The 2025-2026 girls basketball season entered a positive new era in the Piney Woods.

Elysian Fields, Jefferson, Marshall and Waskom all welcomed new head coaches to lead their programs.

Elysian Fields made the playoffs for the first time in five seasons and first winning record in six years. Harleton earned the district champion title for the first time in 25 years. Jefferson extended their playoff streak to five.

The Marshall News Messenger presents the 2025-2026 All-Piney Woods girls basketball team.

Players were nominated by the coaches of Elysian Fields (Markendrick Beall), Harleton (Kerry Strong), Jefferson (Steven Randolph), Marshall (Kris Wade) and Waskom (Kaia Williams) with 14 nominations.

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Belle Green, Harleton, Sr.

Green is the undeniable leader of the Harleton Lady Wildcats. She might not have posted the highest numbers but her consistency and the intangibles are what earns her MVP of the Piney Woods.

If she needed to drop double digit numbers, she tried her hardest. If she was asked to pass and distribute, she’d look for her teammates with no issue. Green always went up for rebounds and dove on the floor for loose balls and secure steals. Anything Harleton asked of her, she’d do it with no questions asked.

One of the many highlights of her season was hitting the game winning free throws on senior night against Hawkins for the 34-33 win.

She averaged 9.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 3.7 steals per game while leading Harleton to a 25-11 and 11-1 district record.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Ta’Heara Culberson, Marshall, Jr.

In Marshall’s new era, Culberson showed immense growth in her overall offensive game. She was already a proven three level scorer with a high volume but her game elevated to another level.

She led the Lady Mavs in scoring while also improving her court awareness and passing game.

Throughout the season, she started to mold into a true combo guard which allowed her to create her own shot, slash to the basket and find open teammates at a higher rate than before.

Culberson averaged 15.5 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals per game.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Bella Wade, Elysian Fields, So.

Opponents feared driving to the paint with Wade waiting under the basket to contest their shot.

With her ability to move quickly and block shots at a high clip, teams would alter their game plans to shoot from the midrange and beyond-the-arc to avoid a block or tough contest.

Wade averaged 10.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 1.2 steals and 2.1 blocks per game.

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Natalia Womack, Elysian Fields, Fr.

If you’ve never seen Womack before and showed up to a Lady Jackets’ game, you wouldn’t believe she’s just a freshman.

Womack put up one of the best overall seasons by a freshman at Elysian Fields in years. Her ability to force turnovers, run in transition, speed with the ball, high shot IQ and court awareness helped bring an offensive force the Lady Jackets have yearned for and finally got.

She averaged 12.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 3.8 steals and 0.3 blocks per game.

COACH OF THE YEAR: Kerry Strong, Harleton

The word around the Harleton community was this season was going to be the one where the Lady Wildcats would finally earn the district title after 25 years.

Strong brought back nearly everyone from last season with momentum after a great 2024-2025 season that saw Harleton go 18-11, 9-3 for a third place finish in district play and a trip to the area round of playoffs.

District play started with a 46-37 win in McCleod. Their only district loss came in the second game at home against Union Grove with a final score of 46-38. Harleton rebounded and finished district play on an eight game win streak including a 41-40 overtime win in Union Grove.
The Lady Wildcats swept powerhouse Hawkins in two battles. The first was a 26-21 win on January 9 and a 34-33 win on February 3.

Harleton defeated Mount Enterprise 38-30 in the bi-district round in Arp, defeated West Sabine 46-42 in the area round at Gary and fell to Martin’s Mill 66-20 in the regional semifinals at Tyler Legacy in the Class 2A Division II playoffs.

Under Strong’s leadership, the Lady Wildcats finished 25-10, 11-1 in District 21-2A for the district title, a bi-district championship, area championship and a regional semifinals appearance.

FIRST TEAM

Natalia Womack, Elysian Fields, Fr.; Bella Wade, Elysian Fields, So.; Belle Green, Harleton, Sr.; Keinysa Wallace, Jefferson, Sr.; Ta’Heara Culberson, Marshall, Jr.

SECOND TEAM

Ada Beasley, Elysian Fields, Sr.; Amaya Benefield, Elysian Fields, Sr.; Olivia Hoover, Harleton, Sr.; Kenzie Hearron, Harleton, Sr.; Aubrey Maxwell, Waskom, Fr.

HONORABLE MENTION

Aniyah Patterson, Elysian Fields, Sr.; Jaycee Wallace, Harleton, Sr.; Laycee Wallace, Harleton, Sr.; Jordyn Dowell, Jefferson, Jr.

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