Willow Glen Resident
Sports
Yoshioka, Rebozzi share the girls MVP award
By Kevin Sparrer
The Most Valuable Player award is saved for only the absolute elite athlete in a league, but what happens when there are two players that prove themselves to be head and shoulders above the crowd?
It's easy--give two awards.
That's just what the girls basketball coaches in the Mt. Hamilton Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League did this year when they named senior guard Kristen Yoshioka of Leland and senior guard Michele Rebozzi of Pioneer as the co-MVPs this winter.
Senior Krista Frausto of Evergreen was named the division's Senior of the Year with Kelly Gregg of Westmont the Junior of the Year, Pioneer forward Mercedes Pardo the Sophomore of the Year and Leigh's Katie Warner the Freshman of the Year.
Senior Meggie Yoshioka and junior Ana Farrington were named first team all-league from Leland, and Pardo was also named to the first team. Senior guard Megan Scheibli of Westmont, senior forward Kelsey Grozier of Gunderson and junior forward Nadia Williams of Santa Teresa was also named to the first team.
Leland also had a pair of players on the second team in sophomore forward Ana Castillo and senior guard Pam Wolfe, along with Rosa Tirado and Desiree Collins of Santa Teresa, Clarissa Diaz of Gunderson, Ronisha Staden of Piedmont Hills and Katie Werner of Leigh.
In the Santa Teresa Division of the BVAL, it was Olivia Larkin of Branham who was the top basketball player. Larkin was named the MVP in the division after scoring 508 points for the Bruins, more than 300 points more than the next highest scorer on her team. Larkin also led Branham with 31 three-pointers, 183 rebounds and 54 assists.
The Senior of the Year award went to Sarah Dagnino of Mt. Pleasant, while the Junior of the Year went to Deandra Perkins of Oak Grove.
Center Jennifer Jasper of Prospect was named the Sophomore of the Year, and forward Tina Dang of Silver Creek won the Freshman of the Year award.
Prospect's Jasper and senior center Shelly Otaguro made the all-league first team along with Willow Glen junior guard Hayley Tharp, Branham senior center Sami Snook, Briana Grant of Oak Grove, Amanda Rivas of Mt. Pleasant and Kathleen De La Cruz of Silver Creek.
Simone Scott of Prospect was named second team all-league. Samantha Tsukiji of Willow Glen was a senior guard named to the second team along with Hailey Andrade of Branham, Myiesha Rhines of Independence, Monica Erezo of Silver Creek, Megan Gulla of Live Oak and Amie Sulaiman of Oak Grove.
In the West Valley Division it was senior center Alex Scoffone of Lincoln who stood above the rest of the competition and was named MVP of the league.
But the competition among the seniors in the league was so strong that guards Kellene Condie of Del Mar and Kim La of Andrew Hill were named co-Seniors of the Year.
Condie led her team this year with 362 points, a full 200 points ahead of the next-best scorer on her team. Condie helped the Dons finish with a 9-5 record, which was good enough for third place in the West Valley Division. It was also her defense that separated Condie from the rest of the group. She led her team with 55 blocks and 74 steals and was second on her team with 174 rebounds.
Trisha Yamaichi of San Jose received the Junior of the Year award, while guard from Sobrato Melissa Cachopo was the Freshman of the Year.
Lincoln had two seniors named first team all-league in forward Whitney Davis and guard Kaylin Mitusmori.
Sophomore forward Ali Quilici of Del Mar was named to the first team.
Junior center Elli Batinich of Del Mar won a place on the all-league second team.
