Kennedy's Sophia Carley named 2A Player of the Year
For the third time in five years, the Kennedy girls basketball program cemented itself as the top 2A team in the state following the conclusion of the 2019-20 winter athletic season.
And for two of those championship seasons, Sophia Carley was recognized by 2A coaches as the top student-athlete in the classification, wrapping up her high school basketball career with 2A Player of the Year honors.
Carley was one of four representatives from the state champion Kennedy Trojans who were honored in the annual All-State voting, joining junior teammate Ellie Cantu on the First Team in addition to Coaches of the Year Kerry and Peter Hall.
Carley and Cantu were further joined by a pair of siblings from the Tri-River Conference rival Gervais Cougars — Isabel and Araceli Vasquez — who were selected for the 2A All-State Third Team.
Carley's award marks the second consecutive season the Kennedy senior was named the top 2A player in the state in her sport. She was named 2019 2A Volleyball Player of the Year in November for helping the Trojans win the state volleyball championship.
Carley was likewise named 2A Player of the Year in basketball two years ago when she led the Trojans to the 2018 title as a sophomore. This year, the senior post was even better, averaging a robust 20 points, nine rebounds and three blocks per contest to lead Kennedy to a 26-4 record.
She nearly matched those numbers exactly in the state quarterfinal tournament, with 20.3 points on 56 percent shooting to pair with a tournament-high 10.7 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game.
Cantu, her frontcourt teammate, ripped off strong season of her own, tallying 12.5 points and seven rebounds a game for the Trojans. Cantu put up 13 points per game in the quarterfinal bracket — fourth-best at the tournament — and averaging 7.7 free throw attempts, hitting 78.3 percent.
Head coaches Kerry and Peter Hall earned their third 2A Coach of the Year awards, adding to their 2016 and 2018 honors.
The Vasquez sisters made the All-State Third Team after guiding Gervais to its first state quarterfinal appearance since the 1994-95 season. Isabel Vasquez, a senior, averaged 7.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.4 steals and 1.5 assists for a Gervais team that went 23-6 and was second among 2A teams in total points allowed (854). She was named to the All-Tournament team after the Cougars' exit in the state quarterfinals after two games.
Araceli Vasquez, Gervais' junior point guard, led the Cougars in scoring at 12.8 points per game. She also contributed a team-high 1.5 made 3-pointers per contest to go along with 2.1 steals, 1.1 blocks, 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game.
2019-20 2A GIRLS BASKETBALL ALL-STATE TEAM
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Sophia Carley, 12, Kennedy
COACHES OF THE YEAR
Kerry and Peter Hall, Kennedy
FIRST TEAM
Sophia Carley, 12, Kennedy
Ellie Cantu, 11, Kennedy
Morgan Baird, 12, Coquille
Mirtha Lopez, 12, Monroe
Callie Glenn, 10, Union
Traylyn Arana, 12, Bandon
SECOND TEAM
Olivia Leslie, 12, Nestucca
Angela Taylor, 12, Lost River
Sydney Wilson, 11, Heppner
Brooklyn Walter, 10, Vernonia
Ryleigh Nofziger, 10, Central Linn
THIRD TEAM
Isabel Vasquez, 12, Gervais
Araceli Vasquez, 11, Gervais
Ashley Strain, 12, Bandon
Nyah Tejada, 10, Union
Ashlyn Gray, 12, Enterprise
HONORABLE MENTION
Drew Wilson, 11, Coquille
Mahala Fisher, 12, Toledo
Eduarda Reolon, 12, Bandon
Maya Rowland, 9, Central Linn
Jordan Walters, 12, Vernonia
Emilee Owen, 12, Mannahouse Christian
Brianna Kohr, 12, Union
Izzy Steerman, 11, Faith Bible
Lily Persons, 12, Regis
Damary Ramon, 12, Lost River
Kendra Hart, 12, Stanfield
McKenzie Dodge, 12, Santiam
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