The winter season has come and gone. That seemed quick, didn’t it? Three local teams qualified for the postseason – not including both wrestling squads. Although all three were eliminated in the opening round of the Central Coast Section playoffs last week, applause is in order for the Christopher High girls basketball and soccer teams – which made their inaugural playoff appearances – and the Gilroy High girls soccer team.
So far, I have been sent two all-league lists – and both are loaded with Gilroyan prep athletes.
Before I get into those, though, I want to point out Gilroy High junior Megan Nebesnick. The wrestler met her goal and metaled at the second annual CIF Girls State Wrestling Championships on Saturday night in Lemoore. Nebesnick, the CCS titleholder at 189-pounds, placed seventh.
Back to the all-league matter.
Christopher High’s junior guard Hanna Tabron was named Monterey Bay League Most Valuable Player and leads a list of six Cougars to earn league honors after a program best 20-6 season under coach Heather Stewart.
And speaking of Stewart, the third-year lead maestro was voted the MBL’s Coach of the Year. Â
Tabron, a junior, averaged 17.5 points this season – second to North Monterey County’s Priscilla Mora’s 19.4 – for the MBL champions.
The on-the-court leader for CHS, Tabron shouldered the go-to responsibility with ease at both ends of the floor. She totaled 438 points, 189 rebounds and 138 steals – all team highs – in 25 regular season games.
Tabron was also tabbed as a first-team all-MBL honoree, along with her sister, freshman Olivia Tabron. In her first season at the high school level, Olivia Tabron assimilated herself well into the Cougars scheme and averaged 10.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and one block per outing.
Senior Merrett Brown and sophomore spark plug Cydney Caradonna were awarded the second-team distinction. Brown hit the game winner against Monte Vista Christian in the teams’ second of three meetings this season. That CHS victory clinched the league crown for the (the first of two clinches) Cougars. Caradonna added an edge to the CHS backcourt. She posted 170 points and 70 assists in her first season with CHS.
Senior Haylee Peterson and sister, junior Maddie Peterson, a pair of guards who added even more bite to the Cougars cagey defense and scrappy backcourt, made Honorable Mention.
Down the road on 10th and Princevalle, the GHS girls soccer team narrowly upset defending champion Valley Christian last Wednesday. The tough 1-0 loss ended a season that saw the Mustangs capture a sixth straight Tri-County Athletic League championship. And it comes as no surprise at all that the TCAL all-league document is loaded with Mustangs.
For instance, junior Taylor Slattery (team-high 12 assists, seven goals) repeated as MVP. Junior Cynthia Sanchez (team-high 18 goals) was named the Offensive Player of the Year for the second season in a row. And both picked up their third first-team selections. The two speedsters will be back next season.
It goes on.
Monique Barragan – Senior MVP Maggie Trigo-Rocha – co-Junior MVP. They, along with Connie Contreras, round out the Mustangs five first-team representatives.
And on.
Alejandra Aceves, Monica Marrazzo, Alexi Slattery, Morgan Rogers and Tayler Silacci received second-team consideration. Katrina Carter, Kiara Santamaria and Tyler Juarez – who was also the Richard Chamberlin Sportsmanship award winner – were slotted in as Honorable Mention.
See…loaded.
As I get a hold of the rest of the all-league lists, I will pass those as well. Congratulations to all.
