Bravo, Ibarra land on ESL top team

Both the Lindsay and Strathmore girls’ basketball teams finished their seasons in postseason play and they were well represented on the All-East Sequoia League team.

Each of the Orange Belt’s smallest schools star players — Lindsay senior Stevi Ibarra and Strathmore sophomore Maribel Bravo — were first-team selections while three Cardinals (senior Cassie Manning, senior Hannah Williams and senior Reggie Alvarado) and a Spartan (sophomore Chelsea Velasquez) were on the second team.

Ibarra led the Cardinals with 10.8 points per game (third in the ESL) and collected six rebounds and 2.4 steals per contest. 

The senior missed a month and a half after a knee injury but helped the Cardinals into the playoffs with 42 points in the last three games heading into their first-round loss to Corcoran. 

Bravo, the only sophomore on the first team, was second in the ESL in scoring 16 points a game (league MVP Tabitha Torres of Corcoran was first with 21). 

The sophomore Spartan was a monster on the glass as well, as she led the league with 10.8 rebounds per game. Bravo scored 28 points against Riverdale and pulled down 17 boards twice in the season. 

Bravo was also first in the ESL in blocks (1.5 BPG) and second in steals (2.6 SPG)

The Spartans’ future appears bright as they have Bravo and Velasquez for two years and have the co-Coach of the Year in Richard Miranda.

Velasquez, who also missed more than a month after a leg injury, finished third in the league with 6.4 boards per game. 

Manning, the Cardinals’ point guard, was second behind Torres with 3.6 assists per game.

Manning averaged seven points per game and scored in double digits for four straight games in January.

Alvarado came on strong toward the end of the season, scoring in double digits in the Cardinals’ three straight wins to get them into the Division IV playoffs for the first time in the senior class’ tenures.

She had 14 in Lindsay’s play-in game victory over Exeter, Feb. 23.

Williams’ high-point total was 12 against Orosi, Jan. 29. 

All-ESL Girls’ Basketball

MVP: Tabitha Torres, junior forward - Corcoran

21 PPG, 7 RPG, 3.4 SPG, 4.1 APG

First Team

G - Ariel Pruitt, senior - Corcoran 

6.9 PPG, 2.1 SPG

G - Priscilla Zepeda, senior - Corcoran

6.6 PPG, 2.1 SPG

G - Stevi Ibarra, senior - Lindsay

10.8 PPG, 6 RPG, 2.4 SPG

F - Erika Haro, junior - Woodlake

C - Maribel Bravo, sophomore - Strathmore

16 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 2.6 SPG, 1.5 BPG

C - Kim Gomez, senior - Corcoran

5.6 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 1.3 BPG

Second Team

PG - Cassie Manning, senior - Lindsay

G - Madison Beck, junior - Woodlake

W - Marina LeFridge, junior - Corcoran

F - Chelsea Velasquez, sophomore - Strathmore

F - Hannah Williams, senior - Lindsay

F - Reggie Alvarado, senior - Lindsay

F - Flor Serna, sophomore - Orosi