Wasilla senior nets Gatorade honor

WASILLA — Alysha Devine awoke Thursday morning to a surprise text message from UAA head coach Ryan McCarthy.

“He said congrats on the Gatorade,” said Devine, a Wasilla High senior girls’ basketball standout who will play for McCarthy’s Division II Seawovles women’s team next fall. “I thought, ‘it hasn’t come out yet. He must have been thinking regions.’ (I asked) how’d he find this? He said, ‘honey it’s on the Internet.’”

McCarthy was relaying the news released that morning. Devine had been named the Gatorade Alaska Girls Basketball Player of the Year.

“That’s how I found out. It definitely made my morning,” Devine said.

Devine not only becomes the third girls’ basketball player in Wasilla High history to net the honor, but she is the second member of her immediate family to earn the prestigious award. Devine’s older brother Connor, who now plays for Division I South Dakota State University, was named the 2012 Gatorade Alaska Boys Basketball Player of the Year.

Devine said she’s honored to receive the award, and thrilled to join her brother in the ranks of Gatorade winners.

“I’m more excited I can share this with Connor,” Devine said.

Devine joins a long list of Wasilla alumni with Gatorade hardware. She is the third winner from the girls’ basketball program, joining Jenna Johnson (2009) and Chandice Cronk (2006). Connor Devine was the third WHS boys’ basketball player to grab the award, along with Jesse Bean (2007) and Ray Schafer (2003).

Former Wasilla track and field standout Morgan Dampier also was a Gatorade winner last year. Dampier, who now runs for Division I Sacramento State, earned the award in 2011 and 2012.

Former Wasilla football standout Chuck Lincoln earned the Gatorade award in 1999.

Devine’s award comes less than a week after the 6-foot senior guard was named Northern Lights Conference Player of the Year. Devine — who is averaging 12.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.2 steals for the 27-0 Warriors — helped her team capture their second straight NLC title during the conference tournament in Soldotna. Next week, Devine will lead the two-time defending state champions in search of the three-peat.

Devine was one of three first-team All-NLC players for the Warriors, and one of three Wasilla players who were legitimate candidates for NLC Player of the Year Award.

“Alexis Imoe and Kyla Dinkel, they are just amazing players,” Devine said of her senior teammates who also garnered first-team NLC honors. “Any one of us could get it.”

Earlier this week, Wasilla head coach Jeannie Hebert-Truax said any of the three could have received the NLC award.

“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, Dinkel and Imoe are among five starters recognized by the NLC last week. Senior guard Jenna Ford and senior forward Savanna Burke were named second-team All-NLC.

“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.”

Hebert-Truax was named NLC Girls Coach of the Year.

Gatorade Alaska

Player of the Year

Valley winners

Boys basketball:

2012: Connor Devine, Wasilla; 2007: Jesse Bean, Wasilla; 2003: Ray Schafer, Wasilla; 1999: Eli Wilson, Colony.

Girls basketball:

2013: Alysha Devine, Wasilla; 2009: Jenna Johnson, Wasilla; 2006: Chandice Cronk, Wasilla; 2000: Jessica Moore, Colony; 1999: Jessica Moore, Colony.

Track and field:

2012: Morgan Dampier, Wasilla; 2011: Morgan Dampier, Wasilla; 2003: Aaron Dickson, Palmer; 2002: Ryan Collins, Colony; 1999: Eric Strabel, Colony; 1997: Jenny Luer, Palmer.

Football:

2007: George Percak-Dennett, Colony; 2001: Cole Magner, Colony; 1999: Chuck Lincoln, Wasilla; 1997: Jeremiah Richards, Palmer.

Volleyball:

1997: Maren Witzel, Colony.