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
Bobby Siebers, sr., W, Glacier Peak
Click here for The Herald’s player of the year story on Siebers.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Nalin Sood, Mountlake Terrace
Sood guided the Hawks to a 20-4 record, the Class 3A District 1 Tournament title, a 3A state quarterfinal appearance and a sixth-place trophy at the 3A Hardwood Classic. Mountlake Terrace rode an 11-game win streak into the state quarterfinals and finished with its first state trophy since 2013. The Hawks were one of just three non-Metro League teams to earn a state trophy in the ultra-tough 3A classification.
FIRST TEAM
Bobby Siebers, sr., W, Glacier Peak
Siebers averaged 21.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.5 steals per game while leading the Grizzlies to a 14-7 record and the 4A state regionals. The 6-foot-4 senior shot 36% from 3-point range, 58% from 2-point range and 75% from the free-throw line. He also drew 21 charges on defense. He twice broke Glacier Peak’s single-game scoring record this season, topped by a 38-point performance in a bi-district tournament win over Bothell. He was named the Wesco 4A player of the year.
Ethan Martin, sr., G, Arlington
Martin averaged 23.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game while leading the Eagles to an 18-6 record, the Wesco 3A/2A title and the 3A state regionals. The senior shot 34.8% from 3-point range and 79.3% from the free-throw line. He scored 35-plus points three times, including a school-record 42 points and nine 3s in a win over Marysville Pilchuck. He was named the Wesco 3A/2A player of the year and finished with 1,205 career points.
Elijah Johnson, sr., PG, Shorecrest
Johnson averaged 22 points and 10 assists per game while leading the Scots to a 20-5 record and the 3A state play-in round. The senior point guard netted 37 points in an overtime loss to Arlington and paced a high-scoring Shorecrest attack that averaged a Wesco-leading 71.7 points per contest.
Sylas Williams, jr., W/F, Jackson
Williams was a double-double machine, averaging 18 points and 14 rebounds per game while leading the Timberwolves to a 14-10 record and the 4A state regionals. The 6-foot-6 junior compiled massive stat lines all season, including a 23-point, 22-rebound performance in a win over Meadowdale.
Jeffrey Anyimah, sr., G, Mountlake Terrace
Anyimah averaged 15.0 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game while helping lead the Hawks to a 20-4 record, the 3A District 1 Tournament title, the 3A state quarterfinals and a sixth-place trophy at the 3A Hardwood Classic. He averaged 19.3 points per game during Mountlake Terrace’s postseason run and helped anchor a stingy defense that allowed just 53.5 points per contest.
Naser Motley, sr., G, Mariner
Motley averaged 17 points and 4.5 rebounds per game while helping lead the Marauders to a 16-10 record, the Wesco 4A title and a trip to the 4A Hardwood Classic. It was Mariner’s first league title since the 2002-03 season and the program’s first Hardwood Classic appearance since 2009.
SECOND TEAM
Tijan Saine, sr., PG, Mariner
Saine averaged 16 points and five assists per game while helping lead the Marauders to a 16-10 record, the Wesco 4A title and a trip to the 4A Hardwood Classic. It was Mariner’s first league title since the 2002-03 season and the program’s first Hardwood Classic appearance since 2009.
Justice Taylor, sr., G/F, Lakewood
Taylor averaged 18 points, six rebounds and four assists per game while leading the Cougars to a 15-7 record and their second 2A Hardwood Classic appearance in program history. The Central Washington University football signee averaged 22.7 points per game in the postseason, including 36 points and 11 rebounds in a winner-to-state, loser-out victory over Burlington-Edison.
Maddox Preder, jr., G, Lake Stevens
Preder averaged 15.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game while leading the Vikings to a third-place finish in Wesco 4A. He shot 55% from the field, 40% from 3-point range and 80% from the free-throw line.
Devin Gilbert, jr., F, Cascade
Gilbert averaged a double-double with 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.2 blocks per game. The 6-foot-5 junior scored 30-plus points three times and led the Bruins to a 10-win campaign that surpassed their win total from the previous three seasons combined.
Parker Baumann, jr., W, Shorecrest
Baumann averaged 20 points, nine rebounds and four assists per game while helping lead the Scots to a 20-5 record and a trip to the 3A state play-in round. He played a key role in a high-scoring Shorecrest attack that averaged a Wesco-leading 71.7 points per contest.
Zaveon Jones, soph., F, Mountlake Terrace
Jones averaged 14.3 points and 7.1 rebounds per game while helping lead the Hawks to a 20-4 record, the 3A District 1 Tournament title, the 3A state quarterfinals and a sixth-place trophy at the 3A Hardwood Classic. The sophomore was a 3A Hardwood Classic first-team selection after averaging 18.0 points and 6.3 rebounds per game in the Tacoma Dome.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.