Leake Academy’s Prince, Freeny named to All-MAIS team

The postseason honors continued to roll in for the Leake Academy girls basketball team.

Two Leake players, junior guards Miriam Prince and Morgan Freeny, were selected to the Class 5A All-MAIS team while Prince was named the Class 5A Player of the Year. In all, only eight players were chose to the Class 5A team.

Leake coach Amanda Hatch was named the Class 5A Coach of the Year as well. 

Leake repeated as state champions and went 37-4 after losing two starters off last year’s squad. The Rebelettes beat Bowling Green 60-45 in the Class 5A state tournament, which was a grueling test for Leake. The Rebelettes beat homestanding Brookhaven 55-45 in the opening round of the tournament and then came from behind to beat Central Hinds 47-41 in the semifinals. Leake then lost to Jackson Prep in the Overall finals, falling 37-34 after winning the Overall in 2021.

Prince had another outstanding season for the Rebelettes, averaging 19.2 points a game and passed the 2,000-point mark in her career. Prince finished the season with 2,167 points, placing her sixth on the school’s all-time scoring list, just behind Hannah Peoples who finished with 2,172 points. The school’s all-time leading scorer is Susan Byrd with 3,187 points while Kristin Caldwell is second with 2,708 points. 

“Miriam’s player of the year was an obvious selection,” Hatch said. “Her ball handling skills, ability to score the ball from inside or out, defensive pressure, and knowledge of the game are exceptional. She works on her game like no one I’ve seen before. Even though she is so talented and skilled, she continues to work on improving her game. She makes everyone around her better with her  ability to create and pushes her teammates to work as hard as she does.”

Also making the team was junior guard Morgan Freeny, who was Leake’s second-leading scorer with 10.3 points a game.

“Red loves to compete and does so at a very high level each practice and game,” Hatch said. “She shines in big moments with great shooting, offensive rebounds, and nearly flawless defensive technique. She has great court awareness on both ends. I’m so proud that she has received this honor because of all her years of hard work.”