Talent in the 1A Championship You Need to Know

The stage is set for the 1A title game, which will take place on March 12 at 12 pm. The Earle Lady Bulldogs and the Westside Greers Ferry Lady Eagles had tremendous seasons, and they both meet for the second straight year in the title game. Though the Lady Eagles took home the title last season, which was the first the school had seen in a long time, Earle looks stronger than ever. Which players from each team are liable to stand out?    It's hard to talk about Westside and not mention the great performances from [player_tooltip player_id='1092578' first='Ashlyn' last='Cossey']. The College of the Ozarks commit has one final game before heading to the next level, and she is ready to bring a second straight title home to Greers Ferry.   Cossey and her squad got the tournament started right with a big win over Jasper in the first round, and she had 12 points in that game. Just before the playoffs began, Cossey faced Norfork and put up 15 points, 3 boards, 3 assists, and 6 steals.   Cossey is a crafty player on the interior. She has great footwork and utilizes the drop step really well, but she is more than just an inside finisher. Cossey has shown the ability to score well in the open court, as she moves more like a forward than a traditional big.   [player_tooltip player_id='1092578' first='Ashlyn' last='Cossey'] was difficult for Earle to handle last season, winning tournament MVP. We will see if she can repeat that effort on Thursday.     In today's game, outside shooting can be the difference between a glorious victory and a devastating defeat. Westside has excellent shooters, and possibly none better than [player_tooltip player_id='1091189' first='Lainee' last='Gentry'].   Jasper felt that defeat after watching Gentry nail 5 triples in a big-time first-round win. She would finish with 16 points in that game, but hitting multiple threes every game is typical of the Eagles' sharpshooter. Just at the end of February, she hit 4 triples against Rural Special and 3 on Norfork.   As you can tell, Gentry is a great 3-point shooter. She is at her best off the catch, and she is lethal from just about anywhere along the perimeter. I've seen her single-handedly end games with her great outside shooting, but it also helps that she is a solid defender.   [player_tooltip player_id='1091189' first='Lainee' last='Gentry'] is one of 1A's top shooters, and she may very well put that on display against the Bulldogs.     [player_tooltip player_id='1091208' first='Eden' last='Murphree'] does not get talked about enough when it comes to helping the Lady Eagles make it to the big game.   Murphree led the team in scoring in their first-round win over Jasper, putting up 14 points, but she is actually more known for her defense, establishing herself as one of the best two-way players in the 1A classification.   The junior provides length and athleticism to this team. She is great when it comes to blocking shots, especially when coming over on help-side defense. If a pass hangs in the air too long, Murphree is the first to intercept it and race down the court for a bucket.   [player_tooltip player_id='1091208' first='Eden' last='Murphree'] could be the key to victory for Westside, as defense truly does win championships.     [player_tooltip player_id='876300' first='Jada' last='Maples'] has been one of the state's best players for the last few years, and now she is prepared to play in her final high school game before she heads off to play in the SEC for Missouri.   Maples is one of the most versatile scorers you will ever come across for the guard position. She can hit from mid-range, three, and in the lane, all with precision and ease. There is no defender who can truly give her trouble, as she can dice up anyone with her smooth crossover and flexible shot release.   In the title game last season, Maples did more than just score, as she dominated the glass, something that often gets overlooked in her game. That plays along with her excellent defensive ability, making her the total package when it comes to superstars.   Westside has some good defenders, and even though they won last year, I don't know if they have enough to stop [player_tooltip player_id='876300' first='Jada' last='Maples'] and her fellow superstar guard this time around.     [player_tooltip player_id='1091190' first='Journey' last='Jefferson'] has been great for so long, already being a 3-time all-conference and all-star performer, as well as surpassing 1,000 points in her career. The thing is, she is not done yet.   Jefferson is practically unstoppable with the ball in her hands. She can make defenders look silly with her great handles, and she uses that to either get to the basket or to step back and nail a jumper. Speaking of jumpshots, she is going to hit every good look from outside she gets, whether off the catch or off the dribble.   The junior continues to develop in other areas of basketball, including playmaking. She has great vision, and she knows where her teammates are at all times. On the other end, Jefferson is a tenacious defender, and opposing ball-handlers are hopeless when she is on them, as there is a great chance they will lose the ball.   [player_tooltip player_id='1091190' first='Journey' last='Jefferson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='876300' first='Jada' last='Maples'] are a phenomenal 1-2 punch that most teams don't know how to guard.     You think Maples and Jefferson are Westside's only problems, think again. Zaniyah "Chip" Johnson will make opponents want to lie down and cry with her intensity.   As my intro may have you thinking, Johnson is a great defender. She is one of the best in the 2026 class when it comes to forcing turnovers and taking advantage of them. Johnson is quick, beating defenders to their spots and trapping them, leading to easy steals for the senior.   On the offensive end, Johnson is a crafty finisher inside, but she is also a solid facilitator. She handles the ball well in traffic and always keeps her eyes up, looking for open teammates.   "Chip" Johnson plays hard every single night, and there is no doubt she will do the same against Westside.

The stage is set for the 1A title game, which will take place on March 12 at 12 pm. The Earle Lady Bulldogs and the Westside Greers Ferry Lady Eagles had tremendous seasons, and they both meet for the second straight year in the title game. Though the Lady Eagles took home the title last season, which was the first the school had seen in a long time, Earle looks stronger than ever. Which players from each team are liable to stand out?