Photo: From left, Horn Lake head coach Darryl Partee, Kaitlyn Williams, assistant coach Rashad Hymon, and Kiearniezia Ellis. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
Two key components of a Horn Lake girls’ basketball team that came one game short of a trip to the MHSAA 6A Final Four last season on Tuesday made public their official college destination for the next two years.
Forwards Kiearniezia Ellis and Kaitlyn Williams earlier committed to scholarship offers but Tuesday’s ceremony was to announce where they would be playing basketball this coming season.
For Ellis, she’ll be playing this coming year at Shorter Community College in Arkansas. Williams announced she would play at Motlow State Community College in Tennessee.
Shorter College in North Little Rock, Arkansas is in the second year for the relaunch of its women’s basketball program. Jenone Bell is the school’s athletic director and head women’s basketball coach. Last year’s team finished with an 11-13 record.
With Horn Lake last season, Ellis, a 5′ 11” forward, averaged eight points, 7.5 rebounds, and three assists a game.
Motlow State Community College struggled last season to a 1-20 record. The Bucks are coached by Jeromy Barbee.
Williams, also a 5′ 11” forward, finished with a 12 point average a game and added 8.5 rebounds and four assists a game for the Lady Eagles.
“They are the heart and soul from my team last year along with the other seniors,” said Horn Lake coach Darryl Partee. “These two were the heartbeat. They did all of the dirty work. The schools that they are going to will ask them to step outside of their roles a little bit, but we prepared them for that.”
The defending Region 3-6A champions reached the third round of the MHSAA 6A playoffs before eventual state runner-up Tupelo ousted the Lady Eagles 58-51.
