Valley players earn all-conference, all-state hoops honors

WASILLA — Leya DePriest and Olivia Davies are at opposite ends of their prep basketball careers. DePriest, a Wasilla senior, is a seasoned veteran, a Division I recruit ready to cap her stellar high school career. Davies, a Warrior freshman, is a budding young talent who made an immediate impact at the varsity level.

But both are big reasons why the Warriors are the No. 1 seed in the upcoming 4A girls state tournament. And both talents have garnered first-team honors on the MGJ Building Group/Alaska Association of Basketball Coaches 4A Girls All-State Team.

Davies and DePriest also earned honors from the Northern Lights Conference recently. Davies was named the NLC Girls Player of the Year. Davies and DePriest were among five Warriors named first-team all-conference. The list also includes sophomore Azlynn Brandenburg, and juniors Kaylyn Kelly and McKenna Dinkel.

Brandenburg was also named second-team all-state by the coaches association.

Wasilla head coach Jeannie Hebert-Truax, who also earned NLC Girls Coach of the Year honors, is excited about the recognition for her players.

“We’re pretty deep. But we’re not only deep, we’ve got some good talent,” Hebert-Truax said.

Hebert-Truax said it’s also exciting to see Davies earn these types of honors as a freshman.

“As a freshman coming in, she had a lot going for her. She worked hard, and got better as the year went along,” Hebert-Truax said. “She’s come a long way. She’s getting comfortable playing with the girls, getting comfortable in her role.”

DePriest earned first-team all-state honors for the second straight year with the Warriors, and scored a spot on the NLC’s first team for the fourth time in her career.

“She’s had a good year. She is a girl who can dominate the boards for us, and on a good night can be our leading scorer,” Hebert-Truax said of DePriest, who is averaging just about 10 points and 10 rebounds a game for the Warriors. “When she gets the ball in her hands, nobody is going to take it from her. When she gets a rebound, nobody is going to take it away from her.”

DePriest will play for Division I University of Denver next fall.

Palmer senior Michael Kluting also earned top honors in the NLC. Kluting was named the NLC Boys Player of the Year.

Kluting was also one of there Valley players named third-team all-state on the 4A boys list. Colony senior Tyler Boyer and Wasilla junior Kobe Brown joined Kluting on the list.

Wasilla mentor Ryan Engebretsen was named NLC Boys Coach of the Year.

Kluting and Clayton Southwick represent Palmer on the NLC first team list. Boyer and Anton Chamblee were named first-team All-NLC for Colony. Brown, Daniel Headdings and Isaac Houck were named first-team All-NLC for the Warriors.

Colony’s Chase Stephens, Alex Carlton and Amanda Smith, and Palmer’s Kaylee King were named to the girls’ first-team All-NLC list.

Houston Hawks honored

Kimberly Quincy is among a handful of Hawks to receive postseason honors.

Quincy was named first-team All-Southcentral Conference and third-team all-state. Aspen Ruth was also named first-team all-conference for the Houston girls. Ben Bitler and Kade Taylor earned firs-team all-conference honors for the boys.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

All-Northern Lights Conference

Girls Player of the Year: Olivia Davies, Wasilla

Girls Coach of the Year: Jeannie Hebert-Truax, Wasilla

Boys Player of the Year: Michael Kluting, Palmer

Boys Coach of the Year: Ryan Engebretsen, Wasilla

Girls first team:

Olivia Davies, Wasilla; Leya DePriest, Wasilla; Chase Stephens, Colony; Alex Carlton, Colony; Lindsey Wong, Soldotna; Azlynn Brandenburg, Wasilla; McKenna Dinkel, Wasilla; Kaylyn Kelly, Wasilla; Kaylee King Palmer; Ali Steinbeck, Kenai; Amanda Smith, Colony.

Girls second team:

Abrianna Busbey, Palmer; Lara Creighton, Kenai; Kristhel Fangonilo, Kodiak; Emma Uschmann, Palmer; Hannah Drury, Kenai; Daisy Nelson, Soldotna.

Boys first team:

Michael Kluting, Palmer; Kobe Brown, Wasilla; Tyler Boyer, Colony; Anton Chamblee, Colony; Clayton Southwick, Palmer; Josh Jackman, Kenai; Daniel Headdings, Wasilla; Timmy Smithwick, Soldotna; Isaac Houck, Wasilla; Marshall Vest, Kenai.

Boys second team:

Billy Alcaide, Kodiak; Alex Nygard, Colony; Reilly Devine, Wasilla; Derek Evans, Soldotna; Garrett Fitt, Kenai.

MGJ Building Group/Alaska Association of Basketball Coaches All-State Team

4A Girls

Player of the Year: Ruthy Hebard, West Valley

Coach of the Year: Jim Young, Dimond

First team:

Ruthy Hebard, West Valley; Olivia Davies, Wasilla; Leya DePriest, Wasilla; Alissa Pili, Dimond; Nicole Pinckney, Chugiak

Second team:

Azlynn Brandenburg, Wasilla; Jahnna Hajdukovich, Lathrop; Sandin Kidder, East Anchorage; Whitney Shapp, Dimond; Tennae Voliva, East Anchorage

Third team:

Eliah Anderson, Ketchikan; Alexis Biggerstaff, Ketchikan; Shameah Jones, Dimond; Theyoung Puoy, West Anchorage; Ava Tompkins, Thunder Mountain

4A Boys

Player of the Year: Da’Zhon Wyche, West Anchorage

Coach of the Year: Robert Casperson, Juneau-Douglas

First team:

Da’Zhon Wyche, West Anchorage; Nathan Fromm, Service; Daniel Hornbuckle, West Valley; Moses Miller, East Anchorage; Bentiu Panoam, Bartlett

Second team:

Alex Adams, South Anchorage; Jason James, Ketchikan; Eric Jenkins, Dimond; Kaleb Tompkins, Juneau-Douglas; Marquis White, East Anchorage

Third team:

Tyler Boyer, Colony; Mo Bullock, Ketchikan; Kobe Brown, Wasilla; Alec Canete-Hall, East Anchorage; Michael Kluting, Palmer

3A Girls

Player of the Year: Madison Akers, Homer

Coach of the Year: Chad Felice, Homer

First team:

Madison Akers, Homer; Rose Mongoyak, Barrow; Bobbi Mott, Valdez; Zoe Krupa, Sitka; Payton Weisz, Mt. Edgecumbe

Second team:

Senora Ahmasuk, Nome; Madison Fleming, Valdez; Romay Harris, Galena; Kayla Stafford, Homer; Amir Williams, Anchorage Christian

Third team:

Kuutuuq Danner, Barrow; Sierra Tate, Hutchison; Haley O’Brien, Bethel; Kimberly Quincy, Houston; Annie VanderWeide, Grace Christian

3A Boys

Player of the Year: Kamaka Hepa, Barrow

Coach of the Year: Reid Kornstad, Nikiski

First team:

Kamaka Hepa, Barrow; Travis Adams, Barrow; Jeremiah Bailey, Monroe; Tobin Karlberg, Grace Christian; Trevor Osborne, Grace Christian

Second team:

Tevin Bayne, Sitka; Martese Blankenship, Delta; Divon Davis, Monroe; Trey Huckabay, Anchorage Christian; Eric Jones, Galena

Third team:

Clevon Constantine, Bethel; Bish Gallahorn, Kotzebue; Mareng Gatkuoth, Anchorage Christian; Ronnie Jackson, Seward; Xavier Ughutevbe, Hutchison

2A Girls

Player of the Year: Kylie Wallace, Petersburg

Coach of the Year: Dino Brock, Petersburg

First team:

Kylie Wallace, Petersburg; Ada Harvey, Unalakleet; Rylie Lyon, Bristol Bay; Shauna Koonuk, Point Hope; Raquell Salas, Nenana

Second team:

Kayley Swinton, Haines; Ruby Brock, Petersburg; Jordyn Lane, Point Hope; Lindsay Phillips, Cordova; Sierra Virgin, Glennallen

Third team:

Magdalene Green, Hooper Bay; Anna Hanson, Bristol Bay; Aspen Hansen, Craig; Amy Jensen, Wrangell; Tamra Jones, Glennallen

2A boys

Player of the Year: Ben Enlow, Unalaska

Coach of the Year: Kent Russell, Unalaska

First team:

Ben Enlow, Unalaska; Stewart Conn, Petersburg; Taylor Harvey, Unalakleet; Jerome Salas, Nenana; Jerome Ridao, Cordova

Second team:

Arctic Ivanoff, Unalakleet; Cooper Jewell, Cordova; Andrew Oktollik, Point Hope; Danny Marsden, Metlekatla; Blake Stokes, Wrangell

Third team:

Wolf Brooks, Petersburg; Ross Enlow, Unalaska; Zavier Ghormley Metlekatla; Austin Johnson, Susitna Valley; Mickey Matchian, Chevak

1A girls

Player of the Year: Megan Hickman, Nikolaevsk

Coach of the Year: Bea Klaich, Nikolaevsk

First team:

Megan Hickman, Nikolaevsk; Zhane Akeya, Savoonga; Denise Fernandez, Shishmaref; Kai Nashookpuk, Wainwright; Lindsay Weyanna, Teller

Second team:

Danielle Apassingok, Gambell; Miranda Demientieff, Akiak; Emily Henry, Golovin; Serafima Kalugin, Nikolaevsk; Krista Sinclair, Ninilchik

Third team:

Miriam Kulowiyi, Savoonga; Molly Nayakik, Wainwright; Nyadeng Puoy, Lumen Christi; Haley Scott, Birchwood Christian; Beverly Tom, Stebbins

1A Boys

Player of the Year: Fritz Jackson, Akiachiak

Coach of the Year: Nick Finley, Ninilchik

Firs team:

Fritz Jackson, Akiachiak; Jeoffery Gloko, Manokotak; Everson Paniptchuk, Shaktoolik; Aidan Philpot, Seldovia; Ian Samuelson, King Cove

Second team:

Nikit Fefelov, Nikolaevsk; Wallace Ungwiluk, Gambell; Theodore Sundown, Scammon Bay; Jared Topkok, Teller;v Austin White, Ninilchik

Third team:

Jerry Carroll, Fort Yukon; Neil Gordeev, Nikolaevsk; Devin Nakarak, Elim; Tyler Presley, Ninilchik; Devin Woods, Minto