Who will be crowned the 1A State Champion?

Greers Ferry Westside continues its incredible season as they find themselves in the 1A title game against Earle. Both teams are full of talent, so it will be an entertaining game which will be played this Saturday in Hot Springs, Arkansas.   Earle Lady Bulldogs    [player_tooltip player_id='876300' first='Jada' last='Maples'] is one of the best players in the state of Arkansas for a number of reasons. She has at least 9 Division I schools calling after her, with her most recent offer coming from Clemson. She is also one of the best two-way players in her class.   Maples is mostly known for her scoring, which is outstanding. If the defense does not put a hand up, she will raise up and knock down a jumper from three or mid-range. If the defense decides to play her too closely on the perimeter, she can fly by them and get to the rim. For those of you who have kept up with 1A basketball, you already know what she can do on offense, but I have been impressed with her defense.   Maples seems taller than 5'9", as she can block shots with ferocity. Her long wingspan and bounce allow her to dominate the boards and disrupt passing lanes. Of course, if you show her the ball, she will rip it from your grasp and take it the other way.   [player_tooltip player_id='876300' first='Jada' last='Maples'] is coming off a 20-point game against Jasper in the semis and I would not be surprised if she did that again in the championship.     [player_tooltip player_id='1091190' first='Journey' last='Jefferson'] is the other star guard on this Earle team and she has already started the playoffs with some incredible performances.   Jefferson is coming off a 27-point semi-final outing. The sophomore scored 16 of her points in the second half, along with nailing 4 3-pointers. When she has that shot going from outside, there is absolutely nothing the defense can do about it. Of course, you do not have D1 offers if you are only a shooter.   Jefferson has a deadly handle and she is able to get by her defender with ease. There are few players who can actively stop her once she sees a lane to the basket, as she will finish through contact. On the other side of the ball, Jefferson will rack up multiple steals a night, thanks to her active hands and high defensive IQ.   Earle has a lethal backcourt. You have to pick your poison between [player_tooltip player_id='876300' first='Jada' last='Maples'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1091190' first='Journey' last='Jefferson'].    Greers Ferry Westside Lady Eagles    Westside has a significant amount of depth, along with having one of the most consistent starting lineups in the state. This Lady Eagle team spent non-conference play defeating 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A, and even 6A teams, never mind 1A schools. The reasoning behind this dominance is partly because of [player_tooltip player_id='1091189' first='Lainee' last='Gentry'].   Gentry is one of the better shooters in the 1A classification. She is coming off a semi-final performance where she had 14 points, with 4 field goals coming from the 3-point line. Gentry is automatic off the catch, especially on the wing or in the corner.   Greers Ferry had one of their closest battles of the season in the semis against Rural Special, coming away with the 4-point victory. Without [player_tooltip player_id='1091189' first='Lainee' last='Gentry'], the Lady Eagles do not advance to the championship game.     Whitely Goodson may have a slight height disadvantage at the power forward position, but she makes up for it with her strength, athleticism, and hustle.   Goodson has a tendency to outbound her opponents, especially on the offensive glass. If the opposition fails to box her out, there is a guarantee she grabs the board. Once she has the rebound in her possession, she will immediately go back up and score amongst the trees.   She is also excellent at moving without the ball, cutting to the basket almost every play and being in the perfect position to score down low.   [player_tooltip player_id='1091211' first='Whitley' last='Goodson'] had 10 first half points against Rural Special in the semi-final game, but she will need to have two good halves against Earle in the championship.     [player_tooltip player_id='1092578' first='Ashlyn' last='Cossey'] was Westside's leading scorer in the semi-final. She had 19 points, with 12 coming in the second half to help the Lady Eagles pull out the close victory.   Cossey is hard to handle in the post. She uses excellent footwork to get around the defense, whether she is using a drop-step or a spin move. Once she has a good look at the basket, she can shield off the defense and shoot what seems to be an uncontested look with all of the space she created.   There are not many players who can have an impact on the boards like Cossey can. She is dangerous on both ends, putting back offensive rebounds on one and ending the opposition's possession on the other.   [player_tooltip player_id='1092578' first='Ashlyn' last='Cossey'] will be hard for Earle to handle, so that matchup could go in favor of the Lady Eagles.     [player_tooltip player_id='1051642' first='Addie' last='Overturff'] is Westside's point guard and she has found success in her lone season in Greers Ferry. She has led this team to a perfect conference season and will look to keep it up in the championship.   Overturff only had 6 points in the semi-final against Rural Special, but her defense and playmaking helped the Lady Eagles come away with the victory. She always keeps her eyes up when she brings the ball up the floor, looking for an open teammate. On the defensive side of the ball, her 5'11" frame and long arms help deflect passes and grab rebounds.   Overturff averaged around 20 points at Shirley High School last season, so she has the ability to be the go-to scorer if she needs to be. She also had 14 points in the district title game, helping Westside close it out with the win.   [player_tooltip player_id='1051642' first='Addie' last='Overturff'] could be a player who breaks out in the title game. However the game goes, she is a threat to go for double-digit assists or points at a moment's notice.     [player_tooltip player_id='1092577' first='Kately' last='Cornett'] is another solid player in this Westside starting lineup. She has asserted herself throughout the season as an impactful two-way player.   Cornett had 9 points in the semi-final victory, while also coming up with multiple defensive stops. The junior is a threat to strip ball-handlers and to disrupt the passing lanes. Her on-ball defensive pressure is stifling, typically causing havoc for the other team.   On the offensive end, she is a threat to hit outside shots. Cornett is also a solid passer, as she knows how to make the extra pass to an open teammate.   [player_tooltip player_id='1092577' first='Kately' last='Cornett'] is another player who will have an important role in the title game, and she could be a major x-factor.    Both Greers Ferry Westside and Earle will have their work cut out for them on the 15th. You should meander your way over to Bank OZK Arena to watch these two powerhouses go at each other.

Greers Ferry Westside continues its incredible season as they find themselves in the 1A title game against Earle. Both teams are full of talent, so it will be an entertaining game which will be played this Saturday in Hot Springs, Arkansas.