Editor’s note: The Player of the Year and All-Area teams were chosen by The Herald sports staff based on coach recommendations, season statistics and first-hand observations.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jenna Villa, jr., G, Arlington
Click here for The Herald’s player of the year story on Villa.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Darrell McNeal, Everett
After being named Everett’s new head coach in late September, McNeal guided the Seagulls to a breakthrough 12-8 season that saw the program reach the regional round of the state tournament for the first time since 2013. Led by a defense that allowed a Wesco 3A/2A-best 37.4 points per contest in league games, Everett finished above .500 in league play for the first time since 2015 and won 10 of their last 13 games after a 2-5 start.
FIRST TEAM
Jenna Villa, jr., G, Arlington
Villa averaged 21 points, nine rebounds, three assists and three steals per game while helping the Eagles to a 21-3 record, Wesco 3A/2A and 3A District 1 titles, and a third-place finish at the Class 3A Hardwood Classic. Villa, who’s ranked as the No. 55 junior recruit in the country by ESPN.com, set a single-game program record with 10 3-pointers in a win over Mountlake Terrace and averaged 16.3 points, seven rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.7 blocks over three games at the state tournament. She was named the Wesco 3A/2A Player of the Year and was a second-team 3A Hardwood Classic pick.
Ella Gallatin, sr., G, Snohomish
Gallatin averaged 20.3 points, shot 38.4% from 3-point range and added 7.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.1 blocks per game to help the Panthers to an 18-5 record and a fourth-place finish at the Class 3A Hardwood Classic. The Eastern Washington-bound senior tied a school record with 38 points in a win over Lake Stevens and averaged 17.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.5 steals and 1.8 blocks over four games at the state tournament, including a 28-point outing against Lakeside-Seattle. She was named to the 3A Hardwood Classic first team.
Vivienne Berrett, jr., C/F, Stanwood
Berrett posted 14.5 points on 55% shooting from the field to go along with eight rebounds and 1.5 blocks per contest while helping the Spartans to a 14-7 record and a sixth-place finish at the Class 3A Hardwood Classic. The junior averaged 11.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.3 blocks over four games at the state tournament and was named to the 3A Hardwood Classic second team.
Baylor Thomas, sr., G, Lake Stevens
Thomas netted 14.5 points and added 3.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.4 steals per game while helping lead the Vikings to a 20-6 record, a Wesco 4A title and a trip to the Class 4A Hardwood Classic. The West Virginia State signee averaged 8.7 points and 3.7 rebounds over three games at the state tournament. She was named the Wesco 4A Player of the Year.
Adria Lincoln, jr., G, Monroe
Lincoln averaged a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds while adding 4.6 assists and 1.5 blocks per contest for the Bearcats. The junior shot 56% from the field and was one of 34 girls to be invited to the USA Basketball Women’s U16 National Team trials last June.
Keira Marsh, sr., G, Arlington
Marsh averaged 16 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals per game while helping the Eagles to a 21-3 record, Wesco 3A/2A and 3A District 1 titles, and a third-place finish at the Class 3A Hardwood Classic. The Cal State East Bay-bound senior netted a career-high 31 points in a win over Jackson and averaged 12 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.7 steals over three games at the state tournament, including 15 points and four steals in the third/fifth-place game against top-seeded Mead.
SECOND TEAM
Bella Hasan, soph., G, Kamiak
Hasan posted 17 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.3 steals and 2.7 assists per game for the Knights. The sophomore led Kamiak to a second-place finish in Wesco 4A.
Camille Jentzsch, sr., F, Lake Stevens
Jentzsch averaged 11 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists and one block per game while helping the Vikings to a 20-6 record, a Wesco 4A title and a trip to the Class 4A Hardwood Classic. The Eastern Washington signee had 16 points and 17 rebounds during a midseason victory over 4A sixth-place Tahoma.
Ella Sylvester, sr., F, Everett
Sylvester netted 14.6 points and added 5.1 rebounds per game while helping the Seagulls to a 12-8 record and their first appearance at the state regionals since 2013. The Smith College-bound senior was a four-year varsity player.
Cheyenne Rodgers, sr., G, Snohomish
Rodgers averaged 11.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.7 assists per game while helping the Panthers to an 18-5 record and a fourth-place finish at the Class 3A Hardwood Classic. The senior averaged 12 points, three rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.5 steals over four games at the state tournament, including 18 points and four assists in a win over Lakeside-Seattle.
Grace Trichler, sr., G, Sultan
Trichler connected on 34.7% of her 3-pointers and posted 14 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.8 steals and 3.5 assists while helping the Turks to a program-record 18 wins and their second straight Emerald Sound Conference Coho Division title. The senior was named the Coho Division Player of the Year for the second straight season and leaves Sultan as the program’s career leader in points (1,216), assists (184) and steals (304).
Ava Marr, fr., G/F, Archbishop Murphy
Marr averaged 14.9 points, five rebounds, two assists and 1.7 steals per contest while helping the Wildcats to a 16-7 record, a 2A District 1 title and a fourth-place finish at the Class 2A Hardwood Classic. The freshman averaged 15.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists and shot 58.1% from the field over three games at the state tournament, including 22 points in the fourth/sixth-place game against Hudson’s Bay. She was named to the 2A Hardwood Classic second team.
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