Sandia junior named Gatorade Girls Basketball Player of the Year
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The Gatorade New Mexico Girls Basketball Player of the Year award was announced on Thursday. This year the honor went to Sandia junior Sydney Benally.
Benally played a crucial role in the Matadors run into the state tournament. At the time of her selection, the talented combo-guard averaged 20.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 3.4 steals per game through 28 games. She also shot 54.2% from the floor and 42 % from beyond and was named the district 2 co-player of the year.
“Just coming in eight grade, watching high school basketball, my dream playing on that Pit floor, and now my junior year having so many supporters and my family being able to watch me, it’s a blessing,” said Benally. “Joining the legacy, I’m above all happy to not only be nominated, but being named is a blessing.”
In the classroom, Benally has maintained a 3.97 GPA. She is the third player from Sandia to win the award.
