The BLITZ Girls Basketball Player of the Year award goes to junior Mary Mullinax, capping a season in which she was the 7-AAA Player of the Year, 1st Team All-State, and won a state title.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• 17.6 PTS/GAME
• 8.2 REB/GAME
• 4.4 AST/GAME
• 3.6 STL/GAME
• 35% 3PT
• 884 Career PTS
• 454 Career REB
• 219 Career AST
• 187 Career STL
• 87 Career 3PT
• Region 7-AAA Player of the Year
• 1st Team All-State
• Class 3A State Champion

The numbers don’t tell any lies. Mary Mullinax was SO GOOD in 2021-22. While she might sometimes be the third or fourth name you list out behind fellow All-State player teammates Lexi Pierce, Averie Jones, and Kate Jackson, Mullinax truly dominated all season. Her numbers were actually the best on the team all through the regular season and region tournament, earning her the Region Player of the Year honors. She averaged nearly 18 points per game, and had over 8 rebounds per contest to go with over 4 assists and nearly 4 steals per night. She shot at a 35% clip from deep, and is closing in on 1,000 career points. Mullinax was a huge reason why Lumpkin won a state championship.

VOTING RESULTS

1. Mary Mullinax – 61 pts (6 1st-place votes)
2. Averie Jones – 56 pts (6)
3. Ava Hunter – 46 pts (5)
4. Natalia Bolden – 35 pts (2)
5. Gracie Deetz – 18 pts
6. Denika Lightbourne – 8.5 pts
7. Kamryn Grier – 7.75 pts
8. Chesnee Freeman – 5.5 pts

Voting included our 19-person panel made up of sports reporters, writers, video producers, former coaches, players, GHSA officials, and sports experts. The voting is Heisman-style, with the following points system:
1st place votes: 5 pts; 2nd: 3 pts; 3rd: 2 pts; 4th: 1 pts; 5th-6th: 0.5 pts; 7th-8th 0.25 pts

This was a classic example of teammates splitting votes that nearly gave it to the 3rd place vote-getter. All of these girls were more than deserving, but Mullinax, though tied in top votes with teammate Averie Jones, had more votes in the 1-3 range. Ava Hunter, Union’s all-time leading scorer, showed well with 5 1st-place votes, and Natalia Bolden got a couple of top votes also.

HISTORY OF BASKETBALL OF THE YEAR

• 2021-22 – Mary Mullinax – Lumpkin Co JR G
• 2020-21 – Isabel Davenport – Lumpkin Co SR G
• 2019-20 – Isabel Davenport – Lumpkin Co JR G
• 2018-19 – Kaylee Sticker – Dawson Co SR G/F
• 2017-18 – Georgia Stockton – Rabun Co JR G
• 2016-17 – Lainey Gosnell – Habersham Central SR F
• 2015-16 – Lainey Gosnell – Habersham Central JR F & Karlie Bearden – Dawson Co SR G
• 2014-15 – Kaitlyn Duncan – Banks Co SR C
• 2013-14 – Sheyenne Seabolt – Dawson Co JR F
• 2012-13 – Carly Gilreath – Dawson Co SR G & Stephanie Patton – Towns SO G
• 2011-12 – Haley Gerrin – Habersham Central SR C
• 2010-11 – Gabby Arencibia – Towns Co JR G
• 2009-10 – Cara Malone – Lumpkin Co SR G

Mullinax keeps the BLITZ POY award in Dahlonega for the third straight season. No school has ever done that – 3 years in a row. She becomes the 4th Lumpkin win, but 3rd Lumpkin player overall (Davenport won it twice).

WHO WILL WIN IT NEXT YEAR?