Colony freshman, Susitna Valley seniors earn first-team all-state honors

Five years ago as a ninth-grader, former Colony High School girls basketball standout Hallie Clark was named first-team all-state. Clark capped her career as a four-time first-team selection.

Clark has graduated to the college game, but the Knights have another ninth-grader who could follow Clark’s path.

Colony freshman standout Taylor Passard has been selected to the 4A girls first-team all-state squad by the Alaska Association of Basketball Coaches.

Passard made an immediate impact at the high school level, helping lead the Knights to a third-place finish in the 4A state tournament.

Passard is one of three Mat-Su players to earn first-team honors across Alaska’s four classes of prep basketball. Susitna Valley landed a pair of players on the 2A first team. Austin Barnard represented the Rams boys and Lily Esmailka earned a spot on the girls top squad.

The Valley has nine total players who received all-state honors. Wasilla senior Savannah Kroon and Colony senior Morgan Ainsworth were named second-team all-state for the 4A girls, and Wasilla senior Mielee Merchant is on the third team.

Colony junior Mylz Mongeau earned a spot on the 4A boys second team. Palmer senior Lukas Owen and Colony sophomore Jackson Ainsworth were both named to the third team.

The AABC all-state teams are determined by coaches within their own class.

West Valley’s Jayden Miranda (4A boys), Mountain City Christian’s Keelie Kronberger (4A girls), Barrow’s Alex Fruean (3A boys), Barrow’s Aiga Unutoa (3A girls), Ninilchik’s Kade McCorrison (2A boys), Seward’s Ava Jagielski (2A girls), Shaktoolik’s Chase Katchetag (1A boys) and Fort Yukon’s Kylee Carroll (1A girls) each earned player of the year honors.

Contact Frontiersman managing editor Jeremiah Bartz at editor@frontiersman.com.

Alaska Association of Basketball Coaches All-State Teams

4A Boys

Player of the Year: Jayden Miranda, West Valley

Coach of the Year: Jason Boerger, Grace Christian

First team:

Ameilo Ambrosio, Dimond

Jayden Miranda, West Valley

Halen Nield, West Valley

Armani Smith, Lathrop

Bristol Tobin, Grace Christian

Second team:

Ashton Clarkson, Grace Christian

Carmelo Mason, West Anchorage

Lucian Mikes, South Anchorage

Mylz Mongeau, Colony

Alex Unks, Service

Third team:

Jackson Ainsworth, Colony

Jace Christophersen, Dimond

Joren Gasga, Juneau-Douglas

Lukas Owen, Palmer

Braeden Speakman, East Anchorage

4A Girls

Player of the Year: Keelie Kronberger, Mountain City Christian

Coach of the Year: Lonnie Ridgeway, Mountain City Christian

First team

Kennedi Gaines, Bartlett

Keelie Kronberger, Mountain City Christian

Taylor Passard, Colony

Jasmine Schaeffer, Mountain City Christian

Aryanna Watson, Service

Second team

Morgan Ainsworth, Colony

Wednesday Bithow, West Anchorage

Savannah Kroon, Wasilla

Brooklynn Ridgeway, Mountain City Christian

Leia Silva, Service

Third team

Mielee Merchant, Wasilla

Harmony Jenkins-Foster, Bartlett

Gwen Nizich, Juneau-Douglas

Sloan King, Chugiak

Katie MacDonald, Dimond

3A Boys

Player of the Year: Alex Fruean, Barrow

Coach of the Year: Nolan Rose, Kenai

First team

Cohen Booth, Nome

Alex Fruean, Barrow

Guy Goldsberry, Mount Edgecumbe

Kaden Hermann, Mount Edgecumbe

Trey Johnson, Sitka

Second team

Miles Metteer, Kenai

Levi Pederson, Nome

Lane Schuerch, Nome

Jaziah Tivao, Barrow

Ethan Wheeler, Bethel

Third team

Brady Bevard, Delta

Noriel Lugo, Delta

Xavier Gunderson, Mount Edgecumbe

Jackson Iverson, Bethel

Shane Tincher, Sitka

3A Girls

Player of the Year: Aiga Unutoa, Barrow

Coach of the Year: Krystyna Park, Grace Christian

First team

Kylen Burnell, Barrow

Leila Church, Monroe Catholic

Aiga Unutoa, Barrow

MJ van der Horst, Grace Christian

Poppy Wiggers-Pidduck, Grace Christian

Second team

Tahira Akaran, Mount Edgecumbe

Marylene Burgett, Galena

Trinity Turiel, Monroe Catholic

Zadah Unutoa, Barrow

Bryleigh Williams, Kenai

Third team

Leah Arroyo, Delta

Emersyn Cortez, Monroe Catholic

Maci Miller, Kenai

Ashlyn Nelson, Kotzebue

Faagi Unutoa, Barrow

2A Boys

Player of the Year: Kade McCorrison, Ninilchik

Coach of the Year: Bryan Combs, Haines

First team

Austin Barnard, Susitna Valley

Colton Combs, Haines

Kade McCorrison, Ninilchik

Taizano Nelson, Lumen Christi

Josh Smith, Unalakleet

Second team

Emerson Cross, Seward

Aiden Knudsen, Petersburg

Rocco Lindsey, Metlakatla

Andon McCorrison, Ninilchik

Isaac Smith - Unalakleet

Third team

Marvin Captain, Tok

Gianni Hayward, Metlakatla

Jacob Lane, Tikigaq

Noah Pawuk, Petersburg

James Stickler, Haines

2A Girls

Player of the Year: Ava Jagielski, Seward

Coach of the Year: Curtis Berry, Seward

First team

Lily Esmailka, Susitna Valley

Ava Jagielski, Seward

Sara Steffen, Craig

Alianna Stone, Glennallen

Mikinley Williams, Seward

Second team

Saahdia Buffalo, Metlakatla

Grace Ann Fleming, Seward

Isabella Nothstine, Cordova

Bernadean Simmons, Tok

Ashlyn Smith, Craig

Third team

Violet Jack, Unalakleet

Rylee LaFortaza, Unalaska

Baileigh Nelson, Metlakatla

Victoria Nothstine, Cordova

Hailey Oktollik, Tikigaq

1A Boys

Player of the Year: Seth Paniptchuk

Coach of the Year: Silas Paniptchuk

First team

Jonathan David, Minto

Chase Katchatag, Shaktoolik

Alek McGarry, Cook Inlet Academy

Seth Paniptchuk, Shaktoolik

Terrence Titus, Northway

Second team:

Royce Borst, Skagway

Michael Chase Gould, King Cove

Tyler Hugo, Nunamiut

Nicholas Roberts, Minto

Brandt Rollman, Cook Inlet Academy

Third team

Warren Charlie, Minto

Gavin Hanshaw, Selawik

Dallas Kaganak, Scammon Bay

Ivan Davis Nayokpuk, Shishmaref

Riley Wilson, King Cove

Honorable mention

Tristan Garfield, Nuiqsut; Erik McGee, Port Allsworth; Frederick Olanna, Shishmaref; Austin Rock, Shaktoolik; Marshall Dallman, Aniak; Isaiah Mayo, Tri Valley; Charlie Chingliak, Akiachak; Damien Newhall, Gambell; Tristan Campbell, Gambell; Connor Bagby, Klawock; Tyrone Carlson, Hydaburg; Jeremiah Aukongak, Golovin; Cade Fahey, Brevig Mission; Trent Henry, Huslia; Ean Amaktoolik, Elim; Ralph Stalker, Selawik; Kaden Ahmaogak, Alak; Moses Tukrook, Kali; Noah Hopson, Nuiqsut

1A Girls

Player of the Year: Kylee Fort Yukon

Coach of the Year: Josh Cadzow, Fort Yukon

First team

Kylee Carroll,Fort Yukon

Madison Katchatag, Shaktoolik

Ida Lester, Newhalen

Nellie Ward, Fort Yukon

Kyra Weyanna, Shishmaref

Second team

Olivia Harvilla, Bristol Bay

Brooklyn Hingesburgen, Selawik

Faith Mudge, Tri Valley

Summer Sampson, Shaktoolik

Jane Ward, Fort Yukon

Third team

Sarah Bodfish, Meade River

Mia Cromer, Sand Point

Easton Ross, Hoonah

Iris Wappel, Tri Valley

Analeigh Wassille, Newhalen

Honorable mention

Jewel Alexander, Minto; Krista Hugo, Nunamiut; Lydia Milner, Tri Valley; Brooke Phelps, Bristol Bay; Lindsey Long, Emmonak; Annette Paniptchuk, Shaktoolik; CJ Kaganak, Scammon Bay,; Scarlett Bodfish, Meade River; Lori Nassuk, Koyuk; Mallory Kingeekuk, Savoonga; Charla Adams, White Mountain; Arianna Agnasagga, Alak; Keira Sanderson, Klawock; Mary Bruns, Brevig Mission; Piper Lockwood, St. Michael; Misty Marine, Sand Point, Pagan Lester, Newhalen; Chloe Wassillie, Akiuk