Freshman Caples, veteran Fuller lead WC’s charge.

When asked at the start of basketball season who would be the best girls basketball player in the county, Warren Central coach Donny Fuller said simply, &#8220you’ll find out.”

Over the next four months, a player who starred on the Lady Vikes’ 8th grade team just one season ago would soldify herself as the most dominating player in Warren County.

And she has three more years left to play.

In a unanimous vote, WC freshman Sha’Kayla Caples has been picked for the top county basketball honor. Fuller, who guided his team with five new starters within a point of the Mississippi Coliseum, raked in his fifth straight coach of the year honor and eighth since 1994.

&#8220We had high expectations for her because of the fact that if we move a ninth-grader up, we expect them to play big and give us quality time,” Fuller said. &#8220My philosophy has always been that you don’t move someone up unless they’re good enough to start.”

Caples not only started, she played the position of three-time player of the year Cookie Johnson and wore the same uniform number.

For the season, she averaged a team-best 15.2 points, 11.6 rebounds and two blocked shots per game. The biggest indicator of the impact Caples had on the Lady Vikes came in the final game of the season against Greenville.

With the Lady Vikes trailing by one point with nine seconds to play, Fuller diagrammed a play inside for the freshman. A turnover spoiled the play, but it showed that at crunch time, with a trip to the state tournament on the line, the coach put it in the hands of a freshman.

&#8220We were going to get the ball inside to her because that’s our money play,” Fuller said.

Caples hits 57 percent of her shots and scored a team-high 501 points as the Lady Vikes won an improbable 22 games.

&#8220We handled things pretty good this year,” said the soft-spoken Caples of herself and fellow freshman starter Karnina Bunch. &#8220We played against all those big girls. When coach Fuller moved me up, I was a little nervous because I would be going against all those big girls. But as the season went on, I think I settled in.”

Better in Warren Central terms is reaching the Coliseum. That thought may have been a million miles away at the start of this past season.

The Lady Vikes had lost their top six players and 95 percent of the team’s scoring had graduated. The team started one senior, two juniors and the two freshmen.

They went on to capture the Division 3-5A regular season championship before losing a heartbreaker to Greenville in the division championship.

The team defeated Olive Branch in the North State satellite game, then bowed out of the North State Tournament with two straight losses.

&#8220I’ve always believed the secret to good coaching is good players,” Fuller said. &#8220And these girls are good enough to overcome coaching.”

While this year’s team surprised many with its run to the tournament, next year’s team will surprise no one. Every play except Amanda Doyle will return next season. Both Caples and Fuller already have their eyes focused on the goal – getting to the Big House.

&#8220We’re going to go next year,” Caples said. &#8220I just know it.”

Basketball Players of the Year.

Girls.

2006 Sha’Kayla Caples, Warren Central.

2005 Cookie Johnson, Warren Central.

2004 Cookie Johnson, Warren Central.

2003 Cookie Johnson, Warren Central.

2002 JaQuita Benard, Warren Central.

2001 E.J. Willis, Porters Chapel.

2000 E.J. Willis, Porters Chapel.

1999 Catrina Frierson, Vicksburg.

1998 Catrina Frierson, Vicksburg.

1997 Cynthia Hall, Vicksburg.

1996 Lakeshia Blue, Warren Central.

1995 Tangie Cooper, Warren Central.

1994 Tangie Cooper, Warren Central.

1993 Tangie Cooper, Warren Central.

1992 Evelyn Wilson, Vicksburg.

1991 Evelyn Wilson, Vicksburg.

1990 Missy Ferguson, Vicksburg.

Boys.

2006 Hayden Hales, Porters Chapel.

2005 Chico Hunter, Warren Central.

2004 Kyle Richards, St. Aloysius.

2003 Devin Jones, Vicksburg.

2002 Willie Powers, Vicksburg.

2001 Demetrick Allen, Vicksburg.

2000 Herman Griffin, Vicksburg.

1999 Jason Johnson, St. Aloysius.

1998 Coleman Lewis, Warren Central.

1997 Brandon Carr, Porters Chapel.

1996 Quentin Smith, Vicksburg.

1995 Quentin Smith, Vicksburg.

1994 Oscar Denton, Vicksburg.

1993 Mark Smith, Vicksburg.

1992 Andrew Stamps, Warren Central.

1991 Glover Jackson, Warren Central.

1990 Patrick Brinkley, Warren Central.

Basketball Coaches of the Year.

Girls.

2006 Donny Fuller, Warren Central.

2005 Donny Fuller, Warren Central.

2004 Donny Fuller, Warren Central.

2003 Donny Fuller, Warren Central.

2002 Donny Fuller, Warren Central.

2001 Mitchell Willis, Porters Chapel.

2000 Mike Coleman, Vicksburg.

1999 Debbie Carr, Porters Chapel.

1998 Debbie Carr, Porters Chapel.

1997 Doc Stephens, Vicksburg.

1996 Donny Fuller, Warren Central.

1995 Donny Fuller, Warren Central.

1994 Donny Fuller, Warren Central.

Boys.

2006 Drew McBrayer, St. Aloysius.

2005 Mike Grzanich, Porters Chapel.

2004 Jesse Johnson, Warren Central.

2003 Dellie C. Robinson, Vicksburg.

2002 Dellie C. Robinson, Vicksburg.

2001 Dellie C. Robinson, Vicksburg.

2000 Dellie C. Robinson, Vicksburg.

1999 Noah Hamilton, St. Aloysius.

1998 John Duett, Warren Central.

1997 Kenny Bizot, Porters Chapel.

1996 Dellie C. Robinson, Vicksburg.

1995 Dellie C. Robinson, Vicksburg.

1994 John Duett, Warren Central