Mississippi Miss Basketball 2024 winners: Sa’Niyah Cook, Macie Phifer win back-to-back awards
The regular season for the 2023-2024 MHSAA basketball season is in the books, and it's time to recognize the winners of the annual Mr. and Miss Basketball Awards in the Magnolia State.
Today, we'll take a look at the Miss Basketball winners.
The award, designed to go to the "most outstanding player" in each class, is presented by the MHSAA and Mississippi Association of Coaches and voted upon by a panel of coaches and media members. The selection committee met periodically throughout the season, and voted for the final nominees last week.
MORE: 2023-2024 MHSAA Girls Basketball Playoff Brackets
This year's honorees represent one of the most accomplished groups in Mississippi basketball history, including two second-time winners.
Without further ado, here are the final selections for the 2023-2024 Miss Basketball Awards:
Class 7A
Tootie Lockett, SR, Starkville
Few players have impacted the season the say Starkville’s Tootie Lockett has. The senior guard is absolutely dynamite, averaging close to 16 points and more than five rebounds and four assists a game. The Jackets (23-7) were loaded this year, but Lockett is the fuel that makes that engine purr.
Class 6A
Kamiyha Griffin, SR, South Panola
Teams having breakout seasons usually have a breakout player, and that’s certainly the case for South Panola (20-3). Their 5-foot-11 power forward Kamiyha Griffin has big-time scoring ability and the motor to lead either team in rebounds on any given night.
Class 5A
Dekyra Mitchell, SR, Holmes County Central
The only reason Dekyra Mitchell isn’t a household name is because you have to drive to Goodman to see her. The 5-foot-6 guard has put up some great numbers, averaging nearly 16 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals a game. She’s a leader who makes her teammates better, and a big reason the Jaguars (22-6) have had so much success this year.
Class 4A
Mattison Bell, SR, Choctaw Central
Sometimes an award like Miss Basketball boils down to being the best player on the best team, and Choctaw Central’s Mattison Bell fits that description to a T. The Warriors’ 5-foot-6 guard averaged better than 13 points, 3.5 rebounds, four assists and four steals for a team that is 24-3 and absolutely head-hunting so far in the Class 4A Playoffs.
Class 3A
Sa’Niyah Cook, JR, Booneville
Folks who follow high school basketball shouldn’t be surprised at all to see Cook’s name engraved on a second Miss Basketball Award. Booneville’s star forward is in the midst of another stellar season, leading her team in scoring and rebounding, and has Booneville knocking at the door of another MHSAA Championship.
Class 2A
Macie Phifer, JR, Ingomar
The Phifer family home is going to need a new extension just to accommodate all of Macie’s high school awards. She won Miss Volleyball in its inaugural season this year, and celebrates her second Miss Basketball Award today. Phifer, a 5-foot-11 forward, has been instrumental for Ingomar (28-4) again this year, averaging 20.4 points and 5.9 rebounds a game.
Class 1A
Keyauna Foote, SR, Blue Mountain
It’s rare you get a 6-foot guard in the smallest classification who can move and create her own shots the way Blue Mountain senior Keyauna Foote does. She averaged 15.9 points, 8.3 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.6 steals, and she's a major reason the Cougars (25-1) have been so dominant.
The winners of the Mr. Basketball Awards will be announced Thursday (Feb. 15). All of the honorees will be recognized before the championship games for their respective class at the MHSAA Basketball Championships Feb. 29-March 2 at the Mississippi Coliseum. They will also be honored at a luncheon/press conference at the MHSAA headquarters on March 5 in Clinton.
