[Stardust]

http://saxo.highschoolsports.net/article...ey?Avis=B2

The Houchens Industries Girls’ Sweet 16 could decide more than the state champion this week .

The three top candidates for Miss Basketball are all in the event — all in the upper bracket.

Boone County’s Sydney Moss figures to be the leading candidate with Manual’s April Wilson and Perry County Central’s Kendall Noble not far behind.

The 5-foot-11 Moss, who has signed with Florida, averages 22.8 points and 10.1 rebounds a game. She’s got 2,910 career points and more than 1,600 rebounds and is the daughter of former NFL All-Pro wide receiver Randy Moss.

“She has done everything and we have done everything that we feel we could to do help her (get Miss Basketball),” Fookes said. “She has done so many amazing things. I can’t think of a more talented or more versatile player out there.”

But the coaches at Manual and Perry Central might disagree.

Noble, an unsigned 5-foot-11 guard, will be making her sixth consecutive Sweet 16 appearance, the first four with Breathitt County and the past two at Perry County Central after a transfer. She averages 14.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 8.5 assists and 7.5 steals and has posted at least five triple-doubles this season.

“She’s been phenomenal since she has come back,” Perry Central coach Randy Napier said, noting Noble tore ligaments in her knee at last year’s Sweet 16. “She has grown up, she has toughened up and has gotten to a point where she answers the bell.”

Noble has offers from Western Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky and Northern Kentucky, and Napier said Mississippi and Xavier are also in the mix.

The 5-foot-8 Wilson has signed with Purdue and is the leader and point guard of the No. 1 Lady Crimsons. She averages 12.6 points, 4.7 steals and 3.2 assists.

Wilson has started all four years and Manual coach Stacy Pendleton said she has near 1,500 career points and “way over” 500 career assists.