WHS post grabs top honor

WASILLA — Connor Devine is averaging nearly 16 points per game this season. But it’s what doesn’t show up on the score sheet that really makes the 6-foot-9 Wasilla High junior post stand out.

“He alters more than 12 possessions a game,” Wasilla head coach Ryan Engebretsen said. “Taking charges, blocking shots, getting steals. That’s not counting how many shots he changes.”

Devine’s presence on both sides of the floor during his junior campaign has earned him 2010-11 Northern Lights Conference Player of the Year honors.

Devine tallied 15.9 points, 11.5 rebounds and 5.9 blocks per game this year as he helped the Warriors win their third straight Northern Lights Conference championship. He’s also shooting better than 60 percent this season, and has even has the potential to be a three-point threat, shooting 40 percent from behind the arc. Devine does sport the 6-9 frame, but Engebretsen said the junior is far better than the average big man.

“Connor is very unique with everything he brings to the table and his ability,” Engebretsen said. “He can finish with either hand, either foot.”

And then there’s the defensive presence Engebretsen spoke of. Engebretsen said he not only sees Devine as the top player in the NLC, but among the top-3 players in the state. He also has the attitude and personality to be successful, Engebretsen said.

“He’s very coachable. You ask him to do something and he doesn’t do it incorrectly again,” Engebretsen said.

The combination leads Engebretsen to believe Devine will have a promising future.

“He’ll play at a pretty high level,” Engebretsen said.

Devine was a number of Valley products to be honored during an awards ceremony that followed the NLC boys championship game at Homer High Saturday evening. Wasilla’s Jeannie Hebert-Truax was named the girls head coach of the year and Palmer’s Jason Marvel shared boys co-coach of the year honors with Kenai’s Ken Felche. Colony’s Chris Hebert was named cheerleading coach of the year.

Devine was one of two Wasilla boys named to the first team and three to be recognized. Junior Braydon Kuiper was named first-team All-NLC and senior Joel Quenga garnered second-team honors.

Palmer seniors Christian Odom and Sean Niekamp earned first-team honors alongside Colony sophomore Hunter Eisenhower. Colony junior Jared Turner was named second-team.

On the girls’ side, four Warriors — seniors Kelsey Cottle and Celeste Colegrove, junior Alyssa Hutchins and sophomore Alexis Imoe — were named first team. Colony senior Kate Klapperich and sophomore Mary Klapperich, and Palmer senior Kendal Venzke were also named to the first team.

Colony senior Pherrari Brumbaugh and sophomore Allison Leigh scored spots on the second team.

Kodiak’s Joanna Garcia was named the girls player of the year.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/matsu_sports.

2010-11 All-Northern Lights Conference

Boys Player of the Year: Connor Devine, Wasilla.

Girls Player of the Year: Joanna Garcia, Kodiak.

Boys Coach of the Year: Jason Marvel, Palmer; Ken Felchle, Kenai.

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

Cheer Coach of the Year: Chris Hebert, Colony.

Boys team sportsmanship award: Colony.

Girls team sportsmanship award: Kenai.Boys team GPA award: Colony.

Girls team GPA award: Soldotna.

Boys first team:

Connor Devine, Wasilla; Braydon Kuiper, Wasilla; Zach Jackson, Soldotna; AJ Hull, Kenai; Bo Reilly, Kenai; Devon Kennelty, Homer; Hunter Eisenhower, Colony; Sean Niekamp, Palmer; Christian Odom, Palmer; Ralphy Matautia, Kodiak.

Boys second team:

Joel Quenga, Wasilla; Jared Turner, Colony; Evan Withrow, Soldotna; Albert White, Skyview, Nic Madrid, Skyview; Tyler Spaulding, Kenai; Kai Risung, Kenai; Brian Fangonilo, Kodiak.

Girls first team:

Joanna Garcia, Kodiak; Kailee Skjold, Soldotna; Raquel Young, Kenai; Alexis Imoe, Wasilla; Alyssa Hutchins, Wasilla; Kelsey Cottle, Wasilla; Celeste Colegrove, Wasilla; Kate Klapperich, Colony; Mary Klapperich, Colony; Kendal Venzke, Palmer.

Girls second team:

Jessie Duke, Soldotna; Jaxon Hill, Skyview; Pherrari Brumbaugh, Colony; Allison Leigh, Colony; Morgan Wensley, Kenai; Megan Grupp, Kodiak; Puni Timu, Kodiak.

First team cheer:

Samantha Oliver, Kodiak; Ayla Shulz, Homer; Kayla Ackerman, Colony; Chantel Grover, Palmer; Geoclyn Aquino, Kodiak; Kyra Halpin, Homer; Oreanna Powell, Colony; Kelli Kobus, Palmer; Leila Hobbs, Skyview; Eden Flake, Skyview.

Boys good sport team:

Blake Niver, Colony; Mack Wood, Homer; Richie Ziehmer, Kenai; Josh Bezona, Kodiak; Kevin Montgomery, Palmer; Jordan Jones, Skyview; Colton Schneider, Soldotna; Cole Schierman, Wasilla.

Girls good sport team:

Gabrielle Menard, Colony; Krystal Edens, Homer; Allie McGahan, Kenai; Carole Lampl, Kodiak; Sarah Houchen, Palmer; Jessica Sounders, Skyview; Alisa Kress, Soldotna; Kalli Johannes, Wasilla.

Good sport cheer:

Gray Chalder, Colony; Fallin Crauthers, Homer; Maddie Stamper, Kodiak; Amber Fisher, Palmer; Deanna Clark, Skyview.