CLICK HERE if you are having a problem viewing the photos on a mobile device.
Player of the year
Ashley Hiraki, Archbishop Mitty, 5-7, senior
The Cal State Northridge-bound point guard embraced a leadership role as the only senior in the starting lineup for the California Interscholastic Federation NorCal Open Division champion. She led the Monarchs in scoring and steals as the team never lost to an opponent from Northern California and finished No. 2 in the nation according to MaxPreps. Hiraki, the West Catholic Athletic League player of the year, averaged 12.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 3.4 steals. A freshman on the 2017 state runner-up squad for Mitty, she booked a return trip to Golden 1 Center in Sacramento before coronavirus concerns canceled the CIF finals. Full story here.
First team
Anya Choice, Cardinal Newman, 5-8, senior
Undeniably, the most prolific player on this list. The UC Santa Barbara-bound guard could barely be contained to the tune of 24.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 2.3 steals per game. Her punctuation performance came during the North Coast Section Open Division semifinals — 43 points on eight 3-pointers, along with six rebounds, six steals and three assists in a 64-59 triumph over Salesian. Foul trouble limited her output in an NCS Open Division title game loss to St. Joseph Notre Dame, while in the CIF NorCal Open Division semifinals Mitty held her to two points in the first half.
Kennedy Johnson, Bishop O’Dowd, 6-0, junior
Player of the year in the West Alameda County Conference Foothill Division. Athletic forward scored 19 points in 57-50 win over Miramonte in first round of NCS Open Division playoffs. Had 17 points and six rebounds in 62-60 win over Salesian in CIF NorCal Division I final. Dragons were supposed to play Rosary Academy-Fullerton in rematch of last year’s state final. Johnson has several offers, including San Jose State, USF and UC Santa Barbara, according to WBBBlog.com.
Makena Mastora, St. Joseph Notre Dame, 5-9 junior
The most valuable player in the East Division of the Bay Counties League, Mastora helped ignite the Pilots to the championship in the inaugural NCS Open Division bracket, then to the final in the CIF NorCal Open regional — a historic run for the Alameda private school. Exceptionally quick and dribbles through traffic with ease. She scored 12 points to lead a balanced attack when SJND defeated Clovis West 53-47 in a regional semifinal.
Mia Mastrov, Miramonte, 5-11, junior
Standout defender — and scorer — helped lead Miramonte to the first NCS Open Division playoffs, then the quarterfinals of the CIF NorCal Division I regional. Pac-12 level recruit averaged 15.1 points, 5.6 rebounds 4.1 assists and 3.1 steals per game. Also shot 77 percent from the foul line for a team that finished 23-6. In a victory at Pinewood at the end of the regular season, she led the Mats with 16 points.
Abigail Muse, Heritage, 6-2, senior
The Boise State-bound post caused headaches for opposing teams. MVP of the Bay Valley Athletic League averaged 14.2 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.9 blocks and 2.1 steals. She produced a rare 20-20 performance with 24 points and 20 rebounds in a 67-60 win over California. Muse also had 19 points and 21 rebounds in a 55-48 victory over Lynwood.
Stephanie Okowi, Oakland Tech, 5-11, senior
Okowi nearly averaged a double-double, as the forward contributed 12.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2.1 blocks and 2.1 steals per game. She was brilliant in a 57-41 victory over Clovis in the CIF NorCal Division II championship game, tying a career-high with 28 points to go along with 17 rebounds and five blocks. Helped Oakland Tech qualify for back-to-back state finals after claiming the CIF Division IV title as a junior.
Olivia Williams, Archbishop Mitty, 6-1, junior
Length and athleticism allow Williams to play not only as a guard and forward, but can also take turns at center. She averaged 12.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.8 steals while reaching double figures in scoring during Mitty’s victories over Cardinal Newman and St. Joseph Notre Dame in CIF NorCal Open Division playoffs. Williams announced her commitment to UC Irvine on March 20.
Second team
Natalia Ackerman, Aptos, 6-1, senior
The Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo-bound forward/center led the Mariners to back-to-back CCS Division III titles. Ackerman averaged 19.1 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists 3.1 steals and 2.2 blocks per game, posting 18 double-doubles along the way. The all-time leading scorer in program history is MVP of the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League.
Annika Decker, Pinewood, 5-4, junior
With a low center of gravity and able to singlehandedly break a full-court press, the MVP of the West Bay Athletic League averaged 10.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.0 steals for a team that was coming off back-to-back NorCal Open Division titles. This year’s state playoff run ended against Salesian in the Division I semifinals.
Silivia Fonongaloa, Salesian, 6-1, sophomore
If anyone had big shoes to fill, consider Fonongaloa. A year ago the Pride relied on 6-5 center Angel Jackson, now at USC. Her successor is four inches smaller but still dominated the paint as Fonongaloa led Salesian with 11.2 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. Coach Stephen Pezzola considered Fonongaloa the team’s MVP.
Lexie Givens, Alameda, 6-0, senior
Led the Hornets with 21.1 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game (stats through 22 games) en route to the NCS Division II title. Senior forward had at least 11 double-doubles, while also averaging 2.7 assists and 2.8 steals. Regarded by norcalpreps.com as an under-the-radar recruit with a strong outside shot and ability to rebound.
Avery Lee, Menlo School, 5-8, junior
Led the reigning CIF Division II state champions in scoring at 14.2 per game. Also averaged a team-high 3.2 assists and 3.0 steals, to go with 4.5 rebounds, leading the Knights to the CCS Open Division semifinals and quarterfinals of the CIF NorCal Division I regional. Menlo was the first school to withdraw because of coronavirus concerns.
Tameiya Sadler, St. Patrick-St. Vincent, 5-8, senior
The future point guard at Washington received MVP honors in the Tri-County Athletic League Rock Division. Through the team’s first 27 games, Sadler averaged 17.6 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 6.2 steals and 2.2 blocks per game. She had 22 points, eight rebounds and nine steals in NCS Division IV first-round game against Del Norte.
Katie Springs, Archbishop Mitty, 6-1, junior
A member of Mitty’s strong junior class that also included the aforementioned Olivia Williams, plus Amelia Scharpf, Sydney Bourland, Hunter Hernandez and Marley Langi — each at least 5 feet, 10 inches tall. That length and size allowed the Monarchs to tower over opponents, with Springs the leading rebounder of the bunch. She averaged 8.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.5 steals in less than 20 minutes per game.
Third team
Jordan Allred, Miramonte, 5-8, junior
Idaho commit averaged 16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 3.3 steals per game for a team that won 23 games and reached the quarterfinals of the CIF NorCal Division I regional. Was dangerous from beyond the 3-point arc and skilled enough to drive to the basket with either hand.
Alexsandra Alvarado, Salesian, 5-6, junior
A steadying presence at point guard averaged 9.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.9 steals for a squad that twice avenged last year’s NorCal Open Division championship game loss to Pinewood. But Salesian again finished as a NorCal runner-up, this time falling to Bishop O’Dowd by two points in the Division I final.
Amaya Bonner, Bishop O’Dowd, 6-0, sophomore
Athletic guard/wing used her length and smooth strides in transition to help the Dragons repeat as CIF NorCal Division I regional champions. In the title game against Salesian, she finished with 16 points, three rebounds and two assists. Didn’t get a chance to play in a second consecutive state final because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Alli Dioli, Half Moon Bay, 5-8, freshman
The third Dioli sister to play for the Cougars, she was named MVP of the Peninsula Athletic League North Division. Led the team with 13.8 points, 3.1 assists and 2.1 steals per game while also averaging 5.8 rebounds. Helped lead HMB to a CCS Division IV title. Dioli’s father, Martin, was a star at St. Ignatius. He played college basketball at Gonzaga.
Talana Lepolo, St. Joseph Notre Dame, 5-7, sophomore
The Pilots’ point guard led her team in assists, averaging over four per game. She also led the team in assists last year as a freshman. Had 10 points and six assists during a two-point loss to Southern California power Sierra Canyon-Chatsworth in December. Already being recruited by Power 5 conference schools, according to Miramonte assistant coach Clay Kallam.
Lydian Li, Lynbrook, 5-6, junior
The Santa Clara Valley Athletic League De Anza Division MVP affected games in multiple ways. The guard averaged 16 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.2 steals per game. Against Los Gatos on Feb. 7, Li had 31 points, eight rebounds and two steals in a 53-50 overtime victory. In her final game, recorded 20 points, eight rebounds and four steals during the first round of the CIF NorCal Division II playoffs
Audrey Moulton, California, 5-9, senior
The fact that Moulton finished with more than twice as many rebounds as anyone else on her team — to go with other impressive statistics — earned her this spot. She averaged 17.0 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 2.9 steals per game — all team-highs. Moulton and Erica Adams formed a dynamic duo as Adams, the league’s MVP, averaged 16.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.3 steals.
Coach of the year
Brian Sato and Shawn Hipol, St. Joseph Notre Dame
This is a little complicated. Hipol stepped away 10 games into his seventh season at St. Joe’s after a dispute over lopsided results in league play. His longtime assistant, Sato, took over. Rather than calling it quits, the girls rallied to not only become the first North Coast Section Open Division champion but finished one game away from the CIF state final. The Pilots lost to Mitty in the NorCal Open final. “They counted us out from the get-go and I think they rode a rollercoaster of emotion,” Sato said after the NorCal Open final. “I think that losing Hip brought them closer together and it built some type of fire and leadership, which was amazing.”
Honorable mention
Erica Adams, California, senior
Ariel Anderson, San Marin, sophomore
Aniyah Augmon, Priory, junior
Christina Bacci, Cardinal Newman, senior
Nina Barry, Valley Christian, senior
Jamie Baum, Los Altos, junior
Audrey Bayston, San Ramon Valley, senior
Sabrina Belquist, Los Gatos, senior
Annie Bonderer, Carondelet, senior
Sydney Bourland, Archbishop Mitty, junior
Amira Brown, Salesian, junior
Chiara Brown, American, senior
Jael Butler, Valley Christian, sophomore
Sierra Cameron, Del Mar, senior
Natalie Craig, Head-Royce, senior
Allie Cummins, Campolindo, freshman
Bineta Diatta, Woodside Priory, junior
Daylee Dunn, Salesian, senior
Aysia Dural, Cardinal Newman, junior
Nya Epps, Sacred Heart Cathedral, sophomore
DeDe Franklin, Eastside College Prep, senior
Maia Garcia, Pinewood, junior
Paige Gerhart, San Ramon Valley, senior
Hannah Golan, Branson, freshman
Adrianne Gomez, Live Oak, senior
Kendra Grant, Dublin, junior
Anna Greenthal, Head-Royce, senior
Kylie Gutierrez, Pacific Bay Christian, senior
Randi Harding, St. Joseph Notre Dame, sophomore
Rachel Harvey, St. Ignatius, senior
Kelly Heimburger, Presentation, senior
Peyton Holcomb, Benicia, freshman
Kylie Horstmeyer, Redwood, junior
Juliane Ivtchenko, Albany, senior
Dulce Jacobo, James Lick, senior
Una Jovanovic, Pinewood, junior
Malia Latu, Menlo-Atherton, junior
Coco Layton, Menlo School, junior
Delphina Leatiota, Mt. Pleasant, senior
Da’Myiah Lewis, Sacred Heart Cathedral, senior
Alysa Lopez, Santa Teresa, sophomore
Gracyn Lovette, Marin Catholic, freshman
Shelley Ly, KIPP San Jose Collegiate, junior
Maeia Makoni, Menlo School, senior
Lydia Manu, Aragon, senior
Carly Martin, Palo Alto, junior
Isabella Mauricio, Amador Valley, junior
Yessenia Mendieta, Redwood, senior
Rose Morse, Las Lomas, junior
Karli Mukai, Leland, senior
Amanda Muse, Heritage, freshman
Sharon Nejad, Menlo School, sophomore
Christine Nguyen, Evergreen Valley, senior
Sophie Nilsson, St. Joseph Notre Dame, senior
McKenna Nolasco, Fremont Christian, sophomore
Emma Nordby, Cardinal Newman, senior
Megan Norris, Sacred Heart Prep, junior
Madison Odam, Willow Glen, senior
Mykala Pakeman, San Leandro, junior
Kayla Rosemon, Saint Mary’s-Berkeley, senior
Jessica Rubio, Cristo Rey, sophomore
Bella Samatua, Silver Creek, senior
Anne Marie Santich, San Ramon Valley, senior
Izzy Sathy Homestead, senior
Amelia Scharpf, Archbishop Mitty, junior
Annabel Schneiberg, Lick-Wilmerding, sophomore
Jordan Smith, Oakland Tech, senior
Bella Stevens, Santa Cruz, sophomore
Denise Stine, Sacred Heart Prep, senior
Ashanti Stricklen, Kennedy-Richmond, senior
Erin Tarasow, Miramonte, senior
Courtni Thompson, Pinewood, junior
Elif Turgut, Palo Alto, junior
Rebecca Welsh, Miramonte, senior
Jaliyah Wiggins, Branson, sophomore
Kendra Wong, Homestead, senior
Maison Yee, Lynbrook, junior
How team was chosen
The Bay Area News Group high school sports staff picked the players.
