by Rusty Ellis
The TSSAA announced their finalists for the 2022-23 Mr. and Miss Basketball awards, and there are two Upper Cumberland athletes that have made the cut.
York Institute sophomore Reese Beaty and Upperman senior Abigail Johnson will represent the Upper Cumberland on the girls side for Class 2A and 3A, respectively.
For the season, Beaty is averaging 16.3 points per game on 59% shooting from the floor, as she’s helped lead the Dragonettes to a 24-2 record and an unblemished 6-0 mark in district play. York has won 19 games in a row going into their Senior Night game against Jackson County, and Beaty’s had a big hand in their success.
Among her big games include a recent 24-point outing to take down 4A foe Cookeville, a 22-point showing against Oneida and a 23-point performance against Monterey.
Johnson’s continued her excellent play that started the moment she took the floor for the Lady Bees as a freshman, as she’s compiled averages of 16.1 points and 9.9 rebounds per game to help lead Upperman to a 24-3 record and a 9-2 record in district play.
She’s also compiled 14 double-doubles this season, with some of her best work coming in a dominant win over DeKalb County on Jan. 17, where she put up a 16-point, 14-rebound double-double. In that same game, she also became just the firsts Lady Bee since Emily Christian to record 1,000 rebounds and 1,000 points.
Johnson was also named a BCAT All-Star, along with teammate and fellow senior Jayla Cobb.
The awards will be presented on Monday, March 13 at 5 P.M. at MTSU’s Murphy Center.