CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association is a few weeks away from announcing the winners of the 2021-22 Mr. and Miss Basketball Awards. The finalists were named in February, and three Clarksville area student-athletes are included on the lists.
The TSSAA plans to recognize the winners at Middle Tennessee State University on Monday, March 14 at 5 p.m. The association will present the awards to six boys and girls across the classifications of high school sport in Tennessee. Finalists are selected based off their performance throughout the season, and they are chosen by a committee of statewide sportswriters.
Clarksville area finalists
Eddie Ricks is one significant reason Clarksville Academy has a record of 23-12 on the year. According to Cougars head coach Tyler Hickman, Ricks has averaged 21 points per game while shooting 51.1% from the field. The junior has also compiled an average of 7.4 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.1 blocks throughout the 2021-22 campaign. Radford University as well as Southeast Missouri State are the schools that have offered Ricks scholarship opportunities so far.
“Eddie is a special talent, but this whole team is special,” Hickman said. “They’ve bought in to what we’re trying to be about, and I couldn’t be happier for this group. Eddie would give credit to him teammates every step of the way. He’s been nothing short of great for us. He’s a confidence booster and willing to get other guys involved. But his biggest step came when he started defending and rebounding at a high level.”
Clarksville Academy continued their playoff push on Saturday, and the team beat out Notre Dame High School out of Chattanooga. Ricks led the way with 19 points in the state quarterfinal game. The Cougars play Friday, March 4, for a chance to play in the state championship.
Miss Basketball Award finalists-Class 4A
Imari Berry is a leader for Clarksville High girls basketball and has been all season long. Berry is an effective playmaker, whether she is the one controlling the ball or finding ways to get open without it.
According to the Wildcats head coach Brian Rush, the sophomore guard is averaging 24.5 points per game. Her versatile scoring ability is one segment of her game that caught the eye of several universities. On Feb. 16, Berry announced on Twitter she had received her latest scholarship offer to play for Kellie Harper and the Lady Volunteers.
Another player listed as a Miss Basketball Award finalist is Ta’Mia Scott. Scott is a threat on each end of the floor, and her production through 24 games showcases this theory. MaxPreps details that the senior has averaged 20.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.6 steals and 1.9 blocks per game.
Scott has already committed and signed to play for a winning program in Middle Tennessee State. The Blue Raiders women’s basketball team has not had a losing season in over two decades. Scott will look to contribute to the team’s winning ways as she furthers her education and basketball career next year.
Interestingly, the two Miss Basketball Award finalists played one another on Monday. This was the third time the teams went head to head this season, and each finalist put on a show throughout the contest.
Northwest came out on top over Clarksville High 62-50. Scott scored 29 points in the game, and Berry dropped 20 points on the night herself. Together, they accounted for 44% of the games 112 total points. Scott just so happened to achieve the 2,000 career points milestone on the night as well.