Athena Tomlinson stands tall as The Bee’s Player of the Year for a second straight year
Athena Tomlinson guided and spearheaded the Clovis West girls basketball team this past season.
Whether it’s by shooting or even guarding, Tomlinson made her mark on the basketball court.
That is why it was a joy for Golden Eagles coach Craig Campbell to coach Tomlinson for the past several years.
“She’s obviously a very dynamic player, but I think beyond her skills on the court, she’s a quality person,” he said.
“You’re talking about a very high achieving academic kid, a 4.34 GPA. Taking AP classes. Very diligent student. Showing our kids it’s important to be a champion on the floor and off. We’re on road trips, we’re in Hawaii, we’re going through a scouting report and she’s doing homework. It sets the tone of those younger kids that this isn’t just about what you do out here. It’s what you do beyond.”
Tomlinson helped lead the Golden Eagles to a Tri-River Athletic Conference title and another Central Section Division I title.
Tomlinson is named The Bee’s Player of the Year for a second straight season.
“It’s a great feeling honestly, just knowing all the work I put in,” she said. “All my four years here and especially my senior year, it’s very rewarding to see that hard work paid off.”
Section historian Bob Barnett said Tomlinson finished with 1,747 career points - the second best in school history and finished this past season with 657 points (third best in school history) and made 89 3-pointers for the season (fourth best).
Tomlinson will be headed to Boston College next season.
Coach of the Year: Anna Almeida, Caruthers
When told that she was named Coach of the Year, Almeida couldn’t believe it.
She felt other coaches were just as deserving.
“Just to be even considered is a huge honor,” she said. “Like insane. To be considered one of the top coaches in the valley is crazy. To actually get it is wild.”
It’s understandable how she feels after her team won a CIF Division III state title after a 54-48 victory over Granada Hills Chargers.
While Caruthers didn’t win a section title, Almeida gathered her team and felt confident that her team could make noise in the state playoffs.
The Blue Raiders did that and then some behind Almeida’s leadership.
Caruthers put on an impressive run in the regional playoffs that included a win over Central.
Juliana Lemus said playing for Almeida brings out the best in herself and teammates.
“She expects you to put all your everything in it,” she said. “She expects a lot from you. Just everyone has to play as hard as as they can and she expects a lot from everyone.”
Reflecting back, Almeida said her team was more of an extended family.
She’s been with most of the players since they were playing basketball at a young age.
“It felt like a big family,” she said. “Felt like I had 15 daughters. It was growing and learning and we’re so young and we all had to get to know each other and we really did grow together. We capped it off with a state championship, proving that they all grew up together. We literally watched them grew right before our eyes.”
Large School Player of the Year: G/F Milly Rojas, Soph., Monache
She helped the Marauders to a Division II section title.
Rojas finished the season averaging 12.8 points per game and also had 5.9 rebounds per game to lead Monache to a 31-3 record.
She was also named the East Yosemite League Most Valuable Player.
Medium School Player of the Year: G/F Sienna Evans, Jr., San Joaquin Memorial
Evans guided the Panthers to a County/Metro Athletic Conference title, finishing with a 10-0 record.
She average 20.0 points per game and also had 4.1 rebounds per game and 3.2 points per game.
Memorial finished the season 19-8.
She was named the CMAC Most Valuable Player.
Small School Player of the Year: F Jaylee Moore, Frosh., Caruthers
The Blue Raiders can look to Moore for coming through. She did everything, including in the state title game.
Moore had 22 points and 16 rebounds in the state title win in Sacramento.
She was named the Northwest Sequoia League Most Valuable Player.
Bee All-Stars
G Gizelle Aguirre, Sr., Caruthers
G/F Emmi Almeida, Soph., Caruthers
G/F Shelley Andrade, Soph, Monache
G Alexis Alvarado, Jr., Fowler
F Apajok Ayuen, Soph, Sierra Pacific
G Sidney Azua, Sr., Immanuel
G Kyah Barlett, Soph, Monache
G/F Jaelyn Bourdeau, Jr., Coalinga
G Deziree Chavez, Soph., Orosi
G/F Raquel Cortez, Sr., Reedley
F Kamarin Holm, Sr., Reedley
G Alexis Ibarra, Sr., Strathmore
G Asia Jackson, Jr., Sierra Pacific
G Lael Jacobs, Sr., Kings Christian
C/F Mikayla King, Jr., Edison
G Natalie Membreno, Soph., Mendota
G Rhynne Mitchell, Sr., Madera
W Melanie Navarro, Jr, Lindsay
G Bethany Oliva, Sr., Mendota
G Aloni Oliver, Sr., Buchanan
G/F Isha Panu, Sr., Selma
G Alexa Perryman, Jr., San Joaquin Memorial
G Vanna Quintana, Sr, Buchanan
G Gabby Ramos, Jr., Clovis East
G Keytonna Ross, Sr., Central
G Emilee Santos, Sr., Corcoran
G Jazmaine Stewart, Soph., Farmersville
F Krista Shaeffer, Sr., Sanger
G Kenyah Stubbs, Sr., Hanford
G Sadie Sin, Soph., Clovis
G Ariyah Smith, Sr., Clovis West
G Riley Walls, Jr., Clovis West
G Caris Williams, Jr., Bullard
G Melissa Zapata, Sr., Firebaugh
