West Lincoln’s Hannah Knouse will take her basketball skills tothe next level. The senior standout has signed a basketballscholarship with the Copiah-Lincoln Community College LadyWolves.

Knouse made it official Thursday during a ceremony in the WestLincoln library. On hand were her parents, David Knouse and TammyLaird; along with West Lincoln coaches Lane Young and Jeff King,plus Co-Lin women’s basketball coach Gwyn Young.

“I’m happy to sign with Co-Lin and I’m looking forward to thechallenge,” said Knouse. “Basketball is my favorite sport.”

As a senior, Knouse proved her versatility when forward Keri Easleysustained a knee injury. The 5-foot-7 Knouse moved from the postposition to help lead the Lady Bears to the Class 1A StateTournament. They finished 21-12, losing to Myrtle in the openinground.

Knouse, who plays with passion and an aggressive attitude, averaged11 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.2 steals and 1.7 assists per game forWest Lincoln. She was named to The DAILY LEADER’s All-LincolnCounty Basketball Team.

She plans to major in education at Co-Lin and become an elementaryschool teacher. Her favorite senior college basketball team isTennessee and Coach Pat Summitt. She saw the Lady Vols playMississippi State two years ago.

In softball, Knouse played second base and shortstop for CoachAndrew Redd.

“Hannah did a little bit of everything for us this year,” saidCoach Lane Young. “We had some injuries so we had to move her fromthe post to the wing. She did a great job for us.”

Young will have to replace five seniors who all started at somepoint during the season. They helped West Lincoln to its firststate tournament appearance since 2005.

“Hannah plays hard and she’s athletic,” said Coach Gwyn Young. “Wecan move her out to the wing. She can shoot the ball well and sheplays good man-to-man defense. That’s an advantage for her.”

Young’s Lady Wolves are fresh from a seventh place finish in theNJCAA National Tournament in Salina, Kan. They finished 31-2 andwere ranked as high as No. 3 in the national poll.

Young must replace four starters from that outstanding team,including All-American guard Rachel Vigers, plus All-Region guardLatoria Holder who has signed with Southeastern LouisianaUniversity. Also graduating are point guard Rokeyia Adams andforward Shareka Hunt.

Returning to Co-Lin’s lineup will be Brandi Simmons, a 5-11All-Region post player.

Young said he is pleased with his latest crop of recruits. Three ofthe newest signees are Baton Rouge Community College transfers: 6-2center Sedreka Plummer, 5-7 guard G.D. Williams and 5-6 guard KiaraEntinne.

Also recently signed by Young were 5-10 forward Ann Shelby Davis ofWesson, 5-6 guard Tiffany Sims of Mendenhall, 5-11 forward CeCeMiller of Franklin County, 5-7 guard Missy Sturgis of Vicksburg,and three Natchez products: 5-7 guard Keosha Bradley, 5-6 guardAnatashia Hutchins and 5-9 forward Jasmine Belton