By David Dawson, Rome News-Tribune Sports Writer
DDawson@RN-T.com / 706-290-5254
If Rome High junior Tanisha Woodard had a blow torch, she might have cut her MVP plaque into several pieces Saturday night.
“This doesn’t just belong to me,” said Woodard. “It’s a team thing. If I had my way, every player on this team would be chosen MVP.”
Woodard and Darlington senior Corey Roper were named the Most Valuable Players of the Rome News-Tribune Holiday Festival after both players helped steer their respective teams to Gold Ball championships.
Woodard scored a team-high 20 points Saturday night to help the Lady Wolves win their fifth straight Festival title by beating Model 67-65 in overtime.
Roper scored a game-high 26 points, including 18 in the second half, during Darlington’s 93-89 win over Coosa in the finals.
The victory gave Darlington its second straight title, and Roper said being named the MVP was a development that helped make a good thing even better.
“Back-to-back Gold Balls and being named the tournament MVP – this is the dream right here,” said Roper with a smile beaming on his face. “I don’t know if it can get any better than this.”
Roper was joined the All-Festival team by a pair of Darlington teammates: Tyshawn Good and Shawn Powell (last year’s MVP when the Tigers won the first Gold Ball in school history).
Coosa also had three representatives, with Corey Edmondson, Bobby Lee Smith and Coleco Kidd all earning the honor.
The Rome Wolves, who finished third, had two players on the team: JaMalcolm Griffin and Tony Woods.
Pepperell’s Steven Pruitt and Woodland’s Scott Windom completed the selections.
On the girls side, Woodard was one of three Rome players to make the team, along with Keesha Wise and Kristina Waters.
For Model, Kiara Smith, who had a 28-point, 23-rebound performance in the championship game, was joined on the All-Festival team by Model teammates Kendall Davis and Sarah Alford.
Others making the girls squad were: Woodland’s Keely Moore, who led the Lady Wildcats to a surprising third-place finish; Armuchee’s Chelsea MacDonald; Cartersville’s Sydney Jones and Trion’s Julia Owings.
