Valley sweeps NLC awards

PALMER — Damien Fulp has been known for his ability to dribble, drive, shoot and score from just about anywhere on the court. Last week, Fulp pulled down one of the conference’s major awards.

The Colony junior was named Northern Lights Conference Boys Player of the Year.

“Damien put in a lot of work in the offseason,” said Colony head coach Tom Berg, who was named the NLC Boys Coach of the Year. “All the coaches always knew he was a good ball handler and he could distribute. But this year, now if you leave him open, he’s going to play.”

Berg said he’s seen Fulp evolve as a player during the junior’s time on the varsity level, and he expects the guard to continue to improve.

“I don’t think he’s even come close to matching his ceiling,” Berg said.

Fulp was among four Knights and seven Valley players named to the boys’ first team. Seniors Joe Gray and Hunter Eisenhower, and junior Antonio Bush also represented Colony, which finished runner-up in the NLC tourney after finishing 10-0 in NLC play during the regular season.

Palmer, which beat Colony to win the NLC title, placed seniors Connor Looney and Brian Selmer on the first team. Wasilla sophomore Dane Kuiper also earned first-team boys honors. Colony senior Nate Umbarger, Wasilla senior Cash McGregor, and Palmer seniors Hayden Niekamp all earned second-team honors.

Wasilla senior Alysha Devine was named the NLC Girls Player of the Year. Devine was also one of three Warriors named first-team, joining fellow seniors Alexis Imoe and Kyal Dinkel.

“All three bring different things to us,” Hebert-Truax said. “Kyla has been real consistent this year. Alysha comes across a little more athletic. Alexis is the steady, go-to person. I’m happy for Alysha, Alexis and Dinkel.”

Devine was also named the Alaska Gatorade Girls Basketball Player of the Year on Thursday. For more, see the related story in the Friday edition.

Devine, Dinkel and Imoe were also three of the five Wasilla starters recognized. Senior guard Jenna Ford and senior forward Savanna Burke were named to the second team.

“That was really cool,” Devine said of the recognition of all five starters. “Jenna doesn’t play basketball as her main sport. Savanna works her butt off. All five starters got recognized. I’m so happy for that.”

The three Wasilla players were among a half-dozen Valley players on the girls’ first team. Colony senior Mary Klapperich, Palmer senior Taylor Blake and Palmer freshman Leya DePriest were also named first team.

Palmer’s Caitlin Scott and Colony’s Izzy Tweed joined Burke and Ford on the girls’ second team.

Niekamp and Nathan Mayer were named second team.

A group of Houston Hawks were also recognized by the Region III-3A Southcentral Conference following its championship tournament in Seward last week.

Houston senior Ne Ne Hale, who helped lead the Hawks girls to their first state tournament in 21 years, was named the SC Girls Player of the Year.

Hale provided the Hawks with the basket that officially pushed Houston into the state tournament.

Hale hit a buzzer-beater to give the Hawks a 44-42 win over Nikiski during the SC Championships third-place game. With the victory, Houston secured the conference’s third and final berth to the state tourney.

Savannah Wells was named to the girls first-team for the Hawks, and Victoria Baybado represents Houston on the girls’ second team.

Matt Barron led the Houston boys with SC first-team honors. Sam Brandt was named to the second team.

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

All-Northern Lights

Conference

Boys Player of the Year: Damien Fulp, Colony.

Boys Coach of the Year: Tom Berg, Colony.

Girls Player of the Year: Alysha Devine, Wasilla.

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

Boys first team:

Cory Carver, Soldotna; Joe Gray, Colony; Brian Selmer, Palmer; Austin Frick, Kodiak; Dane Kuiper, Wasilla; Connor Looney, Palmer; Antonio Bush, Colony; Hunter Eisenhower, Colony; Jemuel Medina, Kodiak; Damien Fulp, Colony.

Boys second team:

Nathan Umbarger, Colony; Wyatt Fitt, Kenai; Nathan Mayer, Palmer; Hayden Niekamp, Palmer; Colton Young, Soldotna; Cash McGregor, Wasilla.

Girls first team:

Alexis Imoe, Wasilla; Leya DePriest, Palmer; Jerica Nelson, Kodiak; Julie Litchfield, Soldotna; Kyla Dinkel, Wasilla; Kaille Skjold, Soldotna; Mary Klapperich, Colony; Taylor Blake, Palmer; Hannah Wandersee, Kodiak, Alysha Devine, Wasilla.

Girls second team:

Carissa Cannon, Kodiak; Savanna Burke, Wasilla; Caitlin Scott, Palmer; Sidney Taylor, Kenai; Kelci Benson, Soldotna; Jenna Ford, Wasilla; Izzy Tweed, Colony.