All-Bay Area News Group girls basketball 2024-25: Meet the team ...Middle East

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All-Bay Area News Group girls basketball 2024-25: Meet the team

All-Bay Area News Group girls basketball team 

Player of the Year

    KK Lacanlale, Acalanes, 5-5, senior

    Engine for Acalanes team that advanced to the school’s first-ever North Coast Section Open Division championship game. Lacanlale, who was the Most Valuable Player of the Diablo Athletic League as a freshman, was so honored again as a senior, capping a season where she averaged 14.3 points, 5.7 assists, 2.9 steals and 2.8 rebounds per game. “Doing a little bit of everything,” as Dons coach Margaret Gartner put it. “In all our big games, KK was involved in just about every basket, scoring or assisting.” Scored 411 points in her senior year and dished out 166 assists, leading Acalanes to a 28-3 overall record and undefeated 11-0 league season. Scored 1,705 career points with the Dons. Committed to play basketball at Saint Martin’s University in Washington. 

    Acalanes’ K.K. Lacanlale is the 2024-25 Player of the Year (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 

    First team

    Jolyn Ding, Pinewood, 5-8, senior

    Senior guard averaged 14.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.8 steals per game, helping quarterback Pinewood to the Central Coast Section Open Division championship game. Co-West Bay Athletic League Most Valuable Player. 

    Layla Dixon, Carondelet, 5-11, junior

    Junior guard averaged 13.5 points, 6.1 assists, 5.9 rebounds and 3.5 steals per game as an all-around contributor. Led Cougars to CIF Division I state championship win over Sage Hill-Newport Beach. East Bay Athletic League Defensive Player of the Year.

    Ella Gunderson, San Ramon Valley, 5-10, sophomore

    Sophomore sensation poured in 17.2 points per game while adding 6.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists on average. Led the Wolves to North Coast Section Open Division championship and CIF NorCal Open Division regional semifinals. EBAL Player of the Year. 

    Maliya Hunter, Archbishop Mitty, 6-2, freshman

    Freshman named West Catholic Athletic League Player of the Year averaged 10.6 points per game to go along with 5.0 rebounds. Anchored Monarchs to CIF Open Division title game appearance after season-ending injury to reigning Bay Area News Group player of the year McKenna Woliczko. 

    Archbishop Mitty’s Maliya Hunter (23) was the WCAL player of the year(Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) 

    Jhai Johnson, Oakland Tech, 6-3, junior

    Junior forward averaged 17.7 points per game while leading the Bulldogs to the Oakland Athletic League championship, winning league MVP in the process. Crossed the 1,000-point threshold for her career in February. Scored 42 points and added 22 rebounds and five steals in a win over McNair-Stockton in December.  

    Alyssa Rudd, San Ramon Valley, 5-8, junior

    Junior transfer from crosstown Monte Vista played a key role in maintaining excellence at SRV one year after the Wolves lost three Division I players from the 2024 NCS Open Division runners-up. Averaged 14.8 points and 9.9 rebounds per game.

    Jenelle Solis, Piedmont, 5-3, freshman

    Freshman phenom averaged 17.6 points per game plus 6.3 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.7 steals. Shot 45% from the field, 40% on 3-pointers and 80% on free throws.  

    Nicole Steiner, Los Gatos, 6-1, senior

    Versatile senior do-everything forward averaged 11.0 points, 11.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 3.0 steals and 1.3 blocks per game. Holds the Wildcats’ school records for points, rebounds, assists, and blocks in a game, rebounds in a season, and points, rebounds, and blocks in a career. Led Los Gatos to CCS Division I championship in final season. 

    Ze’Ni Patterson, Archbishop Mitty, 5-9, sophomore

    WCAL first-teamer transferred in from Heritage-Brentwood and provided depth scoring punch that Mitty desperately needed after Woliczko’s injury. Averaged 9.1 points per game to go along with 2.3 rebounds. Sophomore provided strong all-around defense to help anchor Mitty’s active full-court pressure scheme. 

    Second team

    Priory’s Ugreat Daniels (12) was an all-around standout for Priory (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) 

    UGreat Daniels, Priory, 6-0, junior

    Much like her first name, Daniels was Priory’s exemplar of greatness all season long. All-around junior forward averaged 11.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game. Led the Panthers to the CCS Open Division bracket and the NorCal Division I quarterfinals, where Priory lost 56-51 in overtime to St. Mary’s-Stockton.  

    Jayla Stokes, Bishop O’Dowd, 5-7, junior

    Stokes was the leading player on a team that advanced to the CIF NorCal Division I championship game. The Dragons beat California and Archbishop Riordan to advance to the final, where they lost to Carondelet. The junior reached 1,000 career points this season and was named the West Alameda County Conference Co-Player of the Year after leading O’Dowd in points, rebounds, steals and deflections.  

    Sofia Kwan, Mills, 5-7, senior

    Kwan finished her high school career with 384 points in her senior season, which ended with a 44-41 loss to Castilleja in the CIF NorCal Division IV quarterfinals. Back-to-back first–team all-Peninsula Athletic League Bay Division awardee averaged 14.1 points per game and 5.1 rebounds per contest. Had five games of over 20 points, including 29 against Santa Cruz.

    Shirina Shi, American-Fremont, 5-4, sophomore

    The sophomore guard – whom some called unstoppable – dominated the Mission Valley Athletic League, winning the most valuable player award while averaging 24.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. The Bay Area News Group athlete of the week for Jan. 6-11 was also named the MVP of the NorCal Invitational Classic Tournament in Santa Cruz.

    Tara Dacic, Archbishop Riordan, 6-3, senior

    The 6-foot-3 senior center was the anchor of a Riordan team that went 19-9 overall and finished second in the WCAL with a record of 8-4. First-team all-WCAL player averaged 12 points per game and eight rebounds per contest. Scored a season-high 25 points against Valley Christian and 22 against St. Francis, adding 10 rebounds against the Lancers.

    Sophia Sanchez, St. Ignatius, 5-4, junior

    Junior guard led Wildcats to a 15-13 overall record and third-place finish in WCAL with 7-5 record. Scored team-high 21 points in win over Valley Christian and 17 points in win over St. Joseph-Notre Dame. First-team all-WCAL selection. 

    Deoujenea Clay, Clayton Valley, 5-4, sophomore

    Clay powered Clayton Valley to a strong season that ended with a 72-65 loss to Redwood in the NCS Division I third-place game. The Ugly Eagles finished 22-9 overall and 11-1 in league play, good enough for second place in the Diablo Athletic League. Scored team-high 21 points in an overtime loss against Piedmont at the Sabrina Ionescu Showcase. 

    Sadie Slaughter, Prospect, 5-10, senior

    High-scoring senior forward guided Prospect to first-ever CCS title with win over Christopher in Division II championship game, pouring in 15 points to lead all scorers. Averaged 18.9 points per game, 8.9 rebounds per contest, 4.2 assists and 2.0 steals per matchup. Blossom Valley Athletic League Mt. Hamilton Division Most Valuable Player.

    Dulci Vail, Acalanes, 6-0, senior

    Acalanes’ leading scorer averaged 15.2 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, adding 1.0 assists on average. The 6-foot forward shot 54% from the field, including 33% from 3-point range, and 74% from the free-throw line. Scored 456 points in her final high school season and will take her talents to Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo in the summer. Diablo Athletic League first-team selection. Scored 1,588 career points with the Dons.

    Maia Jimenez, St. Francis, 5-1, senior

    The 5-foot-1 senior point guard captained the Lancers’ offense with 9.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.4 steals per game. All-WCAL second-teamer led St. Francis to 18-10 overall record, CCS Open Division win over Sacred Heart Cathedral and 62-57 loss to eventual state champion Carondelet in NorCal Division I opening round. 

    Honorable mention

    Acalanes’ Ariana Hallstrom (24) shoots a layup past Cardinal Newman’s Saundra Jordan (21) during their North Coast Section Open Division semifinal game at Acalanes High School in Lafayette, Calif., on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 

    Sofia Addiego, California, senior

    Jazzy Alcantar, Encinal, senior 

    Celeste Alvarez, Carondelet, sophomore

    Eve Amram, Menlo-Atherton, senior

    Kayli Bertand, Cornerstone Christian, sophomore

    Hania Bowes, San Ramon Valley, sophomore

    Kate Brongiel, Granada, senior

    Aastha Bhagat, Evergreen Valley, junior

    Kaycee Carrasco, Christopher, senior 

    Ashley Childers, Los Gatos, senior

    Sophie Chinn, Acalanes, senior

    Simdi Chukwu, Bishop O’Dowd, senior

    Kat Clement, Live Oak, senior

    Devin Cosgriff, Archbishop Mitty, junior

    Delaney Dorwin, Half Moon Bay, senior

    Mikaela Dumagan, Washington-Fremont, senior 

    Madison Eade, Sacred Heart Cathedral, senior

    Clara Fan, Monta Vista, senior

    Jocelyn Figueroa, Cristo Rey-San Jose, senior

    Almbria Gallon, Kennedy-Richmond, senior

    Radhika Garapaty, Notre Dame-San Jose, senior 

    Katherine Garr, Pinewood, senior

    Lulu Giometti, St. Ignatius, freshman

    Madison Gordon, Bishop O’Dowd, senior

    Ariana Hallstrom, Acalanes, senior

    Alana Hernandez, Mountain View, senior

    Zoey Hinkle, Del Mar, junior

    Willow Ishibashi-To, Carlmont, senior

    Cassie Itatani, Pioneer, junior 

    Intrigue Jackson, Skyline, junior

    Juliana Johnson, Alameda, senior

    Vallory Kuelker, Pinewood, senior

    Payton Ladrido, Heritage, sophomore 

    Iwalani Lealao, James Logan, junior

    Gaia Lembo, Dublin, sophomore

    Zoey Lemoge, Half Moon Bay, junior  

    Ruiqi Liu, Menlo School, senior

    Isabella Lo, Harker, senior

    Lara Macian, Westmont, sophomore

    Andrea Martin, Piedmont, freshman

    Tiera McCarthy, Archbishop Mitty, sophomore

    Ali McCauley, Campolindo, senior

    Dexie Medida, Wilcox, senior

    Kaitlyn Mills, San Ramon Valley, freshman

    Eve Monzon, Freedom, senior

    Tallyah Nasol, Archbishop Riordan, sophomore

    Kiara Nitao, Hillsdale, junior 

    Kenedi Nomura, Valley Christian, junior

    Ellie Ortega, Moreau Catholic, junior

    Luciana Ortiz, Fremont-Sunnyvale, senior

    Vanessa Parilla, Salesian, senior

    Marlee Richard, St. Mary’s-Berkeley, senior

    Morgan Ross, Head-Royce, senior

    Sophia Ross, Carondelet, junior

    Terri’A Russell, Oakland Tech, junior

    Jadee Salvador, Berean Christian, senior

    Maddison Sardelich, Northgate, sophomore

    Janiya Sawyer, Salesian, senior

    Naliyah Sefidi, Monte Vista, sophomore

    Vienn Sheng, Priory, senior

    Gina Shim, Branham, senior

    Sa’rye Starks, Ygnacio Valley, senior 

    Keira Tom, Dougherty Valley, junior

    Jeselle Tu, Andrew Hill, senior

    Dannyae Turner, Pinole Valley, freshman

    Natalia Valerio, Willow Glen, senior

    Antonia Vlahos, Castilleja, senior

    Olivia Wang, Homestead, senior

    Briana Webb, Piedmont, senior

    Alice Wu, Lynbrook, senior

    Patricia Wu, Mission San Jose, senior   

    Lauren Yee, California, senior

    Coach of the Year

    John Cristiano, San Ramon Valley

    San Ramon Valley girls basketball head coach John Cristiano led the Wolves to the NCS Open Division title (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) 

    One year after losing Division I players Sofia Bowes, Sierra Chambers and Avery Knapp, plus its other two starters, all San Ramon Valley did was retool on the fly and win the North Coast Section Open Division championship with a stunning 76-43 blowout of Acalanes. The Wolves similarly blew out Pinewood 56-32 in the CIF NorCal Open Division first round before falling 69-62 to NorCal Open runner-up Clovis West on the road. Cristiano invoked the Miracle on Ice to inspire his team before its title game win over Acalanes, but SRV played more like the Red Machine – selfless, swift and stellar – all season long. The Wolves finished the 2024-25 season with a 28-4 record and perfect 9-0 mark in league play. SRV was the first-ever public school to win the NCS Open Division crown. The Wolves, who graduated nine players in the 2024 class, did it without a single senior on their roster. It’s not hard to imagine them being even better next year.

    Honorable mention

    Bryan Gardere, Piedmont

    Margaret Gartner, Acalanes

    Sara Quilici Giles, Los Gatos

    Justin Matsu, Mills

    Kelly Sopak, Carondelet

    WHO IS ELIGIBLE AND HOW SELECTIONS ARE MADE

    Athletes eligible for all-Bay Area News Group recognition come from leagues based predominantly in Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. The selections this season were made by the Bay Area News Group’s Darren Sabedra, Joseph Dycus, Nathan Canilao and Christian Babcock.

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