Willapa Valley’s Pearson leads local athletes named to AP All-State Basketball lists

After a stellar senior season in which he led the Willapa Valley Vikings to a state-tournament berth, Matt Pearson received more accolades on Wednesday.

The reigning 2B Pacific League MVP was named to the Associated Press All-State First Team after averaging 18.2 points per game this season.

Pearson was joined on the all-state list by four additional Twin Harbors student-athletes.

Elma’s Jalyn Sackrider, who led the Eagles to a sixth-place finish in the state, was named to the 1A girls all-state honorable mention list. The junior center and current 1A Evergreen League MVP averaged 13.6 points per game to lead the Eagles to an impressive 23-4 overall record.

Raymond freshman phenom Kyra Gardner was also named to the All-State team, making the 2B girls squad as an honorable mention. The Seagulls guard, who was named a 2B Pacific League First Team player in February, averaged 18.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 6.5 steals per game this season.

Taholah’s Denise Curley Bear and Nettie Mall were both named to the 1B girls all-state team as honorable mentions.

The complete AP All-State Basketball Boys/Girls Teams are as follows:

BOYS ALL-STATE

State player of the year, all classifications: Anton Watson, sr., Gonzaga Prep.

Player of the Year: Anton Watson, sr., Gonzaga Prep.

First team: Anton Watson, sr., Gonzaga Prep; Jaden McDaniels, sr., Federal Way; Jabe Mullins, jr., Mount Si; Zack Paulsen, sr., Curtis; Colten Northrop, sr., Richland.

Honorable mention: Tari Eason, jr., Federal Way; Ethan Smith, sr., Union.

Player of the Year: Shaw Anderson, sr., Kelso.

First team: Shaw Anderson, sr., Kelso; Paolo Banchero, soph., O’Dea; MarJon Beauchamp, jr., Rainier Beach; RaeQuan Battle, sr., Marysville-Pilchuck; Tyson Degenhart, soph., Mt. Spokane.

Honorable mention: Maurice Barnett, sr., Franklin.

Player of the Year: Clayton Whitman, sr., Lynden.

First team: Clayton Whitman, sr., Lynden; Micah Pollard, sr., Foss; Noah Pepper, soph., Selah; Elijah Pepper, sr., Selah; Steele Venters, sr., Ellensburg.

Honorable mention: Demarco Williams, sr., Renton; Brandton Chatfield, sr., Clarkston; Christian Zamora, sr., Lynden.

Player of the Year: Cole Bajema, sr., Lynden Christian.

First team: Cole Bajema, sr., Lynden Christian; Antonio Salinas, sr., Zillah; Mason Landdeck, soph., Cashmere; Kody Newman, sr., South Whidbey; Hunter Ecklund, jr., La Center.

Honorable mention: Jobi Gelder, jr., Deer Park; Khalfani Cason, sr., King’s Way Christian; Tyler Linhardt, fr., King’s.

Player of the Year: Brock Ravet, sr., Kittitas.

First team: Brock Ravet, sr., Kittitas; Erik Farias, sr., St. George’s; Caleb Harris, sr., Kittitas; Fano Arceo-Hansen, sr. Toledo; Matt Pearson, sr., Willapa Valley.

Honorable mention: Alex Weirth, si., Crosspoint; Issak Ottmar, sr., Liberty (Spangle); Joe Taylor, sr., Brewster; Cade Gebbers, soph., Brewster; Xander Werkman, sr., St. George’s; Carson Cloaninger, sr., Colfax.

Player of the Year: Ross Faber, sr., Sunnyside Christian.

First team: Ross Faber, sr., Sunnyside Christian; Bryan Strom, jr. Yakama Nation; Lucas Dykstra, sr., Sunnyside Christian; Ryan Moffat, jr., Odessa; Bryce Strom, jr. Yakama Nation.

Honorable mention: Maguire Isaak, sr., Almira-Coulee-Hartline; Kash Nichols, sr., Muckleshoot Tribal, Levi Rivera, jr., Riverside Christian; Sean Bitegeko, sr., Neah Bay.

Raymond freshman Kyra Gardner earned an all-state honorable mention after scoring more than 18 points a game this season. (Grays Harbor News Group file photo)

GIRLS ALL-STATE

Player of the Year, all classifications: Oumou Toure, sr., Kamiakin.

Player of the Year: Keeli Burton-Oliver, jr., Eastlake.

First team: Keeli Burton-Oliver, jr., Eastlake; Jordyn Jenkins, jr., Kentridge; Mia Hughes, soph., Woodinville; JaQuaya Miller, sr., Kentride; Jacinta Buckley, sr., Lewis and Clark.

Honorable mention: Ashlee Maldonado, sr., Sunnyside.

Player of the Year: Oumou Toure, sr., Kamiakin.

First team: Oumou Toure, sr., Kamiakin; Brooke Walling, sr., Prairie; Brynna Maxwell, sr., Gig Harbor; Dalayah Daniels, jr., Garfield; Aspyn Adams, sr., Mt. Spokane.

Honorable mention: Cassidy Gardner, sr., Prairie; Jayda Noble, jr., Mt. Spokane; Tiarra Brown, jr., Bethel; Olivia Wickstrom, jr., Bainbridge.

Player of the Year: Beyonce Bea, sr., Washougal.

First team: Beyonce Bea, sr., Washougal; Genesis Wilkinson, sr., East Valley (Spokane); Ashlyn Wallace, soph., Clarkston; Janealle Sutterlict, sr., Wapato; Keylie Hershey, jr., Lynden.

Honorable mention: Madison Cooke, soph., Port Angeles.

Player of the Year: Hailey Van Lith, jr., Cashmere.

First team: Hailey Van Lith, jr., Cashmere; Taylor Stephens, sr., La Center; Isabela Hernandez, sr., Lynden Christian; Julianna Walker, soph., Annie Wright; Trista Hull, soph., La Salle.

Honorable mention: Grace Sterk, sr., Lynden Christian; Jalyn Sackrider, jr., Elma; Irena Korolenko, jr., Cedar Park Christian; Allison Uecker, soph., Naches Valley.

Player of the Year: Talia von Oelhoffen, soph., Tri-Cities Prep.

First team: Talia von Oelhoffen, soph., Tri-Cities Prep; Macie Elliott, sr., Wahkiakum; Erika Glenn; soph., Ilwaco; Kaeley Schultz, fr., Rainier; Maisie Burnham, jr., Liberty (Spangle).

Honorable mention: Justine Benson, jr., La Conner; Kyra Gardner, fr., Raymond.

Player of the Year: Dakota Patchen, sr., Colton.

First team: Dakota Patchen, sr., Colton; Gabi Isaak, sr., Almira-Coulee-Hartline; Maddy Dixon, soph., Pomeroy; Courtney Swan, soph., Neah Bay; Emily Schultheis, sr., Colton.

Honorable mention: Denise Curley Bear, sr., Taholah; Lilli Zimmerman, sr., Naselle; Jenna Andringa, soph., Sunnyside Christian; Jada Liulamaga, soph., Yakama Nation; Ashley VanDam, sr., Grace Academy; Nettie Mall, sr., Taholah.