All-Wesley's for the hardwood

By Wes Holtsclaw
STAR CORRESPONDENT
wholtsclaw@starhq.com

   With basketball season behind us, it's time to look at the best of Carter and Johnson Counties in boys and girls basketball with the All-Wesley basketball squads.
   BOYS COACHES OF THE YEAR: TONY HARDIN, ELIZABETHTON & AUSTIN ATWOOD, JOHNSON COUNTY
   Hardin's Cyclones didn't surprise many this season. Loaded with a stellar group of seniors, Elizabethton made it to the state tournament after winning the conference, district and region.
   The Longhorns weren't supposed to be the regional runner-up in many eyes, but they played hard when it counted and almost advanced to the state tournament.
   BOYS PLAYERS OF THE YEAR: VINCE REDD & B.J. MILLER, ELIZABETHTON
   Redd and Miller led the Cyclones to the state tournament this year after winning the Watauga Conference with an unblemished mark. They both paced their squads on any given night and it was very tough to pick against them.
   BOYS TEAM
   G: Mark Byrd, Cloudland
   G: Judd Shoun, Johnson County
   G: Cody Whitlock, Happy Valley
   F: Jordan Lambert, Elizabethton
   F: Greg Osborne, Hampton
   F: Matt Cornett, Johnson County
   F: Rusty Chambers, Unaka
   C: Josh Jones, Unaka
   C: Robbie Tolley, Cloudland
   GIRLS COACH OF THE YEAR: KEN CHAMBERS, UNAKA
   Chambers' Lady Rangers have turned things around and really showed a positive sign for the future this past season. Although they didn't win the conference or district, the girls from the creek proved that they will not back down from anyone.
   GIRLS PLAYERS OF THE YEAR: TARA HANSON & AMY STORIE, CLOUDLAND
   Hanson and Storie paced the Lady Highlanders this season. Hanson led the team in scoring, while Storie was an inside factor every time she stepped on the court.
   GIRLS TEAM:
   G: Heather Chambers, Hampton
   G: Renee Ensor, Unaka
   G: Sarah Smith, Elizabethton
   G: Courtney Shaw, Johnson County
   G: Brandi Dugger, Happy Valley
   G: Mandy Byrd, Happy Valley
   F: Rikki Baughman, Elizabethton
   F: Lacy Lane, Elizabethton
   C: Julie Roberson, Unaka
   BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP RELOCATION?
   This past year, many were shocked when the TSSAA moved its annual spring fling event from Chattanooga to Memphis.
   The move was unfair to many schools in the eastern part of the state, but were made to accommodate and provide the best situation for the spring state championships.
   Earlier this month, it was learned that the TSSAA has accepted bids for a possible relocation of the state basketball championship.
   Memphis, Chattanooga, Cookeville and current host Murfreesboro have all put in to host the boys and girls championships.
   Murfreesboro is technically the geographic center of the state, but it is my personal opinion that the TSSAA should relocate one of its championship sites to a more eastern location due to the spring fling move.
   EVENTS OF THE WEEK
   BASEBALL: Happy Valley at Elizabethton (Tuesday), Johnson County at Hampton (Tuesday), Unaka in Crockett Classic (Wednesday), Cloudland at Avery County (Friday)
   SOFTBALL: Happy Valley at Unaka, Cloudland at Hampton (Both Monday)
   SOCCER: Sullivan North at Elizabethton (Friday)
   TENNIS: Johnson County at Elizabethton (Thursday)