Meet the 2023-24 Sacramento Bee All-Metro Girls Basketball Teams and Players of the Year
Nina Cain can do a little bit of everything with a basketball, and it is her versatility and drive that has made the McClatchy High School junior forward a national recruit.
It’s also a paramount reason why she is The Bee’s Girls Basketball Player of the Year for the 2023-24 season, an honor that goes to a student-athlete who best exemplifies effort, sportsmanship and results.
The 6-foot-1 Cain, who plays guard, forward and center, averaged 23.4 points and 9.6 rebounds to help the Metro League champions stage a spirited run in the playoffs to finish the season 26-6.
Cain missed three of her team’s losses due to concussion protocol, and McClatchy coaches had to hide her jersey and lock the gym doors so she wouldn’t try to sneak in some action. And her best numbers? Her 4.5 grade-point average.
Cain said she takes pride in being a complete student-athlete. She appreciates her studies, loves basketball, loves her teammates and her school. She offers shy responses after games, stressing a desire to excel.
“I’m always trying to be the best that I can be,” she said. “I’m too hard on myself sometimes, but that’s because I care.”
McClatchy coach Jeff Ota does not disagree. He calls his star a “perfectionist” who has profoundly impacted the proud Sacramento City Unified School District program.
“It’s her desire to be great, that’s her main thing,” Ota said. “She’s so focused. She works out seven days a week. She gets hard on herself if she’s not playing up to her standards and I remind her that she’s doing just fine.”
The coach added: “Nina is low key, not a hyper, rah-rah player. She’s a quiet leader and people follow her lead. She makes coaching 90% easier.”
Coach of the Year
Sydney Gatson of Whitney is The Bee’s Coach of the Year after leading the Wildcats of Rocklin to back-to-back CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division II championships. Whitney finished 23-10 and was Bee-ranked fourth all season behind Folsom, McClatchy and Oak Ridge.
Gatson a few years ago contemplated stepping awayfrom coaching after a number of Whitney parents expressed displeasure with her leadership. With the backing of her administration, players and other parents, Gatson weathered that storm, completed her 10th season and doesn’t plan on stepping away any time soon.
Others considered for Coach of the Year included: Jenn Krill of Bear River, Kenny Johnston of Sacramento Adventist, Kim Manlangit of Franklin, Rexanne Simpton of Colfax, who won it last season, and Lynn Wolking of Folsom.
Large School Player of the Year
Harper Peterson of Whitney is The Bee’s Large School Player of the Year, the focal point for the Wildcats’ two section championship seasons. The 6-foot-3 senior forward with guard skills is headed to Stanford on scholarship, a basketball lifer who has inspired scores of young girls in Placer County whom she visits on campus or who come to watch her play.
Peterson averaged 14.4 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.5 blocked shots per game and bows out as her school’s greatest player.
Medium School Player of the Year
Ella Skryzniarz of Vista del Lago is The Bee’s Medium School Player of the Year after leading the Eagles of Folsom to the program’s first section championship, doing so in Division III.
The junior guard averaged 21.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.9 steals for a team that went 23-9, tied Christian Brothers for the Capital Athletic League championship and had the best season in program history since the school opened in 2007.
Small School Player of the Year
Kaia Diederichs of Colfax is The Bee’s Small School Player of the Year, her versatility and relentless drive helping power the storied Falcons to repeat section and Northern California championships. The junior guard averaged 12.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 3.2 steals for the 34-3 Falcons, who for the second consecutive season represented the only girls or boys team in the Sacramento region to reach a state final at Golden 1 Center.
Diederichs has scored more than 100 career goals in soccer, often playing soccer and basketball playoff games on the same day, and she was The Bee’s Defensive Player of the Year in flag football after coming up with a remarkable 34 interceptions in 17 games.
Smallest School Player of the Year
Lauren Harris of Faith Christian in Yuba City is The Bee’s Smallest School Player of the Year after posting big numbers in a big season. The sophomore guard averaged 31.2 points, 13.5 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1.0 blocks for the 26-6 Lions, who returned to a section final after winning their first a year ago.
Able to handle the ball and shoot inside and out, Harris warded off double- and triple-teams in leading her team to a 26-6 season.
Yergernsen wins online poll
Oak Ridge junior guard/forward Liv Yergernsen was the “People’s Choice” for Player of the Year in online voting at sacbee.com. She averaged 15 points for the 26-8 Trojans.
Sacramento Bee 2023-24 Girls All-Metro Teams
Player of the Year
F Nina Cain, McClatchy, Jr.
Large School Player of the Year
F Harper Peterson, Whitney, Sr.
Medium School Player of the Year
G Ella Skryzniarz, Vista del Lago, Jr.
Small School Player of the Year
G Kaia Diederichs, Colfax, Jr.
Smallest School Player of the Year
G Lauren Harris, Faith Christian, So.
Coach of the Year
Sydney Gatson, Whitney
First Team
G Leilani Edinburgh, West Campus, Sr.
G Aleyah Harmon, Christian Brothers, Jr.
F Kamryn Mafua, Folsom, Sr.
F Haley Smith, Liberty Ranch, So.
G Liv Yergernsen, Oak Ridge, Jr.
G Ella Uriarte, Folsom, Sr.
Second Team
G Norret Lewis, McClatchy, Jr.
G Jamiah Fontenberry, Inderkum, Jr.
G Samaya Dillard, Grant, Sr.
G Sophia Mindermann, Folsom, Jr.
G Maya Hodge, Lincoln, Sr.
C Juliette James, Colfax, Jr.
Third Team
G La Ne Dunn, Sacramento, Jr.
G Krissy Kelly, Bear River, Sr.
G Tylie Kitchen, Whitney, Sr.
G Ryan Nair, Woodcreek, Jr.
G Sammy Schuler, Whitney, Sr
F Michelle Rice, Antelope, Sr.
Fourth Team
G Jess Crannell, Oak Ridge, Sr.
F Olivia Gill, Pioneer, Sr.
G Laurlyn Massick, Colfax, Jr.
G Brooklyn Nordquist, Ponderosa, Jr.
G Isabel Tan, Cosumnes Oaks, Sr.
G Ysabella Von Seipler, Del Oro, Jr.
Fifth Team
G Isabella Azzoilino, Antelope, Sr.
G Jade Biitner, Colfax, Sr.
G Bria McGahan, St. Francis, Sr.
G Kate Myers, Pleasant Grove, So.
G Olivia Novi, Christian Brothers, Fr.
F Jada Tupou, Folsom, Jr.
G Aaliyah Youngblood, Monterey Trail, Sr.
Sixth Team
F Taryn Cleek, Bear River, Jr.
F Madalyn Sigrist, Colfax, So.
G Janet Donkor, Valley Christian, So.
G Victoria Fowler, Sacramento Adventist, Jr.
G Kacie Shinmoto, Kennedy, Jr.
F Asia Washington, Grant, Fr.
Honorable Mention: Addy Aldrich, Foresthill, Sr.; Jaiden Alexander, Mesa Verde, Fr.; Bailee Broward, Woodland Christian, Fr.; Tasiana Carr, Franklin, So.; Torrence Harter, Sutter, Jr.; Presley Berry, Faith Christian, So.; Demi Boykin, Marysville, Jr.; Mariah Contreras, Valley Christian, Sr.; Kaitlyn Fayter, Oakmont, So.; Breahn Flood, Inderkum, So.; Kyla Friedrich, Sac Adventist, Fr.; Eva Jensen, Bella Vista, So.; Loismary Justice, West Campus, Fr.; Emma Kharchenko, Futures, Jr.; Keziah Maldonado-Lemus, Pioneer, Jr.; Olivia Nicolas, Franklin, Sr.; Joy Omishakin, Christian Brothers, So.; Bella Pallari, Vista del Lago, Jr.; Shaelyn Parry, Del Oro, Sr.; Abigail Pietz, Marysville, So.; Noelle Potratz, El Camino, Sr.; Ayren Rapp, Delta, Jr.; Gwen Rosich, Sac Adventist, So.; Miessah Sagun, Center, Sr.; Caitlin Subejano, Cosumnes Oaks, So.; Lena Tahod, Westlake Charter, Jr.; Ellie Thome, Bella Vista, Jr.; Daisy Throckmorton, McClatchy, So.; Kaela Stancil-Williams, McClatchy, Sr.; Jennifer Wylie, Union Mine, Sr.
THE BEE’S TOP 20
Girls basketball
Final rankings
1. Folsom (26-6)
2. McClatchy (26-7)
3. Oak Ridge (26-8)
4. Whitney (23-10)
5. Colfax (34-3)
6. Antelope (21-9)
7. Vista del Lago (23-9)
8. Christian Brothers (23-7)
9. Grant (23-8)
10. Monterey Trail (17-11)
11. Inderkum (22-7)
12. Lincoln (24-6)
13. Bear River (23-8)
14. Ponderosa (22-8)
15. West Campus (22-8)
16. Rocklin (15-14)
17. Franklin (19-10)
18. Kennedy (17-10)
19. Liberty Ranch (23-6)
20. Marysville (23-5)
Bubble: Cosumnes Oaks (17-12), Sacramento Adventist (26-7), Faith Christian (26-6), Pioneer (25-4), Valley Christian (21-8), Woodland Christian (27-6).
▪ How the teams were picked: The Sacramento Bee All-Metro basketball teams were selected through personal observation, coaches’ nominations and regional media insight from Matthew Bessette, Nick Pecoraro and Scott Tedmon. Team playoff success enhanced a player’s standing.
