Boys’ Defensive MVP goes to Gordonsville’s Smith, girls’ shared by Pickett’s Lowe and Clay’s Wix

CELINA-Pickett County Bobcat Mr. Basketball Finalist Jacob Amonett and Lady Bobcat Emmy Lowe swept the District 7-A MVP awards for their school when the Tri-Lakes Conference’s coaches revealed the league’s regular-season awards.

After being announced as one of Class A’s best the same morning, Amonett earned the distinction as the district’s top boys player, and Lowe was also honored with the girls MVP nod following a vote taken at last Thursday’s district meeting held here at Ollie’s Place.

Both seniors led their respective Pickett County squads to regular-season league titles and have their teams poised to repeat as District 7-A Tournament Champions, as they enter postseason action as #1 seeds for the second-consecutive season.

Amonett averaged a league-high 21 points this year, while Lowe scored at a 17-point-per-game clip this season.

What’s even more impressive about both players’ games is the fact they also lead their teams in assists.

“Jacob has had a special year,” his coach and father Joseph Amonett said of his youngest son.  “I am happy for him, because he’s worked hard to get where he is.

“He told me he always feels like any award he gets is a team award, because he is the player that he gets to be because of the kids that he plays with,” coach Amonett continued.  “What’s unique about our team is they make each other better and that’s what makes it special.”

Lowe’s coach Brent Smith, whose team won the 2024 Class A State Championship, had similar things to say about his most recent MVP.

“I feel like I have two of the best guards in Class A,” Smith said referring to Lowe and junior Zoe Nicholas, who was the 2024 league MVP.  “They feed off of each other and I have been blessed to have both of those girls.

“It is awesome,” he said of Lowe being recognized as the district’s top girls player this year.  “She just became our all-time leader in assists and, most of the time, she guards the best player on the other team.

“She can do it all.  This is a great credit to her, and I’m just tickled to death for her.”

Opposing coaches also had high praise for both Amonett and Lowe.

“He does a little bit of everything for that team,” Gregg Bibb, the head coach of #2-seeded Gordonsville Tigers, said of Amonett.  “He can shoot it, he can facilitate, and he distributes it well.

“He is a tough guard without a doubt.”

Clay County girls head coach Matt Walker, whose Lady Bulldogs are also a #2 seed entering the tournament, described Lowe as “pretty much impossible to guard” due to her range of talents.

“She is just so physically gifted,” Walker said.  “She’s strong, has good size, and just has a good all-around game that’s hard to do anything with.”

Lowe’s defensive prowess also netted her a Co-Defensive MVP award, which she shared with Clay County senior Laci Wix.

Nicholas joined Lowe on the girls All-District 7-A First Team, along with Wix and her Lady Bulldog junior teammate Ella Eads, and senior Kady Hopkins and junior Lydia Phillips, both of Clarkrange.

Amonett was accompanied on the boys first team by his senior teammate Eli Reagan, Clarkrange junior Bryton Swallows, Clay County seniors Nate Adams and Lance Burchett, and Gordonsville junior Carter Gibson.

Like Lowe and Wix, Gordonsville senior Tucker Smith was named the boys Defensive MVP, while Pickett County’s Cole Amonett and Red Boiling Springs’ Zoe McDuffee were honored as Freshman MVPs.

The elder Amonett and Smith also swept the District 7-A Coach of the Year awards for Pickett County.

Additionally, all-district second and third teams were chosen by the conference’s coaches last week, along with an all-defensive team, an all-freshman team, and all-conference honorable mentions.

See both boys and girls complete awards lists below for details of the other Tri-Lakes Conference honors.

BOYS AWARDS

Coach of the Year:

Joseph Amonett, Pickett Co.

MVP:

Jacob Amonett, Pickett Co.

First Team:

Bryton Swallows, Clarkrange

Eli Reagan, Pickett County

Nate Adams, Clay County

Lance Burchett, Clay Co.

Carter Gibson, Gordonsville

Second Team:

Nathaniel Cobb, Pickett Co.

Brodie Sykes, Gordonsville

Cole Amonett, Pickett County

Tucker Smith, Gordonsville

Mason McWhirter, Clarkrange

Third Team:

Nolan Adams, Clay County

Cole Eads, Clay County

Lyric Parris, Pickett County

J Foster, Gordonsville

James Peoples, G-ville

Honorable Mention:

Hayden Adams, Clay Co.

Noah Gunter, Clarkrange

Braxton Sears, Clarkrange

Tristan Taylor, Clarkrange

Aayden Cherry, Red Boiling

All-Defensive Team:

MVP Tucker Smith, G-ville

Lyric Parris, Pickett County

Nolan Adams, Clay County

Mason McWhirter, Clarkrange

Cole Amonett, Pickett County

Bryton Swallows, Clarkrange

All-Freshmen Team:

MVP Cole Amonett, Pickett Co.

Mason McWhirter, Clarkrange

Noah Gunter, Clarkrange

Michael Murphy, Red Boiling

Camrix Stott, Gordonsville

Dalyn Davis, Clarkrange

GIRLS AWARDS

Coach of the Year:

Brent Smith, Pickett Co. 

MVP:

Emmy Lowe, Pickett Co.

First Team:

Zoey Nicholas, Pickett Co.

Kady Hopkins, Clarkrange

Laci Wix, Clay County

Ella Eads, Clay County

Lydia Phillips, Clarkrange

Second Team:

Addy Lowe, Pickett County

Makenzie Herron, G-ville

Zoe McDuffee, Red Boiling

Kaylee Tompkins, Pickett

Haylen Garrison, Clay Co.

Third Team:

Chloe Rogers, Clarkrange

Sophia Sitton, Clarkrange

Baylor Walden, Clay County

Natalie Smith, Clay County

Kali Underwood, Gordonsville

Honorable Mention:

Emma Tompkins, Pickett

Kylie Wood, Pickett County

Claire Kendall, Clay County

Payton Manis, Clarkrange

Molly Storie, Gordonsville

Ashlyn Naylor, Gordonsville

Lilly Brock, Gordonsville

Kaka Roberts, Gordonsville

DeAwndria Polk, Red Boiling

Rylee Bray, Red Boiling

Sidney Massengille, RBS

Allie Bates, Red Boiling

All-Defensive Team:

Co-MVP Laci Wix, Clay Co.

Co-MVP Emmy Lowe, Pickett

Lydia Phillips, Clarkrange

Kady Hopkins, Clarkrange

Rylee Bray, Red Boiling

Kali Underwood, Gordonsville

Sidney Massengille, RBS

All-Freshmen Team:

MVP Zoe McDuffee, RBS

Brooklyn Scott, Clay Co.

Rylee Bray, Red Boiling

Lilly Brock, Gordonsville

Kaleah Crawford, Clay Co.

Lierra Baines, Gordonsville