VALLEY STANDOUTS: Local athletes recognized on all-state, all-conference basketball squads

PALMER — Longtime Alaska basketball coach Chuck Martin could make the argument that Palmer standout Clayton Southwick was cursed and blessed during his senior season.

“It’s a curse we expect so much out of him,” Martin, Palmer’s head coach, said recently. “For us to (be successful) Clayton has to be fabulous. But he’s got to make his teammates better. Some kids embrace that.”

And Southwick embraced it.

But there’s the blessing.

“He continues to work. He’s a joy to coach,” Martin said. “The two things — he’s big, he’s talented. And he loves to play. He likes being coached. To have a kid this talented who wanted to be coached, who wants to win, you can’t ask for much more from that as a player.”

Southwick, who leaves the Palmer boys basketball program as the most prolific scorer in school history, has once again been recognized for his efforts. A week after winning Northern Lights Conference Player of the Year honors for the second time, Southwick has been named first-team on the Knight’s Taxidermy/Alaska Association of Basketball Coaches 4A Boys All-State team for the second straight year.

Southwick, a four-time first-team All-NLC selection, ruled in just about every statistical category. The 6-foot-7 all-around star scored more than 1,700 points in his career, a school record, but also finished with 760 rebounds and 302 assists in four years.

“He’s just a very talented kid who wants to get better, and loves to play,” Martin said. “He’s made a tremendous impact for four years.”

Southwick amassed the 1,700 career points, but Martin said statistics were never the focus for Southwick.

“Clayton really wants his team to do well,” Martin said. “His greatest characteristic, he doesn’t care about anything but winning.”

Southwick is one of four Valley players to earn first-team all-state honors. Wasilla junior Oliva Davies and senior Azlynn Brandenburg were named to the 4A girls first-team. Wasilla senior Reilly Devine garnered honors on the 4A boys first-team list.

Davies, who was named the NLC Girls Player of the Year last week, earned first-team all-state honors for the third straight season. Wasilla head coach Jeannie Hebert-Truax said Davies faced a lot during her junior year, and had to overcome it to continue to be recognized as one of the top players in Alaska.

“Her growth as a player came from learning how to play through adversity with all of the injuries,” Hebert-Truax said.

Davies missed time early and late in the season, but was able to get healthy in time to help lead Wasilla to its fourth straight NLC title. When completely healthy, Hebert-Truax said Davies has a number of attributes that sets her apart.

“Her athleticism. She can shoot the ball. She can drive to the basket,” Hebert-Truax said. “Her midrange game. Defense, her reach. She can jump and get rebounds.”

Hebert-Truax said Davies sees the floor as well as anyone.

“Some of the best court vision. That’s such a big thing. You usually don’t see that at her age, especially in Alaska,” Hebert-Truax said.

Brandenburg joins Davies on the first-team squad.

“I think she really stepped up this year,” Hebert-Truax said of Brandenburg.

Not only did Brandenburg have to help fill the void left by the six seniors lost to graduation following Wasilla’s second straight 4A state title last spring, but she was also the person to step in when Davies missed time.

“She came up really big in that aspect,” Hebert-Truax said.

Wasilla relied on Brandenburg to score more. Brandenburg also had play point guard. She led the way on defense.

“She had to step up and take over some games,” Hebert-Truax said.

On the 4A boys’ side, Devine earned all-state honors for the first time in his career.

“There might not be a tougher kid in the state in regards to physical presence, how hard he plays and his willingness to do whatever is necessary, needed, to win games,” Wasilla head coach Ryan Engebretsen said of Devine, a first-team selection. “Great motor.”

Engebretsen said Devine always has a team-first mentality.

“He could care less about himself. Truly, in his heart he seeks team success first,” Engebretsen said.

A handful of Valley athletes also earned second- and third-team all-state honors. Colony senior Alex Carlton was named to the second game for the 4A girls and fellow Knights senior Amanda Smith was named to the third team. The Valley landed three players on the 4A boys second team, with Wasilla’s Daniel Headdings, and Colony’s Sullivan Menard and Will Freeman earning spots.

Susitna Valley was represented on the 2A lists. Cody Morgan was named second-team all-state for the 2A boys.

Valley dominates All-NLC teams

The Valley swept the top three spots in both classes, with Wasilla, Colony and Palmer finishing first through third on both the girls and boys side. The success showed on the all-conference teams.

Davies and Brandenburg were six Valley athletes named first-team All-NLC in the girls’ class. Colony seniors Alex Carlton and Amanda Smith, and Palmer senior Julia Benshetler and Abriana Busbey were also named first-team. Palmer’s Kassidy Bowman, Wasilla’s Cheyenne Green and Colony’s Kali Bull earned second-team honors.

The Valley occupied five spots on the NLC boys first-team. In addition to Southwick and Devine, Menard, Freeman and Wasilla’s Aeron Milliron were named first-team all-conference.

Headdings, Palmer’s Jared Hawkins and Colony’s Jonathon Pomrenke were named second-team all-conference.

A pair of Valley mentors also earned coach of the year honors. Colony’s Tom Berg was named the NLC Boys Coach of the Year. Palmer’s Elgin Hollins earned the NLC Girls Coach of the Year honors.

Redington senior makes school history

Redington senior Courtney Crockett was named first-team All-Southcentral Conference. She is the first basketball player in school history to be named to the first team all-conference.

Four Valley players were also named second-team All-Southcentral. Houston’s Riley Davis and Redington’s Abbie Fuller were named second-team for the girls. Redington’s Brodie Brooks and Houston’s Robert Ritter earned second-team honors on the boys side.

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

Boys Player of the Year: Clayton Southwick, Palmer

Girls Coach of the Year: Elgin Hollins, Palmer

Boys Coach of the Year: Tom Berg, Colony

Girls first team:

Olivia Davies, Wasilla; Azlynn Brandenburg, Wasilla; Aliann Schmidt, Soldotna; Julia Benshetler, Palmer; Abriana Busbey, Palmer; Alex Carlton, Colony; Amanda Smith, Colony.

Girls second team:

Brooke Satathite, Kenai; Jaycie Calvert, Kenai; Danica Schmidt, Soldotna; Brittani Blossom, Soldotna; Kassidy Bowman, Palmer; Cheyenne Green, Wasilla; Kali Bull, Colony.

Boys first team:

Clayton Southwick, Palmer; Luke Beiser, Kenai; Reilly Devine, Wasilla; Sullivan Menard, Colony; Will Freeman, Colony; Louis Rocheleau, Kodiak.

Boys second team:

Jonathon Pomrenke, Colony; Colton Spencer, Colony; Jersey Truesdall, Soldotna; Jared Hawkins, Palmer; Daniel Headdings, Wasilla.

Knight’s Taxidermy/Alaska Association of Basketball Coaches All-State Teams

4A Girls:

Player of the Year: Alissa Pili, Dimond

Coach of the Year: Laura Ingham, East Anchorage

First team:

Alissa Pili, Dimond; Azlynn Brandenburg, Wasilla; Olivia Davies, Wasilla; Jahnna Hajdukovich, Dimond; Azaria Robinson, East Anchorage.

Second team:

Alex Carlton, Colony; Chasity Horn, Chugiak; Skye Miller, East Anchorage; Angeline Nageak, Dimond; Sierra Tate, West Valley

Third team:

Tyra Do, Lathrop; Daisy Page, East Anchorage; Ellen Silva, West Valley; Brittany Slick, Ketchikan; Amanda Smith, Colony

Player of the Year: Erik Kelly, Juneau-Douglas

Coach of the Year: Brad Lauwers, Dimond

First team:

Erik Kelly, Juneau; Reilly Devine, Wasilla; Nicolas Horning, Dimond; Marcus Lee, Ketchikan; Clayton Southwick, Palmer

Second team:

Will Freeman, Colony; Daniel Headdings, Wasilla; Sullivan Menard, Colony; Devon Mong, West Anchorage; Luka Wal, West Anchorage

Third team:

Joey Barranco, East Anchorage; Chris Lee, Ketchikan; Cornelius Mingo Jr, West Valley; Carter Moore, Dimond; Derryk Snell, Chugiak

3A Girls

Player of the Year: Bethany Carstens, Nikiski

Coach of the Year: Scott Anderson, Nikiski

First Team:

Bethany Carstens, Nikiski; Tatum Bayne, Sitka; Kuutuuq Danner, Barrow; Bobbi Mott, Valdez; Destiny Reimers, ACS

Second team:

Alanna Conwell, Kotzebue; Pearl Green, Galena; Jordan Todd, ACS; Courtney Williams, Bethel; Milya Wright, Barrow

Third team:

Chaunice Carr, ACS; Katie Crow, Bethel; Abby Forrester, Sitka; Sydney Johnson, Valdez; Mary Kate Parks, ACS

3A Boys

Player of the Year: Tobin Karlberg, Grace Christian

Coach of the Year: Todd Wegner, Valdez

First team:

Tobin Karlberg, Grace Christian; Travis Adams, Barrow; Micah Helkenn, Delta; Bennett Hinkle, Valdez; Gavin Jackson, Monroe

Second team:

Jamal Alstrom, Mt. Edgecumbe; Clevon Constantine, Bethel; Devin Davis, Monroe; Izak Lohrke, Monroe; Orlando Lozano, Anchorage Christian

Third team:

Jeremiah Brown, Eielson; Danilo Guzman, Anchorage Christian; Logan Heckathorn, Valdez; Jace Kornstad, Nikiski; Jimmy McGovern, Grace Christian

2A Girls

Player of the Year: Sharon Hansen, Bristol Bay

Coach of the Year: Collin Stone, Nenana

First team:

Sharon Hansen, Bristol Bay; Drena Hayward, Metlakatla; Gloria Jacobsen, Glennallen; Jordyn Lane, Point Hope; Melissa Nickoli, Nenana

Second team:

Abby Bourgeois, Cordova; Kaylyn Easterly, Wrangell; Alexis Russell, Metlakatla; Aquinnah Tremblay, Nenana; Kayla Villamor, Unalaska

Third team:

Denali Moorcraft, Bristol Bay; Kendra Kapotak, Dillingham; Hailey Wilson, Unalaska; Jewel Wilson, Unalakleet; Sarah Yates, Craig

2A Boys

Player of the Year: Trevor Wilson, Unalaska

Coach of the Year: Jonathan Alsup, Tok

First team:

Trevor Wilson, Unalaska; Aidan Fields, Glennallen; Danny Marsden, Metlakatla; Dennis Mitchell, Tok; Arctic Ivanoff, Unalakleet

Second team:

Aiden Ivanoff, Unalakleet; Andrew Marker, Craig; Cody Morgan, Susitna Valley; Cody Sjostedt, Cordova; Dylan Swinton, Haines

Third team:

Christian Adams, Cordova; Revyn Almquist, Tok; Matt Fasau, Unalaska; Shawn Frank, Tok; Christian Hayward, Metlakatla

1A Girls

Player of the Year: DeeAnn White, Ninilchik

Coach of the Year: Herschel Sundown, Scammon Bay

First team:

DeeAnn White, Ninilchik; Jenysa Ahmaogak, Alak (Wainwright); Shauna Koonuk, Aniak; Lindsay Weyanna, Isabell (Teller); Almira Kaganak, Scammon Bay

Second team:

MacKenzie Andrew, Napakiak; Olivia Juhl, Tri Valley; Shea Matthies, Stebbins; Anikan Paniptchuk, Shaktoolik; Nyadeng Puoy, Lumen Christi

Third team:

Hayley Akerelrea, Scammon Bay; Olivia Delgado, Ninilchik; Miranda Demientieff, Akiak; Kristin Klaich, Nikolaevsk; Jada Peterson, St. Mary’s

Fourth team:

Josephine Chakuchin, Toksook Bay; Alison Homekingkeo, Koyuk; Taya Marvin, Klawock; Maya Page, Noatak; Sarah Stenek, Shishmaref

1A Boys

Player of Year: Lance Folger, Tanana

Coach of the Year: Raymond Hyslop, Tanana

First team:

Lance Folger, Tanana; Michael Balos, Birchwood; Jeremy Brink, Scammon Bay; Edward Kokeok, Shishmaref; Jared Topkok, Isabell (Teller)

Second team:

Michael Alyunerak, Alakanuk; Eric Daniels Jr, Elim; Elijah Kulowiyi, Savoonga; Kalenik Molodih, Niolaevsk; Robert Sheldon, Noatak

Third team:

Jacob Ahgook, Nunamiut; Braden Dallman, Aniak; Gary Gould, King Cove; Jeremiah Iyatunguk, Shishmaref; Mykell White, Nelson Island

Fourth team:

Andrew Bennett, Lumen Christi; Jackson Charlie, Scammon Bay; Trevor Savetilik, Shaktoolik; Peter Swanberg, Birchwood; Nathan Yockey, Klawock