Hawley girls head basketball coach Tony Elliott gave an interview last fall at the beginning of basketball season. In that interview he said that he knew his team could make the playoffs but he just had to convince them. Most people who follow Hawley girl’s basketball would have thought back then that Elliott was headed down a disappointing road. Those people were in for a big surprise. The Lady Cats only missed making the playoffs by ONE POINT. The one point loss to Coahoma was the only thing that kept Elliott from taking his team into postseason play. And it was obvious to the Lady Cat fans that Elliott had definitely made believers out of his players. No matter what the score, the Lady Cats played every game to the final second.
1st team All-District selection, senior Sara Long said, “Coach Elliott saw something in us that we were never aware that we had. He made my last year something to remember.” Also selected to the 1st team was sophomore Heather Cobb. “Leadership played a big role in how much our team improved this year. It started with Coach Elliott and the seniors and then just kept on improving with the underclassmen,” Cobb said.
District “New Comer of the Year”, freshman Chelsea Phillips, was proud to be on this team. “In all the years to come, I’ll always remember this special year, Coach Elliott and all the girls I got to play with.” 2nd team ALL-District selection, senior Adrianne Akins said, “I want to thank my grandmother, sisters & the Caffey family for making this year great. And I especially want to thank Coach Elliott for making our senior year the best year we’ve ever had.” Sophomore Tanya Jimenez said, “I just really appreciate all the senior girls for all the things they taught us and it won’t be the same next year without them. I can’t wait to use what they taught me in the next two years while I play for Coach Elliott.”
Senior Mallory Vassar was listed on the Honorable Mention All-District team. “One thing we’ve lacked in the past is respect. Coach Elliott taught us all how to respect each other and ourselves. This year has been the best and without Coach Elliott it wouldn’t have been complete,” Vassar said. Senior Morgan Polk said, “I loved playing for Coach Elliott and I loved my teammates. I wouldn’t have picked anyone else to play for or play with.” And senior Kassie Cagle finished up the thoughts for the year with these words, “I just want to thank our superintendent, Mr. Matthews, for giving us Coach Elliott. With him and the great effort of our team our senior year was better that any of us ever expected it to be.”
