By Darrell Patterson 

Baylor School’s Reggie Upshaw and McMinn Central's Elizabeth Masengil have been chosen as finalists for Tennessee's Mr. and Miss Basketball Awards.

Upshaw, who has signed to play basketball at Middle Tennessee State, has missed much of the 2012-13 season with a foot injury, but he’s been extremely effective when on the court. The 6-7 forward scored 31 points in the Red Raiders’ 57-56 win over rival McCallie on Jan. 27, then added 32 in the team’s 65-63 loss to the Blue Tornado last Saturday.

Upshaw, also a standout wide receiver for Baylor's football team, has been the leading scorer for the Red Raiders the previous two seasons, averaging 18 points, 11 rebounds and three assists per game last year, leading Baylor to the Division II-AA final four.

Masengil, who helped the Chargerettes win the AA state championship in 2011 and was named tournament MVP, won the AA Miss Basketball award last year.  She has signed to play college basketball at UT-Martin.

Awards will be presented to the top girls and boys in five classifications of the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association prior to the championship game awards presentation for each class, respectively.

A statewide committee of sportswriters selected winners based on performance during the 2012-13 regular season. Academics and character were also taken into consideration. High school head basketball coaches and members of the media nominated the finalists.

Here’s a list of the 30 finalists:


Class A Miss Basketball Finalists
Jaycee Coe, Jackson County
Sarah Raby, Moore County
Brooke Rhodes, Cloudland

Class AA Miss Basketball Finalists
Brandi Goodman, Obion County
Elizabeth Masengil, McMinn Central
Abbey Sissom, Cannon County

Class AAA Miss Basketball Finalists
Nina Davis, Memphis Central
Olivia Jones, Riverdale
Alexa Middleton, Riverdale

Division II-A Miss Basketball Finalists
Eliza Edwards, University School of Jackson
Kaylah Keys, Harding Academy
Derica Wyatt, Franklin Road Academy

Division II-AA Miss Basketball Finalists
Jasmin Cincore, Briarcrest
Kennesha Nichols, Ensworth
Justice Swett, Ensworth

Class A Mr. Basketball Finalists
Alex Fountain, Wartburg Central
Zarmarlus Griffin, Booker T. Washington
Derrick Spears, Middle Tennessee Christian

Class AA Mr. Basketball Finalists
Jalen Lindsey, Christ Presbyterian Academy
A.J. Merriweather, Jackson South Side
Mason Ramsey, Livingston Academy

Class AAA Mr. Basketball Finalists
Robert Hubbs, Dyer County
Nick King, Memphis East
Darius Thompson, Blackman

Division II-A Mr. Basketball Finalists
Skal Labissiere, Evangelical Christian School
Cameron Payne, Lausanne
Burton Sampson, Webb School of Knoxville

Division II-AA Mr. Basketball Finalists
Corneilus Elder, Ensworth
Austin Nichols, Briarcrest
Reggie Upshaw, BaylorUpshaw & Masengil are Mr - Miss Basketball Finalists