In Richland’s road to a runner-up finish at the state tournament, senior Mary Avery McNeese Mary Avery McNeese 5'9" | SG Richland | 2026 State TN played a big role.

In the first two games of the state tournament, McNeese combined for four makes from distance. She made two in each game, going up against Coalfield and Greenfield High School.

McNeese, as a shooter, can make shots well off the line. She also sets her feet quickly to the basket, allowing her to get into her jumper quickly. McNeese can also make difficult shots, especially if she sees a shot go down before a tough shot attempt.

At 5’9″, Mary Avery McNeese Mary Avery McNeese 5'9" | SG Richland | 2026 State TN contributes and helps Richland High School be a good team in multiple ways. This was highlighted in a recent game against Columbia Central High School.

Against the opposing Lady Lions, McNeese did it all. She was active both on the perimeter guarding Central players and on the interior. She had a play where she jumped and picked off a pass to the left wing, then used her speed to get ahead of all players and score a layup at the other end. Inside the paint, she denied a layup attempt. She did this after her teammate got beat off the dribble, and she rotated and played help defense.

On offense, McNeese had a good day, scoring 16 points in the game. Along with some buckets from the inside, she also hit a deep left-wing three-pointer in the game.