Cayson Conner was so good in the state tourney that the Marshall County senior guard earned a scholarship to Murray State. (KHSAA Photo)
Marshall County senior Cayson Conner had a remarkable run in the recent state tournament when she averaged 19 points, 4.3 assists, and 3.8 rebounds per game while shooting 48 percent from the field to get the Marshals into the title game where they lost to Sacred Heart. Her play really should not have been a surprise since she averaged 14 points per game and shot 52 percent from the field and 75 percent at the foul line during the 2020-21 season against a rugged schedule.
Still, until she showcased her talent in Rupp Arena — coach Aaron Beth only took her out a total of two minutes in the four games — she figured she would be playing softball, not basketball, in college.
Now she’s headed to nearby Murray State University to play college basketball for coach Rechelle Turner, the former coach at Murray High who coached against Conner in high school.
“This all came about after the state tournament,” Conner, who was also the 2021 Marshall homecoming queen, said. “I had a couple of interactions with people at Murray but not had not really been offered until after the state.
“Softball has always been my main sport. I never played AAU basketball because I did softball. The last two seasons I learned to love basketball. Missing our junior softball season hurt that recruiting process and I just sort of fell into this I guess.”
Conner, a softball shortstop, has played both softball and basketball since age 5. Yet she didn’t need much time to say yes to Division I college when she got the opportunity.
“I love the way she (Turner) coaches and I know a lot of the players. Obviously, it’s close to home and my family can easily see me play, so it was a good fit,” Conner said.
She already knows Murray players Macey Turley, Lex Mayes, Alexis Burpo, and Charlee Settle because she played against all of them in high school.
“Macey Turley is a great senior guard and a great point guard. I played against her when I was a freshman. I respect all of those girls because they’re great athletes and I’m excited to have a chance to play with them,” Conner said. She admits the title game loss will continue to sting but said the season had so many enjoyable moments, including the county-wide celebration Friday where the team went to six elementary schools and two middle schools.
“Marshall has one of the greatest fan bases and to be recognized and see all the love and support from the fans was great,” Conner, who had almost 1,500 career points, said. “It was really special to see all those kids.”
It was even better because most of the basketball team has played together for years.
“We are friends on and off the floor. We are all very unselfish and not one person wanted individual success above team success. We just wanted to win,” Conner said.
Marshall did that going 25-3 this season and now Conner hopes for the same type of success in softball again. Marshall won the First Region title in 2018 and 2019 and that’s the expectation for this team as well.
Conner, who plays shortstop, and three other senior basketball players were at softball practice two days after losing the basketball state championship game. She’s now played in four games driving in four runs.
“Softball is big in western Kentucky and Region 1 alone has a lot of great teams,” she said. “It will be interesting to see who comes out (of the region) but our expectation is for that to be us.”
