ST. GEORGE – Snow Canyon senior forward Shaylee Reed was picked by the region coaches as Player of the Year Friday as the girls basketball all-region teams for Region 9 were announced.
The teams were selected by the Region 9 coaches, who were not allowed to vote for their own players. Reed led her team to a 24-2 record, including 9-1 in region play, and the Utah 3A State Championship.
Reed averaged 12.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game this year. She was instrumental in helping to direct Snow Canyon’s offense out of the high post.
“It’s obvious from this list that there are some great basketball players in our region,” said Snow Canyon head coach Dan Roden. “There’s no doubt Region 9 is the best in 3A.”
In the state tournament, Reed elevated her game, averaging 22 points and scoring 27 in the championship to garner the 3A tournament MVP award.
The All-Region 9 first team consisted of Madison Mooring from Snow Canyon, Tayvia Ah Quin from Pine View, Courtney Morley from Cedar, Ashley Beckstrand from Desert Hills and Taylor Anderson from Hurricane.
Mooring led the Warriors in scoring at 15.6 ppg. On a team full of ball handlers, she played the biggest role in starting the SCHS offense.
“The MVP race between Shaylee Reed and Madison Mooring was extremely close,” said Roden. “In my mind, there’s not a way to separate them. They’re co-MVPs because without either of them we don’t win the state championship.”
Mooring was also selected to the Utah 3A All-Tournament team.
Ah Quin led the Panthers in scoring (12.3) and rebounding (7.6). She led a team, saddled early in the season with injuries, all the way to the semifinals, where the Panthers were ousted by eventual champion Snow Canyon.
“Tayvia Ah Quin came to play every night,” said Panther head coach Chris Brinagh. “She was the main target for opposing defenses and had to play her best to keep our team strong. I look forward to seeing her career continue at Dixie State.”
Ah Quin was also selected to the 3A All-Tournament team.
Morley led a very diverse Cedar team in scoring (13.6 ppg). Morley led Cedar to the state championship game. She is one of the few players who can match her inside post game with deadly outside shooting.
Morley also was selected to the All-Tournament team.
Beckstrand is the sole underclassman on the first team and led the region in scoring at 24.3 ppg. She scored 39 points and pulled down nine rebounds in Desert Hills’ overtime loss to Stansbury in the tournament.
“Ashley Beckstrand is arguably one of the best players in the state of Utah,” said Desert Hills head coach Ron Denos. “There are few facets of the game she has not mastered. I look forward to having her one more year.”
Taylor Anderson led Hurricane in scoring (10.0 ppg). She guided the Tigers to an 8-14 record.
“Taylor Anderson is always seeking to improve her game,” said Hurricane head coach Franci Homer. “I gave her a list of things to work on last summer and she worked on everything. She has been a great example of how working in the off-season can really make a difference during the season.”
The second team was comprised of Jessica Whetman (7.9 ppg) of Cedar, Kylie Williams (8.3 ppg) of Desert Hills, Nikenna Durante (6.3 ppg) and Sidney Bott (7.6 ppg) of Snow Canyon and Kelsea Barker from Dixie. Whetman also received 3A All-Tournament honors.
Barker is the sole underclassman on the second team and led the Flyers in scoring at 12.8 ppg.
“In a region full of great teams this year, I was fortunate to work with a great player in Kelsea Barker,” said Dixie head coach Jaime Araiza. “We struggled as a team, but Kelsea played hard every night. I look forward to having her around for another year.”
The third team consisted of Morgan Myers (4.9 ppg) from Cedar, Morgan Huntsman (9.5 ppg) from Hurricane, Natalie Coulam (5.2 ppg) from Snow Canyon and Stefani Gleave (6.8 ppg) and Breanna Moeai (6.6 ppg) from Pine View. Myers and Moeai will both return next year.
In all, Snow Canyon netted five post-season selections. Cedar and Pine View garnered three apiece. Desert Hills and Hurricane had two apiece. Dixie had one. Twelve of the selections were seniors and four were juniors.
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