Bogue Chitto’s Darcy Miller has a passion for the game ofbasketball. The 5-foot-6 junior guard also excels insoftball.

Miller was instrumental in leading Bogue Chitto’s Lady Cats to a27-4 record and the semifinals of the Class 1A South StateTournament. For her efforts, Miller has earned the Most ValuablePlayer award on the DAILY LEADER’s 2010 All-Lincoln County GirlsBasketball Team.

Miller, recognized as Miss Basketball in Lincoln County, averaged14 points, five assists, four rebounds and three steals per game asthe Cats rolled to a 27-4 record. They lost to eventual statechampion McAdams 73-69 in the South semis at West Lincoln.

Joining Miller on the DL’s Dream Team are Terah Winborne and AnnaKatelyn Mangold of Brookhaven Academy, Kearra Collins ofBrookhaven, Hannah Knouse of West Lincoln and Tyrisha Patterson ofLoyd Star.

Members of the DL’s sports department selected the team, withadditional input provided by area high school and collegecoaches.

Miller’s efforts on offense and defense during the season wereexceptional. According to Bogue Chitto coach Christi Terrell,Miller is an outstanding all-round player who loves the game.

“Darcy will always give 110 percent,” said Coach Terrell. “Sheplays hard and she hustles. She’s coachable and has a heart for thegame.”

Miller, 17, celebrates her next birthday Oct. 27. She is thedaughter of Timmy and Darlene Miller, both Bogue Chitto graduateswho participated in athletics.

“My parents encourage me a lot,” said Miller. “They give me advice,too.”

Looking back on the season, Miller said her best game was againstMcAdams. “We gave them a run for their money.”

Asked to describe her team, Miller said, “We had an awesome year.We used our speed and worked together as a team. Nobody is a ballhog. We pass it.”

The Cats will return four starters next season: Miller, guardsAneisha Dillon and Josie Porter and forward Adrienne Hall. Seniorforward Shelby Tobias is graduating.

“I’m looking forward to next year,” said Miller. Currently, she’sbusy playing catcher in fastpitch softball. She plays the outfieldin slowpitch.

“Softball is my favorite but I love basketball just as much.”

In the classroom, Miller enjoys English the most. She enjoyedreading “Huckleberry Finn.”

Her favorite college basketball team is Tennessee. She plans onattending Copiah-Lincoln Community College and pursuing a career incomputer technology.

Terah Winborne, a willowy 5-5 sophomore, averaged 14.1 points, 3.6assists and 3.1 steals per game for Coach Barry Gray’s BrookhavenAcademy Lady Cougars. She’s a point guard with exceptionalquickness.

“Terah has natural instincts to be in the right place at the righttime,” said Gray. “She really understands the game and she’s a lotstronger than she looks. She has a competitive will to win everygame.”

Winborne helped lead the Lady Cougars to a 31-7 record. They wereDistrict 4-AA and South State champions. They were runners-up inthe AA State Tournament and reached the Final Four in the MAISOverall Tournament, losing to eventual champion East RankinAcademy.

Kearra Collins, a 5-7 senior, averaged 15.6 points, 3.0 reboundsand 2.4 assists for the Brookhaven Lady Panthers who posted a 9-20record under Coach Freda Craft.

“Kearra can handle the ball well and shoot it from the outside,”said Craft. “She can play good defense when she wants to.”

Tyrisha Patterson, a 5-10 sophomore, was the go-to player as theLady Hornets labored through a major rebuilding season that wasplagued by injuries. She averaged 14.1 points and 9.7 rebounds pergame as Coach Billy Vaughn’s squad (9-20) finished third in theRegion 6-2A Tournament and advanced to the state playoffs.

“Tyrisha is strong and agile,” said Vaughn. “She works hard to getbetter. Her biggest asset is her strength.”

Anna Katelyn Mangold, a 6-foot junior post, provided reboundingpower and offensive scoring for the Lady Cougars. She averaged 13.9points, 7.6 rebounds and one blocked shot per game.

“Anna Katelyn is extremely strong physically and she has a softshooting touch,” said Gray. “She became very efficient in the lowpost as the season went on.”

Mangold overcame a high ankle sprain in the South State semifinalsto play well in the State and Overall Tournaments.

Hannah Knouse, a 5-7 senior forward, enjoyed a strong season forWest Lincoln’s Lady Bears, helping them to the South State 1ATournament finals and a berth in the State Tournament. She averaged11 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.2 steals and 1.7 assists per game as theLady Bears finished 21-12 under Coach Lane Young.

“Hannah probably was the most consistent player on offense anddefense for us this year,” said Young. “She shot the ball well andplayed hard for us.

“We had some injuries so she had to play out on the wing,” Youngcontinued. “She’s a good all-around athlete.”

HONORABLE MENTION

Bogue Chitto: Aneisha Dillon, Shelby Tobias, Josie Porter.

Brookhaven: Tiakara Kelly, Precious Patterson, MaleysiaBurnett.

Brookhaven Academy: Laura Beth Wright, Anna Lofton.

Enterprise: Lacey Orr, Karla Beth Hux, Caroleah Brister.

Loyd Star: Erica Smith, Courtney Watts, Leah Britt.

West Lincoln: Tati Marshall, Karli Herrington, Keri Easley.