Peters, Jessica Lunsford pace junior high standouts

By Wes Holtsclaw
STAR CORRESPONDENT

   The junior high basketball teams in Carter and Johnson Counties made for a memorable season in 2001-2002.
   Whether it was fighting it out down to the wire at the area Christmas tournaments, or staging comeback wins in the district tournaments, the players deserve to be rewarded. Therefore the cream of the crop were selected for the annual STAR Carter/Johnson Junior High teams.
   Leading the way on the boys side earning the Most Valuable Player award is Charles Peters of Hunter. Peters had an outstanding season for the Tigers, averaging around 20 points per game while leading Hunter to the regular-season large school championship.
   The girls MVP is Cloudland's Jessica Lunsford. Lunsford had an outstanding season with the Lady Highlanders, leading Cloudland to a conference and district championship after an undefeated season.
   Earning Coach of the Year honors is Unaka's Mark Revis, whose team dropped just three games en route to season and district crowns, and Cloudland's Mike Lunsford after rounding out his team's perfect year.
   The boys first team is led by the maroon and white, as Happy Valley's Todd Caldwell and Drew Davis make the squad. Both players were pivotal in the district tournament title win for the Warriors.
   Joining the Warriors on the first team are Unaka's Tee Blevins, the small schools' player of the year; Michael Rader, a productive scorer for T.A. Dugger; and Rodney Armstrong, who helped the Comets reach the district finals.
   The boys second team combines Hampton's Jordan Honeycutt with Keenburg's Daniel Lambert, T.A. Dugger's Caleb Trivett, Josh Lowe of Hunter and Happy Valley's Ryan May.
   Third-team selections include Kevin Boyd, Johnson County; Cody Ford, Hampton; Charles Guinn, Range; Aaron Greer, Unaka; and Chris Rutledge, Central.
   Honorable Mentions go to Lucas Arwood (Hampton), Adam Stevens (Cloudland), Paul Waters (Hunter), Preston Carter (Keenburg), Jamie Payne (Little Milligan), Kyle Estep (Unaka), Chris Buckles (Unaka), Kevin Jessee (Range), Derrick Nave (TAD), Aaron Bray (TAD) and Sammy Maricle (Central).
   The girls' first team brings plenty of winning experience to the table, with Cloudland's Jessica Ledford, Happy Valley's Amber Duncan, Little Milligan's Jessica Price, T.A. Dugger's Cameron Crapps and Hunter's Jordan Muratore achieving honors.
   Price, the top player in small schools, was a big inside threat for the Lady Buffaloes.
   The girls second team pairs up Eden Treadway of T.A. Dugger with Hampton's Lauren Pitman and Happy Valley's Samantha Canter. They are joined by Little Milligan's Pam Montgomery and Tia Hughes of Central.
   Rounding out the squad is the third team, which consists of Randi Williams, Happy Valley; Paige Morefield, Johnson County; Tiffany Babb, Unaka; Heather Banner, Cloudland; and Takisha Avery, T.A. Dugger.
   Making the honorable mention list for the girls are Lacey Oliver (Hampton), Whitney Houston (Cloudland), Katie Bacon (Keenburg), Jodi Jones (Keenburg), Danielle Gilbert (Little Milligan), Jacklyn Campbell (Unaka), Tina Adcox (Range), Kristy Moffitt (Range), Victoria Hopson (T.A. Dugger), Cassie Osborne (Central) and Billie Hurd (Johnson County).