45-32 in the championship game.
The team was led by freshman Lanie Potter, who was a force to be reckoned with inside and out. Only playing two quarters most nights, Lanie scored 335 points for the Lady Mavs and led the team in blocks and rebounds. Lanie’s ability to shoot outside caused chaos on the court.
Also a threat was freshman Ivy Sowell. Ivy was the Lady Mavs point guard and the second leading scorer with 172 points scored.
Sowell also led the team in steals making her defensive game a problem for most teams.
Freshman Anna Kate Griffin was the spark plug that the Lady Mavs fed off of every night. Griffins’ defense was the opponents’ Achilles Heel. Her court awareness and speed gave the Lady Mavs the advantage in shutting down offensive possessions.
Freshman Madison Meeks added height under the goal and composure on the court. Meeks was the second leading shot blocker and third leading rebounder on the team. Madisons’ calming demeanor kept the Lady Mavs in check.
Rounding out the starting five was 8th grader Lizzy Carpenter. Carpenter was an all-around utility player for the Lady Mavs. Her ability to handle the ball, play defense and score made the Lady Mavs a better team.
Off the bench, Thea Trammell, Clara Ann Yeates and Thenya Kennedy provided valuable minutes for the Lady Mavs. These girls were an integral part in the Lady Mavs success as well as the rest of the team members that worked hard daily.
“I am so very proud and honored to have been a part of this unbelievable ride,” said Head Coach Emily Poe. “These girls set a goal for themselves at the beginning of the season which started in summer workouts of being the first Jr. High Girls team to win the district and put a banner in the gym. They worked very hard to achieve this goal. I am Looking forward to many more years with this group.”
