Advocate-Messenger All-Area: Harris leads talented list

Published 10:20 am Wednesday, March 15, 2017

When Emmie Harris packs her bags this summer to leave for college at Utah State, the Boyle County standout will have plenty to take with her.

This year alone, she was named the KABC 12th Region Player of the Year while breaking the Rebels all-time scoring mark. And she’ll have at least one more thing to take along after she was voted The Advocate-Messenger All-Area Player of the Year.

Harris ended her high school career, which spanned six seasons, with her best scoring clip, 26.3 points per game, the best of her career. She made 47.6 percent of her field goals (241-of-506) and 68 percent from the free throw line (240-of-353).

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But even with those numbers, it was a razor thin margin separating her from Mercer County junior Seygan Robins. The MVP of the KHSAA Sweet 16 tournament after the Titans won the state title, Robins averaged 16.5 points on 50.1 percent field goal shooting and an incredible 44.4 percent from 3-point range. Robins has committed to play at University of Louisville.

Joining Harris and Robins on the first team list are a pair of talented sophomores, Danville’s Ivy Turner and Lincoln County’s Emma King, and Robins’ teammate, senior Lyric Houston.

Turner put up 19.6 points per game, leading the Admirals to an undefeated regular season in 45th District play. King averaged 17.9 points as the Patriots advanced to their second straight 12th Region tournament title game. Both Turner and King surpassed the 1,000-point mark this year, nearly unheard of for a sophomore.

Houston is the lone player on the first team not playing basketball in college, but it’s not for lack of talent. She averaged 11.9 points and 6.1 rebounds, tops on the Mercer team.

The second team is Lincoln’s Kaitlynn Wilks, Casey County’s Gena Cravens, Mercer teammates Lexy Lake and Emmy Souder, and Sam Adams of Garrard County.

The All-Area team is comprised of players voted on by area coaches and staff members of The Advocate-Messenger. The top five vote getters were placed on the first team, the next five on the second team, and the remainder on the honorable mention list. Player of the year is the player with the best point total.

Follow Jeremy Schneider on Twitter @jschneideramn

2017 The Advocate-Messenger Girls Basketball All-Area Awards

FIRST TEAM

Name School Class
Emmie Harris Boyle County Sr.
Seygan Robins Mercer County Jr.
Ivy Turner Danville So.
Emma King Lincoln County So.
Lyric Houston Mercer County Sr.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Emmie Harris (Boyle County)

COACHES OF THE YEAR: Michael Menifee (Danville), Tara Weddle (Casey County)

SECOND TEAM

Name School Class
Kaitlynn Wilks Lincoln County So.
Lexy Lake Mercer County Jr.
Gena Cravens Casey County Fr.
Sam Adams Garrard County Sr.
Emmy Souder Mercer County Jr.

HONORABLE MENTION

BOYLE COUNTY: McKayla Baker, Gracie Edmiston, Danielle Roney

BURGIN: Miranda Hungate, Alex Naylor

CASEY COUNTY: Natalie Duggins, Lauren Lee

DANVILLE: Alyvia Walker, Zenoviah Walker, Kennedy Walker

GARRARD COUNTY: Maddy Day, Sis Logan

KSD: Zoe Andrews

LINCOLN COUNTY: Maddy Boyle, Haley Southerland

MERCER COUNTY: Emma Davis, Faith Lake

NOTE: The All-Area list was determined through a vote by area coaches and staff members of The Advocate-Messenger. The top five vote getters were placed on the first team, the next five on the second team, and the remainder on the honorable mention. Player of the Year was the player with the best point total.