HAZARD – First-year Betsy Layne girls’ basketball coach Harold Tackett racked up a postseason award last week when he was named WYMT 15th Region Coach of the Year. Tackett guided the Ladycats to an 18-10 record in his first season. Betsy Layne tied for the 15th Region’s fourth-best record.

Tackett took over a tradition-rich Betsy Layne girls’ basketball program that enjoyed its most success under the guidance of head coach Cassandra Akers, who ranked as one of Eastern Kentucky’s top coaches.

South Floyd standout Kayla Hall was an honorable mention selection. Allen Central Lady Rebel Amber Shepherd was tabbed one of the top young players in the Mountains.

A complete list of the WYMT girls’ basketball honors follows.

First Team: Lauren Wombles (South Laurel); Kayla Lowe (Pike Central); Heather Sturdivant (Perry Central); Sarah Rowe (Rockcastle County); Lenae Shouse (Breathitt County).

Second Team: Samantha Coleman (Middlesboro); Kourtney Tyra (Jackson County); Sara Hammond (Rockcastle County); Kendall Noble (Breathitt County); Merissa Pruitt (Belfry).

Third Team: Celena Conley (Johnson Central); Gemma Gray (Clay County); Mikkah Rogers (Corbin); Sophie Robinson (Middlesboro); Whitney Belle Jackson (Clay County).

Honorable Mention, 12th Region: Ashley Fowler (Southwestern).

13th Region: Callie Mills (Barbourville); Emily Boggs (Cawood); Courtney Bell (Harlan); Amber Whitehead (Jackson County); Brooklynn Jimison (Middlesboro); Caitie Jackson (North Laurel); Leslie Howard (Pineville); Jessica Dean (South Laurel); Erin Sears (Williamsburg).

14th Region: Amanda Southwood (Breathitt County); Jamey Jo Gilbert (Buckhorn); Ashley Hall (Hazard); Britni Tincher (Jackson City); Nicole Revis (Jenkins); Whitney Boggs (Leslie County); Brittany Sexton (Letcher Central); Shannon Bays (Letcher Central); Allison Feltner (Perry Central); Kayla Spencer (Wolfe County); Kayla Stamper (Wolfe County).

15th Region: Shae Deskins (Belfry); Hollie McCarty (East Ridge); Brittany Swindall (East Ridge); Breanna Salyer (Johnson Central); Chelsey Salyers (Johnson Central); Amanda Jarrell (Paintsville); Katlyn Riley (Phelps);

Kayla Johnson (Phelps); A.D. Slone (Pike County Central); Holly Harris (Pike County Central); Christina Johnson (Pikeville); Laura Perkins (Shelby Valley); Kayla Cantrell (Shelby Valley); Patience Brewer (Sheldon Clark); Carla Booth (Sheldon Clark); Kayla Hall (South Floyd). 16th Region: Leslie Eagle (Morgan County)

Defensive All-Mountains: Devin Fothergill (Southwestern); Amanda Brimm (Whitley County); Whitney Gilliam (Cumberland); Ashley Williams (Middlesboro); Maris Hovee (June Buchanan); Sharay Kincer (Letcher Central); Arielle Engle (Hazard); Beth Wooten (Leslie County); Brittany Hardin (Breathitt County); Kayla Stamper (Wolfe County); Amanda Sawyers (Shelby Valley); Abby Coleman (Pike Central).

Academic All-Mountains: Sara Johnson (Allen Central); Sarah Burchell (Clay County); Emily Wireman (Johnson Central); Hayley Meek (Johnson Central); Megan Mosely (Knott Central); Breanne Wilson (Leslie County); Shannon Bays (Letcher Central); Shaleesha Coleman (Middlesboro); Jasmine Hall (Phelps); Taylor Keene (Phelps); Kayla Cantrell (Shelby Valley); Holly Jones (Whitley County).

Underclassman All-Mountains: Amber Shepherd (Allen Central); Miranda Davenport (Cawood); Paige Slone (Cordia); Alyssa Pratt (Cordia); Brooke Coleman (Shelby Valley); Carla Booth (Sheldon Clark); Jessica Coffey (Somerset); Hillary Moore (Leslie County).

Players of the Year – 12th/13th Regions: Lauren Wombles (South Laurel); 14th Region: Heather Sturdivant (Perry Central); 15th Region: Kayla Lowe (Pike Central).

Coaches of the Year – 12th/13th Region: Steve Wright (South Laurel); 14th Region: Peggy Moore (Breathitt County); 15th Region: Harold Tackett (Betsy Layne).