EYL powerhouses headline 2009 roster
Five Orange Belt girls’ basketball squads appeared in postseason play this season.
But two hovered above the rest.
Porterville (28-3) and Monache (23-7) dueled for the East Yosemite League crown in January and February with the Panthers coming out on top by four and two points in each of the epic showdowns.
The Panthers, who finished as the Valley Division III runner-up to Roosevelt, landed five players on the two All-Orange Belt squads while the Marauders, who had to tangle in Division II, got three players on the teams.
Porterville seniors Alex Shew, the leading scorer among the six-school region, and Noel Garcia, are on the first team.
Shew put the team on her back in the Panthers’ rallies past the Marauders and Redskins, scoring 26 and 30 points, respectively, with Garcia serving as the roster’s designated defensive specialist.
Monache’s Bethany Reed and Devin Short also are on the top team. Short was the third-leading scorer in the region from her post position and Reed led everyone by a wide margin with 5.5 steals per game.
Strathmore’s Maribel Bravo rounds out the first team. She was the driving force on the Spartans’ playoff run.
Three Panthers — Cori Ann Snyder, Stevee Thomas and Kyla Hill — are on the second team.
Hill was one of the top 3-point specialists as was fellow second-teamer Janae Alcantar. Alcantar hit 57 3s on the year.
Lindsay’s Stevi Ibarra is also on the 2009 second team.
All-Orange Belt Girls’ Basketball
First Team
PG - Bethany Reed, junior - Monache
9.1 PPG, 4.7 APG, 5.5 SPG
1st-team All-EYL selection
Leader of Monache’s full-court press; disrupted flow of opposing offenses all season long. Reed led the Orange Belt in steals.
SG - Noel Garcia, senior - Porterville
3 PPG, 2nd-team All-EYL selection
Gets spot due to tenacious defense. The best defender on the Valley runner-up Panthers usually made scoring difficult for opposing guards.
F - Alex Shew, senior - Porterville
18.2 PPG, EYL MVP
Came up big in crunch time all year, was chief reason for Panthers’ trip to Fresno. Led the OB in points and had a knack for getting to the foul line in crucial situations.
PF/C - Maribel Bravo, sophomore - Strathmore
16 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 2.6 SPG, 1.5 BPG
1st-team All-ESL selection
Controlled the glass and could hit shots from mid-range. Led Spartans to the Division V playoffs, while leading the local schools in rebounds also.
C - Devin Short, senior - Monache
14.2 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 1st-team All-EYL selection
Menacing post player commanded double teams in the paint, freeing up Monache’s guards. Her 32 points against Tulare Union were the most in the region this season.
Second Team
PG - Stevee Thomas, senior - Porterville
4 PPG, 2nd-team All-EYL selection
Conductor of Porterville’s precise offense and could hit mid-range jumpers consistently.
SG - Janae Alcantar, freshman - Monache
10.8 PPG, 3.5 SPG, 2 APG
2nd-team All-EYL selection
The lone freshman on this 10-girl squad was Robin to Reed’s Batman in the Marauders’ full-court game. Was Monache’s top 3-point threat as well. Has incredibly bright future ahead.
W - Kyla Hill, junior - Porterville
9.6 PPG
If there was a 3-point shootout for local players, Hill would be the favorite. Hit big 3s all season, including 5 against Hanford West in the Valley semis.
W - Stevi Ibarra, senior - Lindsay
10.9 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 2.7 SPG, 2.6 APG
1st-team All-ESL selection
Helped lead Lindsay back to postseason, scored in double digits in three of the Cardinals’ last four games.
C - Cori Ann Snyder, junior - Porterville
7 PPG, 2nd-team All-EYL selection
Snyder was one of the OB’s top defenders and held her own with Short in each of the in-city showdowns this year.
