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To find the best Class 4A high school basketball players in Alaska this season, you can begin and end your search at Dimond High.
Keiahnna Engel and Travis Thompson, a pair of guards for the state-tournament-bound Lynx, were named Players of the Year in a poll of statewide coaches by Alaska Newspapers Inc. "That's a great honor for Dimond to have both," Dimond boys coach Rob Galosich said. "It's great to keep it in the family." Not so great is the fact the Lynx will play next week's state tournament without Thompson. A 6-foot-1 guard who was the glue to this season's team, Thompson broke his hand in the semifinals of last week's Cook Inlet Conference tournament. He's done for the season. Engel, a 5-foot-9 junior, is a scorer and playmaker who helped the Lynx capture the CIC title. They're the No. 2 seed at the state tournament. Six others also earned Player of the Year honors. All except one -- Jonny Samuelson of King Cove -- play for teams that qualified for next week's state tournaments at Sullivan Arena, which run Monday through Wednesday for Class 4A and 3A and Thursday through Saturday for Class 2A and 1A. Players of the yearNamed by Alaska Newspapers Inc.Class 4A boys — Travis Thompson, DimondClass 3A boys — Keiahnna Engel, DimondClass 3A boys — Jeremy Head, NomeClass 3A girls — Debbiey Simmers, ACSClass 2A boys — Adam Sage, Point Hope Class 2A girls — Jessica Williams, NoorvikClass 1A boys — Jonny Samuelson, King CoveClass 1A girls — Jo-Jo Nashookpuk, Alak Alaska Newspapers Inc./Alaska Coaches All-State Basketball TeamsClass 1A girlsPlayer of the Year — Jo-Jo Nashookpuk, AlakCoach of the Year — Jerry Carroll, Fort YukonFIRST TEAMJo-Jo Nashookpuk, Alak; Jessica Schneider, Akiachak; Julie Ann Reed, Kiana; Cierra Robustellini, Port Lions; Heather Saccheus, Shaktoolik.SECOND TEAMSheralyn Sockpealuk, Golovin; Stephanie Wong, Atqasuk; Chelsea Kasayulie, Akiachak; Molly Nassuk, Koyuk; Jayde Sheldon, Kobuk Valley.THIRD TEAMBridgette Ahkivgak, Atqasuk; Doris Adams, Koyuk; Michelle Saccheus, Shaktoolik; Katie Strong, Port Lions; Kandace Carroll, Fort Yukon.HONORABLE MENTIONBeth Alexander, Minto; Brittannee Erhart, Tanana; Francine Larsen, Napaskiak; Stacey Panruk, Chefornak.Class 1A Boys Player of the Year — Jonny Samuelson, King CoveCoach of the Year — Bob Rychnovsky, NewhalenFIRST TEAMJonny Samuelson, King Cove; Swenson Tocktoo, Brevig Mission; Coplain Roby, Sand Point; Jack Williams, Anaktuvak Pass; Robert Clay, Newhalen.SECOND TEAMBrad Reich, Kiana; Brandon Smith, Sand Point; Travis Tunguing, Kolikginek; Donovan Nungasak, Atqasuk; Oscar Takak Jr., Elim.THIRD TEAMMathew Askoak, Newhalen; George Okbaok, Teller; Chadwick Kapotak, New Stuyahok; Gerald Cleveland, Kobuk Valley; Frank Amaktoolik, Golovin.HONORABLE MENTIONSimon Aguvluk, Alak; Travis Andrew, Napaskiak; Tyler Anelon, Newhalen; Jordan Hamilton, King Cove; George John, Toksook Bay; Simeon Kunaknana, Anaktuvak Pass; Peter Walcott, New Stuyahok.Class 2A Girls Player of the Year — Jessica Williams, NoorvikCoach of the Year — Lara Labesky, SkagwayFIRST TEAMJessica Williams, Noorvik; Mary Olson, Chevak; Katrina Fraker, Yakutat; Jesse Ellis, Skagway; Whitney Carlos, Togiak.SECOND TEAMChelsea Lake, Chevak; Kayla O’Daniel, Skagway; Donna Nash, Point Hope; Ellen Esbenshade, Yakutat; Joanne Semaken, Unalakleet.THIRD TEAM Amie Smithwick, Cook Inlet Academy; Martha Ticket, Selawik; Erin Zibell, Noorvik; Katherine Albert, Northway; Brianna Kirk, Noatak.HONORABLE MENTIONAmber Atchak, Stebbins; Maggie Beans, St. Marys; Tina Esbenshade, Yakutat; Windy Gore, Tri-Valley; Frieda Grierson, Shishmaref; Shannon Hosken, Effie Kokrine; Michelle Lane, Point Hope; Susie Lee, Buckland; Rory Leaverton, Skagway; Marceline Lee, Selawik; Lindsey Rohr, Ninilchik; Heather Sinnok, Shishmaref.Class 2A BoysPlayer of the Year — Adam Sage, Point HopeCoach of the Year — John Carle, HydaburgFIRST TEAMAdam Sage, Point Hope; Pete Katongan, Unalakleet; Brett Kirk, Noatak; Ebrulik Frankson, Point Hope; Larry Jones, Selawik.SECOND TEAMZach Lane, Point Hope; Miizuk Nayokpuk, Shishmaref; Danny Wells, Noorvik; Clint Ivers, Yakutat; Brad Reich, Kiana.THIRD TEAMThomas Etue, Skagway; Jesse Hadley, Buckland; Rick Carle, Klawock; Adam Dolan, Kake; Stuart Towarak, Unalakleet.HONORABLE MENTIONSam Bennett, Ninilchik; Kaden Carle, Hydaburg; Conor Ferguson, Chevak; Leo Huntington, Effrie Kokrine; Dion Jackson, Klawock; Jefferson Klapak, Ninilchik; Andrew Talerico, Tri-Valley; Jaxon Wassillie, Bristol Bay.Class 3A Girls Player of the Year — Debbiey Simmers, Anchorage ChristianCoach of the Year — Ryan Meyers, BarrowFIRST TEAMDebbiey Simmers, Anchorage Christian; Jubilee Sutherland, Glennallen; Kathryn Medinger, Sitka; Kaitlyn Auble, Valdez; Jenna Buchanon, Galena.SECOND TEAMNicole Pingayok, Mt. Edgecumbe; Lainey Beaver, Mt. Edgecumbe; Chantell Bennett, Anchorage Christian; Teal Webber, Cordova; Kivvaq Nungasak, Barrow.THIRD TEAMJustine Chapman, Sitka; Misa Webber, Cordova; Emily Draper, Seward; Karly Madren, Anchorage Christian; Kristin Smeaton, Dillingham.HONORABLE MENTIONKarimae Carlson, Sitka; Chelsey Clarke, Seward; Sydnee Falkner, Glennallen; Holly Ganser, Seward; Morgan Falter, Petersburg; Christina Fields, Mt. Edgecumbe; Devynn Johnson, Nome; Abbie Jones, Haines; Kira Polk, Bethel; Alicia Mendez, Monroe Catholic; Echo Winfrey, Hutchison.Class 3A Boys Player of the Year — Jeremy Head, NomeCoach of the Year — Jeremy Arnhart, BarrowFIRST TEAMJeremy Head, Nome; Kyle Fossman, Haines; Jeremiah Ridgeway, Heritage Christian; Tyler Adams, Barrow; Kevin Rima, Hutchison.SECOND TEAMRon Fancher, Grace Christian; Amos Vreeman, Heritage Christian; Wayne Holmberg, Galena; Devonte Sparrow, Eielson; Herbert Guthrie, Metlakatla.THIRD TEAMAndrew Buchanan, Seward; Christian Brockert, Cordova; Brodie Smith, Bethel; Albert Gerke, Barrow; Jonathan Millar, Heritage Christian.HONORABLE MENTIONCaleb Davis, Grace Christian; Mason Evans, Nome; Josh Lorence, Glennallen; Cameron Lynch, Unalaska; Keenan Mays, Hutchison; Dane Meyer, Cordova; Jakob Pulsiefer, Eielson; Tim Sullivan, Nome; Daniel Thomas, Barrow; Victor Unutoa, Barrow; Brando Wik, Nikiski.Class 4A GirlsPlayer of the Year — Keiahnna Engel, Dimond.Coach of the Year — Tim Helvey, West.FIRST TEAMKeiahnna Engel, Dimond; Brittany Fenumiai, Juneau-Douglas; Crystal Blair, Ketchikan; Adrina Lavern-Tosi, West; Kelsie Cottle, Wasilla.SECOND TEAMTaylor Larson, Juneau-Douglas; Tessla Rennie, West; Alexis Edwardson, Ketchikan; Kaitlyn Klapperich, Colony; Karen Senette, Soldotna.THIRD TEAMEmily Watzke, Chugiak; Karli Brakes, Juneau-Douglas; Annette Highley, Juneau-Douglas; Lexi Sayer, Chugiak; Alex Brewster, South.HONORABLE MENTIONSymphony Bagsby, Dimond; Celeste Colegrove, Wasilla; Joanna Garcia, Kodiak; Alyssa Hutchins, Colony; Hannah Mattson, West Valley; Ashleigh Owens, East; Kathleen Reno, Ketchikan; Rachel Schoenborn, East.Class 4A Boys Player of the Year — Travis Thompson, DimondCoach of the Year — Rob Galosich, DimondFIRST TEAMTravis Thompson, Dimond; Devon Bookert, West; Damon Sherman-Newsome, Bartlett; Justin Kauffman, West; John Palmer, Colony.SECOND TEAMTom Feeney, West; Jeff Whicker, Ketchikan; Cody Grussendorf, Thunder Mountain; Juwan Harris, East; Cody Pfeifer, Wasilla.THIRD TEAMJesse Ward, North Pole; Ryden Hines, Dimond; Stefan Johnson, East; Conner Devine, Wasilla; Dustin Theis, Chugiak.HONORABLE MENTIONA.J. Banks, East; Kody Broderick, North Pole; Tyller Bell, Ketchikan; Boomer Blossom, Soldotna; Blaine Carver, Soldotna; Alex DeRocher, Juneau-Douglas; Adam Klie, Service; Malik King, Bartlett; Keith Mays, Lathrop; Colby Mitchell, Chugiak; Kyle Titus, Palmer.