Emily Sissom Earns Class AA All-State Honor



Emily Sissom Earns Class AA All-State Honor

Cannon County's Emily Sissom eyes the basket during a game this past season. Sissom has been named Class AA All-State for her performance during the 2009-2010 campaign.
Cannon County's Emily Sissom has been chosen to the Tennessee Sports Writers Association 2010 Class AA All-State girls basketball team.

Sissom, a junior, averaged 17.8 points per game in helping to lead to Lionettes to district and region titles and a 27-5 overall record.

"It's exciting," Sissom said of the honor. "We really worked hard and we put in a lot of extra time this season. I'm glad we got to go as far as a team as we did, and next year we are going to go to the state."

The Lionettes fell just short of earning a berth in the state tournament this past season, losing to McMinn Central, the eventually state runners-up, the the Sectionals.

"We are setting that (going to the state tournament) as our goal for next year," Sissom said.

During her junior season Sissom, who has already signed with Union University to continue her playing career in college, made 103 3-point shots, averaged 2.1 assists per game, 2.0 steals and shot 74 percent from the free throw line.

Michael Dodgen, head coach of the Lionettes, said Sissom is the first CCHS athlete to receive an all-state honor since Tessa Tenpenny is 1995.

"Emily works very hard," Dodgen said, "and she's the type that will tell you she wouldn't be able to be successful without her teammates. She's very deserving of this honor and it's quite an elite team to be a part of."

The Class AA All-State Team consists of:

Emily Sissom (Cannon County)
Heather Butler (Gibson County)
Chassidy Fussell (Obion County)
Taylor Mills (Gibbs)
Hollie German (Polk County)
Jenna Adams (McMinn Central)
Madison Lee (McMinn Central)
Aubrey Reedy (Gibson County)
Heather Griffin (Gibson County)
Artavia Bryant (Marshall County)
Chynna Helton (Lewis County)
Amber Rechis (Westview)
Erica Ousley (Fairley)
Alesa Hammaker (CAK)
Bre Hall (Fulton)
Ansley Ricker (South Greene)