2008 Middleton High School Lady Tigers Team Recognized {video}
It may have been 15 years, but the bond of the 2008 Middleton High School (MHS) Lady Tigers State Tournament team was solidified when they competed at the state level and won the Region 8A championship. The players who were able to return and be recognized by head MHS basketball coach James Burkley at the January 7, 2023, MHS vs. Bolivar Central High School game converged on the court with smiles and hugs as the name of each player was called. Although the gym was new to many and one in which they never played as a team, the faces of the players were all too familiar to each other.
“We had on court chemistry and off court chemistry,” said Shanita Polk who played during the 2007 through 2010 seasons.
The 2008 Lady Tigers State Tournament Region 8A championship team included players Coresia Berry, Kristina Elliott, Cassandra Franklin, Angelia Geanes, Tataurus Howser, LaKeshia Humphey, Anya Hunt, Ashley Jackson, Veronica Jenkins, TaQuelia Mason, Jazzine McKinnie, Vanessa Miller, Sharon Morgan, Seirra Morgan, Jasmine Perry, Shanita Polk, Brittney Prewitt, Karis Smith, and Ashley Williams.
“It’s exciting and just good to see everybody come back to the hometown. Hopefully we’re still making the hometown proud and motivating the new girls to go higher and higher,” said Christine Elliott who played from 2007 through 2011, and still lives in Middleton.
For some, basketball ended after they graduated from high school, and a few played while they were in college. Some have even remained closely connected to the sport.
“I coach boys’ basketball at Hickory Ridge Middle School in Memphis and also teach ELA honors,” said Tataurus Howser who played basketball in college.
Some now play recreationally, but for most of the players, they are spectators of the sport and come out to support the MHS Tigers when they play.
“I don’t know anybody personally (on the team), but I still come to all the games. You know, I bleed orange and black at the end of the day,” said Elliott.
Several of the players had fond memories of their years playing as MHS Lady Tigers.
“It was 2010, we went to the state, and made it all the way to the second round. It was fun,” said Polk.
“I believe my favorite memory is probably the 2009-2010 season when we were in Murfreesboro at State. Sierra Morgan shot the game winning shot, and we went on to the next round,” said Elliott.
“My favorite year was my junior year (2009-2010) when we went to the state tournament, made it to the Final Four, and I got all state,” said Howser. “When you make it to the Final Four, only one person from your team gets the tournament trophy, and that was me.”
Coach Burkley is known for being passionate and spirited on the court. When asked if Burkley was the same as they remembered when he coached them, the question drew smiles and similar responses.
“He’s a little nicer and was a whole lot meaner to us. He is taking it easier on them,” said Polk who also shared what she learned from Burkley. “I learned a lot! Discipline, real life on and off the court. A lot of his messages and methods, I still use them to this day. He’s a great coach!”
“I feel like he pushed us to our fullest potential, so I feel like he just told us, you know, you work hard, you practice hard, you’ll get the result in any facet of life,” said Elliott.
It was the summer of 2016 when Howser coached during one of Burkley’s summer basketball camps and noted she would be a good teacher. That comment sparked the career path Howser would later take.
“The only reason I do what I do is because of him. I still listen to him to this day. That’s the reason why I just graduated with my master’s in secondary education, simply because he told me to,” said Howser who is now working on her doctorate.
The team presented Burkley with a commemorative piece that had pictures of the 2008 team.
“I am very proud of what this team has accomplished. They were my favorite team to coach, and worked extremely hard to do what they did. There was a lot of sweat and tears from this group,” said Burkley. “Anything you want in life, you have to work for it. This bunch sure did it. I am very proud of them and my coaching staff.”
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