Valley basketball players named all-state

A handful of Mat-Su prep basketball players were recently named to the Alaska Association of Basketball Coaches All-State teams.

Five local players earned first-team honors. Colony’s Hallie Clark, and Wasilla’s Layla Hays and Mylee Anderson were named to the 4A girls first team. All three players are sophomores.

Hays and Anderson helped the Warriors finish as the 4A runner-up. Clark and the Knights placed third in the 4A state tourney.

Colony’s Jayce Underwood represented the Valley on the 4A boys first team. Colony won the Northern Lights Conference title and advanced to the state tournament.

Houston’s Hayden Howard was named first-team all-state for the 3A boys for the second consecutive year. Howard helped lead the Hawks to a third-place finish in the state tourney.

Wasilla’s Parker Kroon was named second-team all-state for the 4A boys and Kash Luce was a third-team selection.

Colony’s Emma Hopkins, Alycia Shelley and Lalaine Suaava were named third-team all-state for the 4A girls.

Houston’s Cole Taylor was second-team all-state for the 3A boys.

Susitna Valley’s Alana Barron was third-team all-state for the 2A girls.

Colony’s Chandice Kelley was named the 4A girls coach of the year.

Contact the Frontiersman at sports@frontiersman.com.