Vicki Rutland and Camryn Davis both knew at the beginning of the year the Lawrence County Lady Cougars’ 2017-2018 season was going to be a special one.

They didn’t know how special, but they knew that they had a lot of pieces that could lead them a long way in the playoffs.

They wound up walking off the floor with a 2018 state championship in March.

Davis is MVP of The Daily Leader’s All-Area Girls’ Basketball Team. Rutland is The Daily Leader’s pick for All-Area Girls’ Coach of the Year.

“We had great team chemistry, and that’s what really carried us,” Rutland said. “We pushed each other, and when you have kids pushing each other that’s when you can get things done. That’s what was special about this team.”

Davis led the team in scoring with 16 points per game and she was the leading rebounder on the team as well, but she said the special season wouldn’t have happened without her teammates.

“I have to give all the credit to them,” Davis said. “I really couldn’t have done this without them. We had great chemistry between us, and that’s what helped us win the state championship.”

Davis said playing for Rutland over her career at Lawrence County was a great experience.

“She was like a second mom to us,” Davis said. “She always had our back, and it was extremely fun to play for her.”

Davis will play basketball at Copiah-Lincoln Community College next season after finishing out a stellar career at Lawrence County.

All-Area Girls Team

Most Valuable Player: Camryn Davis

Coach of the Year: Vicki Rutland

Shelbi Maxwell, Wesson

Maxwell led the Lady Cobras in assists per game this season, and was one of the team’s leading scorers.

Tamia Stallings, Brookhaven

Stallings was a double-double machine for the Lady Panthers this season, pulling in 10 points and 10 rebounds per game.

Silentianna Collins, Brookhaven

Collins was the Panthers’ leading scorer this season with 10.8 points per game, and she averaged five rebounds per game

Kyunna Thomas, Lawrence County

Thomas averaged 12 points per game and six rebounds per game en route to Lawrence County’s first girls’ state basketball championship.

Karly Leake, Bogue Chitto

Leake was the Lady Bobcats’ leading scorer this season, with her season high coming against McLaurin, where she scored 18 points.

Lineka Newson, Bogue Chitto

Newson had breakout performances this season against Salem and Wesson, where she scored 12 points each.

Sarah Britt, Loyd Star

Brit averaged 12.9 points per game and 4.9 rebounds per game for the Lady Hornets this season.

Christie Patterson, Loyd Star

Patterson averaged 4.9 rebounds per game and shot over 30 percent from three-point land this season.

Carlee Nations, Enterprise

Nations averaged 10.2 points per game for the Lady Yellow Jackets.

Karlee Burgess, Enterprise

Burgess scored 5.4 points per game for the Lady Yellow Jackets, while bringing in 4.6 rebounds per game.

Skylar Hall, West Lincoln

Hall averaged 13 points per game for the Lady Bears this season, while shooting 38-percent from three.

Katelyn Dickerson, West Lincoln

Dickerson averaged 10 points per game for the Lady Bears, while pulling down seven rebounds per-game.

Jana Case, Brookhaven Academy

Case was the leading scorer for the Lady Cougars this season, putting up multiple 20-plus-point performances throughout the season.

Kaitlyn Jordan, Brookhaven Academy

Jordan was second on the team in scoring for the Lady Cougars.