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Next year’s Coastal Plains Conference girls All-Conference team will look different for the first time in five years because Northside’s Mariah Jones won’t be on it.

The Panthers senior capped her outstanding high school career with her fourth straight selection to the all-star squad in a vote of the league’s coaches.

Jones helped Northside to a spot in the East regional finals in her COVID-19 shortened freshman campaign and three deep runs the last three seasons.

She leaves with over 1,400 career points and will continue her career at Louisburg Junior College next year.

Juniors Olivia Jane (O.J.) Cahoon and Madison Scheffler joined Jones on the All-Conference team after the Panthers went 19-5 this season. Cahoon made the team last year, while Scheffler is a first-time selection.

“Mariah kept us calm, cool and collected, O.J. brought fire, ferocity and the fancy moves as our point guard and Madison brought the desire, determination and dedication,” coach Michelle Leathers said. “All three of them could handle (dribble), they were very coachable and they held each other and their teammates accountable. Mariah was a huge part of our success the last four years and she’s passed the baton to the other two.
O.J. and Madison will have to take it up a notch next year and I think they will.”

Jones led the Panthers with 15.7 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.8 steals per while Cahoon averaged 15 points, four assists and three steals per contest. Scheffler chipped in 9.9 points and four rebounds a game.