Amiya Jenkins leads Anderson County in scoring but is also an elite defender. (John Herndon Photo)
If Sacred Heart coach Donna Moir was picking Miss Basketball, her choice would be Anderson County standout Amiya Jenkins — a Kentucky signee.
“She is good. She gets to the rim, shoots the 3. She makes Anderson County go,” said Moir.
Anderson County and Sacred Heart play tonight in the final first-round game of the girls state tournament. It’s a rematch of last year’s state semifinal game won by Sacred Heart on its way to winning the state title. Sacred Heart is favored again.
Jenkins averages 20.8 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. She is hitting 53.7 percent overall from the field and has made 40 of 85 3-pointers — a 47 percent mark. She has also been on the foul line 190 times in 32 games and made 139 — a 73 percent mark.
“I said at this time last year I thought she was the best player in the state,” Anderson County coach Clay Birdwhistle said. “At told her after last season for us to hit our ceiling she had to come back better, especially her ability to shoot the ball had to grow.
“She worked her tail off all season. That is what makes her so special. Every time you see her she is better. I think she is also the best defender in the state. She has to do a lot for us.
“It’s not just all scoring. On a given night she has to be our best rebounder. Against a team like Sacred Heart, she will have to do a lot of things.”
He also thinks she should be Miss Basketball.
“I think she has earned it,” the Anderson coach said. “What she has done for Anderson County is huge and the way she handles herself is special.”
Birdswhistle said his team got the “worst possible draw” with the possibility of playing the state’s top four teams if it keeps winning and also drawing the “worst time spot” with tonight’s final game.
However, he’s also proud that the Bearcats have won three straight 8th Region titles, something no team had done in over three decades.
“It is a huge deal for our school but we have a tall order in front of us,” he said.
