Golden Circle All-Star Preview: Hudson, Frazier Together Again By Joshua Parrott ~ Jackson Sun They walked off the basketball court at Middle Tennessee State's Murphy Center as Class A state champions in March. Now Kayla Hudson will play one last game for Gleason coach Randy Frazier before starting her college basketball career at Union University next season. "I'm excited about getting to play one more time for him and have him yell at me one more time," said a smiling Hudson. She will play for Frazier's North girls team at 6 p.m. on Saturday in the Golden Circle All-Star Basketball Game at Liberty High School. "You get to where you appreciate that yelling because it's helped make me a better player," she said. The combination of Hudson and Frazier has proved to be lethal for opposing coaches over the past four years. Hudson leaves Gleason with a 122-13 record - tied for second-best in a four-year run in program history. She also set school records for points scored (2,292) and assists (686). As a senior she averaged 21.8 points per game to help Gleason (36-1) finish with the best record in program history. The Lady Bulldogs also won their third state title - the first since 1999. In the Class A final, Hudson scored a game-high 29 points in a 46-36 victory over Oliver Springs. She led all state-tournament scorers this year with 72 total points. Hudson rounded out her career by being named The Jackson Sun girls basketball player of the year, Class A Miss Basketball and Class A state tournament most valuable player. Ashley McElhiney is the only other Gleason player to win a state title and be named Miss Basketball and state tournament MVP in the same season. Hudson also set the single-season state record for made free throws (274) and the career record for made free throws (642). "She had a good career," Frazier said of Hudson. "She knows how to play and is a competitive person. She doesn't like to lose. We hate to lose her, but it's time for her to go and help somebody else win at a different level." What makes Gleason's road to the state championship even more amazing was what Frazier and his players had to endure when Frazier was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in early 2006. He had two surgeries before starting radiation treatment last June. After a year of uncertainty and ups and downs, Frazier finally received a clean bill of health in April. This year Frazier was named The Jackson Sun girls basketball coach of the year. He is now 571-104 in his coaching career. "Every time you win (a state championship) it's special, and there's a big celebration, but I think I enjoyed this one more because of everything that had happened and the fact we hadn't won a state title in a while," Frazier said. "The state tournament was in slow motion for me. Maybe I grew to appreciate things more because of what had happened. It was a lot of fun. I was very fortunate and blessed to be a part of that." Hudson feels fortunate, too, after recently getting over a case of mononucleosis. She has been enjoying life the best she can, working every day on her family's sweet potato farm and playing pick-up basketball in the evening. On Friday she will attend Union's freshmen orientation. On Saturday she will play in the Golden Circle All-Star Game. In August she will begin classes at Union and start the next chapter of her life. Oh, how the time flies. "I can remember going through the recruiting process my junior year, and the end of high school seemed so far away, but now it's here," Hudson said. "I'm ready. I'm excited about it and ready for something new." Source: Jackson Sun; Photo Credits: ANDREW McMURTRIE /The Jackson Sun - Joshua Parrott, 425-9634

All-West Tennessee: Frazier Had Victories On and Off the Court

By Joshua Parrott ~Jackson Sun

All-West Tennessee Girls Basketball: Hudson Caps Career in Style
By Joshua Parrott ~Jackson Sun

Mention an individual award, and Kayla Hudson likely earned it this season. She was selected to the Class A all-state team. She was named the Class A Miss Basketball. She was honored as the Class A state tournament MVP. The Gleason guard also finished with more points and assists than any player in program history as the Lady Bulldogs won their first state championship since 1999. "I'm honored beyond words about those individual honors," said Hudson, who has signed to play at Union University. "Individual honors are great, but they're not everything to me. I'm just grateful for the opportunity to receive awards like this." The time has come for the queen of West Tennessee basketball to clear another spot in the trophy case. After wrapping up one of the more decorated careers in state history, Hudson is honored today as The Jackson Sun 2007 girls basketball player of the year. "Wow! That's extremely exciting, especially with the caliber of players in West Tennessee," Hudson said of being named player of the year. "There are so many great players; so to be recognized as the best player is incredible." Hudson emerged as the area's elite all-around player as a senior, leading Gleason (36-1) to the best record in program history, despite losing seven of its top 10 players from the previous season. Not only did the four-year starter lead all scorers with 72 points in three state tournament games this year, but Hudson also made 64.5 percent of her shots (20-of-31), 58 percent of her 3-point attempts (7-of-12) and 92.5 percent of her free throws (25-of-27). She also committed only seven turnovers and accounted for 48 percent of Gleason's scoring at the state tournament. As if all that wasn't impressive enough, Hudson capped her career at Gleason with a game-high 29 points in a 46-36 victory over Oliver Springs in the Class A state final. Hudson averaged 21.8 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals per game as a senior. She set the single-season state record for made free throws (274) and the career record for made free throws (642). She leaves Gleason with a 122-13 record - tied for the second-best in a four-year run in program history - after scoring 2,292 points and dishing out 686 assists in her career. Hudson joined Vanderbilt grad Ashley McElhiney as the only Gleason players to ever win a state title and be named Miss Basketball and state tournament MVP in the same season. Without a doubt, Hudson left an impression on Gleason coach Randy Frazier. "I've never had any player play any better throughout an entire season than she did this year," Frazier said. "I think I'm a little biased, but I don't think there was another player in the state that was as good as she was this season. She won the state title, Miss Basketball and state tournament MVP. That's the pinnacle for a high school player." Hudson's productivity drew the attention of NCAA Division I programs across the country, but she ultimately decided to stay in West Tennessee and sign with Union, which won back-to-back NAIA Division I national titles in 2005 and '06. She is expected to step in and contribute immediately next season for the Lady Bulldogs. "I wanted my parents to have the opportunity to watch me play (in college)," Hudson said. "I'm a big family person, and I have so much support from our small town and the surrounding communities. It just felt right for me. I fit in there. It's one of those things where you just know it was the right decision." Frazier expects nothing but continued success for his record-setting guard. "She's going to a great program that expects to win," Frazier said. "When she goes down there, she knows their goal is to win a national championship, and we had similar goals here at Gleason. She'll be a glue player for them, and she'll be a leader for them." Source: Jackson Sun' Photo Credits: Andrew McMurtrie, Jackson Sun. -Joshua Parrott, 425-9634

MURFREESBORO - Only one game separated Gleason senior Kayla Hudson from what she had prayed for her entire life: A state championship.

And with the hopes of a team, a school and a town hanging on her shoulders, Hudson delivered Saturday. Destiny met reality as second-ranked Gleason pulled away late to beat Oliver Springs, 46-36, in the Class A girls basketball final at Middle Tennessee State's Murphy Center.

The victory clinched Gleason (36-1) its third state title and first since 1999 - which was the last time the Lady Bulldogs made the state tournament before this season.

"It's all a blur. I can't believe it," Hudson said moments before bursting into tears. "We're the best team in the state. It's just awesome to have a dream come true."

Hudson was a huge reason why that dream was realized. The Union signee poured in a game-high 29 points after hitting four 3-pointers and 13-of-14 free throws. After the game, Hudson was named the Class A state tournament MVP and Class A Miss Basketball.

Oliver Springs (29-8) trailed for the entire first half before briefly taking the lead twice in the third quarter. After Gleason took a 28-24 lead early in the fourth, Oliver Springs pulled within two twice midway through the period.

Gleason - which had no player taller than 5-foot-7 - responded by spreading the floor in an attempt to milk the clock and force Oliver Springs to foul. The move worked as Gleason hit 18-of-20 free throws in the fourth and 23-of-26 in the game to pull away.

Hudson scored 13 points in the fourth after hitting 11-of-12 shots at the line in the quarter.

The loss snapped a 16-game winning streak for Oliver Springs, which advanced to its first state final since 1983.

"We had to chase them around, and that gets in your head," Oliver Springs sophomore Kayla Christopher said. "They knocked down free throws, and that's going to win you games.

"It's really frustrating, but they did a good job of keeping the ball away from us."

Christopher, who scored 53 total points in her previous two games, had a frustrating shooting night and was held to 10 points on 3-of-10 shooting. She was the only player to score in double digits against Gleason this week in three state tourney games and was named to the all-tournament team.

All-tournament selection Lauren Copeland added nine, while Jennifer Smith chipped in eight for Oliver Springs, which committed 10 turnovers and shot only 39 percent from the floor.

Gleason didn't fair much better, making only 36 percent of its shots, but had only four turnovers. Senior Candace Green missed seven of her nine shot attempts, but was 6-of-6 at the line for 11 points.

"I thought there was a lid on the basket," said Green, who was named to the all-tournament team along with Gleason freshman Jenna Frazier. "I just knew our defense was going to get us where we needed to be."

As it did all week, Gleason jumped out early Saturday, scoring the game's first five points. Oliver Springs trailed Gleason 16-12 at halftime.

Christopher missed her first three shots before hitting a 3-pointer with 4:15 left in the second quarter. She finished with five points on 1-of-6 shooting in the opening half.

Despite Christopher's struggles, Oliver Springs scored the first five points of the second half and took its first lead of the game at 17-16 on a Copeland layup with 4:02 left in the third quarter.

The lead changed hands five times over the next four minutes before Hudson hit two free throws to put Gleason up 26-24 at the end of the third.

After Hudson hit a layup early in the fourth to make it 28-24, Gleason spread the floor and took more than two minutes off the clock before Oliver Springs got the ball back. Oliver Springs pulled within two at 28-26 on two free throws by Copeland with 3:46 left, but Gleason missed only two of 20 free throws in the final three-plus minutes to wrap up the most successful season in program history.

Oliver Springs, though, fell one game short of glory.

"We just weren't able to get over the hump," said Oliver Springs coach Michelle Christopher. "Their defensive pressure is hard to handle no matter how much you're prepared.

"We have nothing to be ashamed of."

Gleason capped an incredible postseason run, which was personified by efficiency on both ends of the court. The Lady Bulldogs allowed only 86 total points in three state tournament games - one point off the state tourney record set by Giles County in 1981 - and gave up an average of 33 points in 10 postseason games.

On the offensive end, Gleason made 51 percent of its shots in three state tourney games and set a state tourney record for best free-throw shooting percentage after hitting 60-of-65 (92.3 percent) at the line.

Hudson finished as the leading scorer in this year's Class A state tourney with 72 total points and wrapped up her prep career with a 122-13 record.

Gleason beat defending state champion Forrest and returning state runner-up Jackson County to reach Saturday's final.

At the post-game press conference, Gleason coach Randy Frazier sat back and grinned as he watched his daughter Jenna describe the emotions of winning a state title while playing for her father.

"It's a dream come true," Jenna said before breaking down in tears. "It took my breath away. It's just amazing."

And a dream fulfilled for a team, a school and a town. Source: Jackson Sun.

-Joshua Parrott, 425-9634

MURFREESBORO - A year ago, Jenna Frazier's daddy was sick. The diagnosis was thyroid cancer, and to be honest, the prospects weren't the best.

One surgery in mid-March didn't rid Randy Frazier of the disease. The last hope was a second procedure in April, when doctors removed the entire gland.

Then the Fraziers prayed.

"There were tears and lots of them because we just didn't know," Jenna said, looking back at a time when a 14-year-old kid learned how fickle and uncertain life can be.

"But sitting here tonight, this is so fulfilling. I'm so thankful and blessed to be here at this moment with my dad."

So how special was Saturday night at the Murphy Center on the campus of Middle Tennessee State?

The Fraziers, father and daughter, hugged and laughed and cried. In the stands, more than a thousand fans dressed in orange chanted and cheered and stomped their feet until the rafters shook.

Gleason (36-1) was a champion again following a drama-filled 46-36 win over Oliver Springs in the girls' Class A state championship game.

"To look back on the last year, to be honest, that's something they make Disney movies about," Randy Frazier said after he led the Lady Bulldogs to the third state title in program history. "There's just so much to reflect on, but what I'm going to always remember is what this group that no one really gave a chance has accomplished."

Holding a slim 26-24 lead after the third quarter, Gleason rode the coattails of Kayla Hudson to the victory.

Named the state tournament MVP and Class A Miss Basketball, Hudson scored 13 points in the fourth quarter. The Union University signee made 11-of-12 free throws in the final eight minutes and finished with a game-high 29 points. Also in double figures was all-tournament selection Candace Green, with 10 points.

But it's the Lady Bulldogs' defense that will be remembered from this state trip.

In three games, Gleason allowed on average just 28 points in wins over Forrest (53-28), Jackson County (50-22) and Oliver Springs. The team missed by one point of matching the all-time record for the fewest points allowed in a state tournament. That mark is 85 points, set by Giles County in 1981.

Not bad for the smallest team in Murfreesboro, with no player on the roster over 5-foot-7.

In the championship final, Gleason held Oliver Springs' Kayla Christopher to 10 points. The sensational 5-foot-9 sophomore guard entered the game as the leading scorer in the tournament, averaging 26.5 points per game.

Gleason previously won championships in 1992 and '99. Hudson became the third Miss Basketball winner from the school and joined Ashley McElhiney (1999) as the only Gleason player to win a state championship, plus be named the state tournament MVP and Miss Basketball in the same year.

And making the night complete was Jenna Frazier, just a freshman, being named to the all-tournament team.

"That makes me so happy," Hudson said as she wiped away tears. "We've all been through a lot this last year, but for Jenna and Coach Frazier, I know this is a very, very special moment. The feelings I have right now for them are impossible to describe."

And think Daddy isn't proud?

"There are a lot of things that go to a personal level for me right now. But this is a great moment for our family," Randy Frazier said. "Yes, sir, a great, great moment." - Bob Heist, 425-9751 Photo: Andrew McMurtrie /The Jackson Sun

Small Team Winning Big
By Bob Heist and Joshua Parrott
Jackson Sun

MURFREESBORO - Gleason girls basketball isn't a "Hoosiers" remake, it just looks that way.

But despite a dominant run in the 1990s, during which the Lady Bulldogs won a pair of Class A championships in 1992 and '99 (plus finishing as the runner-up in '93), the facts are these:

Of the teams that qualified for the girls state tournament, only Trinity Christian Academy (131) has a smaller enrollment than Gleason's 207 in the upper-four grades. And with no player on the roster over 5-foot-7, Gleason is the most vertically challenged team in Murfreesboro.

So how were these Mighty Mites supposed to compete with Jackson County on Friday?

Answer: Easily. Gleason opened the game on a 12-0 run and rolled to a convincing 50-22 semifinal victory.

"It's not how big you are, it's how big you play," Gleason coach Randy Frazier said. "We've been playing big all season."

But it was an interesting contrast.

While Gleason has stumbled every season since 1999 in trying to get back to state, Jackson County has been the tournament's dominant program this decade.

Head coach Jim Brown has led the Lady Blue Devils to seven state tournaments since '99, each ending in a title game. In Class AA, Jackson County was the runner-up in '99 and then swept four straight championships from 2000-03. In Class A, Brown took the team to a runner-up finish last year.

This was also a team that made a ridiculous 229 3-pointers this season.

Against Gleason, Jackson County was held to a season-low 22 points. The team made just six field goals in the game - all were 3-pointers.

So much for the experience factor.

"We realized they had great 3-point shooters, so our goal was to not let them breathe when they had the ball," Gleason's Miss Basketball finalist Kayla Hudson said. "We didn't want them to get the looks they were used to, and for the most part, we were very successful.

"When you shut down a team like that, that had been so successful here in recent years, that's pretty good."

Records in trouble

Against Jackson County, Gleason set a state tournament record by making 20-of-20 free throws. The previous best percentage was owned by Bradford, which converted 21-of-22 attempts (95.5 percent) in 2001.

But as far as records go, the Lady Bulldogs are just warming up.

In the tournament, Gleason is shooting 59.2 percent from the floor (29-of-49) and 94.8 percent (37-of-39) from the free-throw line. The record for shooting percentage was set by Booker T. Washington in 1981 (60-of-107, 56 percent), while the free-throw percentage record belongs to Bradford (31-of-34, 91.2 percent) from its appearance in '01.

Gleason can also set the record for fewest points allowed in the tournament. The Lady Bulldogs have allowed just 50 points in its wins over Forrest and Jackson County. The record is 85 by Class AA champion Giles County in 1981.

Top defense

In the four games since reaching the Region 7-A final, Gleason's defensive numbers are astounding.

Consecutively, the Lady Bulldogs have beaten Lake County (47-31), Scotts Hill (43-19), Forrest (53-28) and Jackson County (50-22). Gleason is allowing just 25 points per game and winning by an average of 23 points.

In the state tournament, Forrest and Jackson County combined to commit more turnovers (29) than field goals made (17).

Hudson eyes title

In her career, Hudson has piled up a 121-13 record as the starting point guard at Gleason. Amazingly, this is her first state tournament appearance and the two-time Miss Basketball finalist is living the moment.

In wins over Forrest and Jackson County, the Union signee has hit 14-of-19 field goals and is averaging 21.5 points per game. The 5-foot-6 guard has also added seven steals, hit 3-of-5 3-pointers and commited just four turnovers.

"My dream has always been to be on the floor in Murfreesboro and playing for a state championship," Hudson said after scoring 17 points in Friday's semifinal win over Jackson County. "Now it's this close. I almost feel like I have to pinch myself.

"But what makes this so special is our team. People look at how small we are, but what I look at is how hard we've worked to get here. I guarantee no team has worked harder and that's so special because this just goes to show that hard work pays off."

Frazier Thankful for Opportunities

By Bob Heist ~ Jackson Sun

MURFREESBORO - Perspective.

That's what this past year has been for the Gleason High School girls basketball team.

Some of it was easy to understand. Some of it wasn't.

"What happened opened our eyes," said Gleason's Miss Basketball finalist Kayla Hudson. "We learned a lot about life in a lot of different aspects in a very short time."

So the Lady Bulldogs' timeline to this date with destiny at 5 p.m. today against Oliver Springs in the Class A championship game goes like this:

Chance for Title Unreal' for Gleason
By Joshua Parrott ~ Jackson Sun

MURFREESBORO - Win or lose, Gleason freshman Jenna Frazier will realize a dream today at Middle Tennessee State's Murphy Center.

Frazier is the daughter of Gleason coach Randy Frazier, whose Lady Bulldogs (35-1) will play Oliver Springs (29-7) in the Class A state final at 5 p.m. today.

Oliver Springs also has a parent-daughter combination in coach Michelle Christopher and sophomore Kayla Christopher.

Ronnie Carter, executive director of the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association, said he cannot remember ever having a parent coaching a daughter in a state final.

"I don't know what words can describe it," Jenna said. "I've been dreaming of playing for him for a long time, so playing for him in the state championship game is unreal."

Unreal would be a good choice of words for how Gleason - ranked second in the state and making its first state tourney appearance since winning the 1999 Class A title - has played in this year's state tourney. Gleason rolled past defending state champion Forrest, 53-28, Wednesday in the quarterfinals before knocking off returning state runner-up Jackson County, 50-22, on Friday.

Gleason, which also won the state title in 1992, has been impressive on both sides of the floor, holding opponents to 32-percent shooting (17-of-52) and 50 total points in two state tourney games. On the other end, Gleason is shooting 59 percent from the floor (29-of-49) and almost 95 percent (37-of-39) on free throws.

Senior Kayla Hudson, a Union signee and two-time Miss Basketball finalist, has been a dominant force. After scoring a game-high 26 points in the win over Forrest, Hudson added 17 to lead a balanced attack in the Jackson County win.

Hudson is the Class A tourney's second-leading scorer with 43 points.

Oliver Springs is led offensively by sophomore Kayla Christopher, who torched TCA for a game-high 31 points in a 58-52 quarterfinal win Friday. Christopher is the leading scorer in this year's Class A state tourney with 53 points.

TCA led 40-32 entering the fourth quarter Friday, but Oliver Springs rallied to win the foul-filled contest. Oliver Springs closed the game with an 18-6 run, but needed four free throws in the closing seconds to seal the win.

Now Oliver Springs is riding a 16-game winning streak and playing for its first state title since finishing as the Class AA runner-up in 1983.

"We have something to prove," said Oliver Springs senior Lauren Copeland.

-Joshua Parrott, 425-9634