Hill, Rosenthal, Thompson named state players of the year
Seniors Connor Hill of Post Falls, Carli Rosenthal of Coeur d'Alene and Cassie Thompson of Timberlake have been named state players of their year in their respective classifications as the all-Idaho high school boys and girls basketball teams were announced Sunday.
Hill earned the 5A boys honor, Rosenthal the 5A girls award and Thompson was honored among the 3A girls.
The Idaho Statesman newspaper of Boise compiles the teams, following voting by coaches statewide.
Hill, a 6-foot-2 guard, averaged 21.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists for Post Falls, which won the consolation title at state. He is considering playing at Washington State or Idaho next season.
"Connor is the most prolific scorer that I have ever been around at the high school level," Post Falls coach Mike McLean told the Statesman. "His development from a shooter to a scorer has been very impressive to watch over his four-year varsity career."
"Quick to the basket, and if you don't close out - will hit the 3 ball from Can-Ada Road," Eagle coach Tom Seifert said.
Rosenthal, a 6-3 forward, led Coeur d'Alene to a runner-up finish at state. She averaged 13.6 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocked shots per game. She played in four state title games in her Viking career, winning three.
"Carli has been a rock-solid player for us since her freshman year," Coeur d'Alene coach Dale Poffenroth said. "She set a school record for career rebounds ... Coeur d'Alene basketball has a huge hole to fill with the graduation of Carli."
Rosenthal has given a verbal commitment to play at Saint Mary's College in Moraga, Calif.
"Hands down, the toughest girl in the state to stop," Capital coach Blas Telleria said.
Thompson, a 6-2 post, led Timberlake to a runner-up finish at state in just the Tigers' second state appearance. She finished her Timberlake career with 1,710 points, 921 rebounds, 324 blocked shots and 258 steals. She averaged 21.9 points, 10.3 rebounds, 4.5 blocks and 2.9 steals as a senior.
"She is such a dominating player," Timberlake coach Matt Miller said. "She has a huge impact on the game on both the offensive and defensive ends of the court. She has been a real pleasure to coach for the last four years."
Thompson has signed to play at the University of Portland next season.
"Best player in 3A and you could make the case in all of Idaho ... if she got the ball on the low block, good night," Priest River coach Gary Stewart said.
Post Falls junior point guard Marcus Colbert was named to the 5A boys first team, and Kootenai senior guard Jacob Zarpentine was picked for the 1A Division II boys first team.
Colbert, a first-team pick last year as well, averaged 16.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.9 assists. Zarpentine tied a state 1A Division II tournament record with 32 points against Meadows Valley, and averaged 11.5 points, 6.7 rrebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.8 steals.
Second-team selections included Coeur d'Alene junior Deon Watson (5A boys), St. Maries seniors Ian Heath and Zach Lehman (3A boys) and Timberlake junior Kara Wenstrom (3A girls).
ALL-IDAHO
5A BOYS
FIRST TEAM - Connor Hill, Post Falls, 6-2, sr., G (Player of the Year); Marcus Colbert, Post Falls, 5-10, jr., PG; Faruk Huskic, Centennial, 6-6, sr., P; Tyson Percifield, Mountain View, 6-1, sr., G; Ben Tucakovic, 6-6, jr., W.
SECOND TEAM - Daved Gillmor, Eagle, 6-5, sr., P; Marcus Graham, Timberline, 6-3, sr., G; Brandon Luedtke, Mountain View, 6-4, jr., P; Patrick Manning, Centennial, 5-10, sr., G; Deon Watson, Coeur d'Alene, 6-4, jr., G.
5A GIRLS
FIRST TEAM - Carli Rosenthal, Coeur d'Alene, 6-3, sr., F (Player of the Year); Tanis Fuller, Lewiston, 5-10, sr., G; Dakota Gonzalez, Highland, 5-10, so., G; Sofia Huerta, Centennial, 5-7, sr., G; Jacqueline Luna-Castro, Boise, 6-2, sr., P/F.
SECOND TEAM - Savannah Blinn, Lewiston, 6-3, sr., P; Aleah Lowber, Boise, 5-4, sr., G; Sierrna Short, Centennial, 5-8, jr., G; Amber Vandiver, Capital, 6-2, sr., P; Chelsea Waters, Lewiston, 6-1, jr., F.
4A BOYS
FIRST TEAM - Kyle Dranginis, Skyview, 6-5, sr., PG (Player of the Year); Kyle Blanchard, Madison, 5-11 sr., G; Andy Harrington, Bishop Kelly, 6-2, sr., F; Kevin Jurgensmeier, Minico, 6-10, sr., P; Ryker Pierce, Madison, 6-2, jr., F.
SECOND TEAM - Lane Brooks, Moscow, 5-9, jr., G; Eric Harr, Twin Falls, 6-0, jr., G; Dylan Jones, Rigby, 6-5, jr., F; Bronson Miller, Minico, 6-1, sr., G; Kade Miller, Minico, 6-3, sr., F.
4A GIRLS
FIRST TEAM - Madeline Laan, Middleton, 5-11, sr., F (Player of the Year); Dakota Barrie, Mountain Home, 5-11, sr., G; Kaitana Martinez, Wood River, 5-6, jr., PG; Taylor Simmons, Middleton, 5-9, jr., PG; Carrie Thibault, Jerome, 5-5, sr., PG.
SECOND TEAM - Maya Ah You, Middleton, 5-7, so., G; Brooke Beckstead, Preston, 5-10, sr., G; Abi Quinnett, Moscow, 6-0, jr., P; Megan Olaveson, Rigby, 5-8, sr., G; Haylee Thompson, Wood River, 6-1, jr., F.
3A BOYS
FIRST TEAM - Austin Winegar, Weiser, 6-2, sr., G (Player of the Year); Jacob Crim, Fruitland, 6-4, sr., F; Eric Holbrook, Priest River, 6-1, sr., G; Travis Holt, Fruitland, 5-10, sr., G; Candon Watt, Snake River, sr.
SECOND TEAM - Ian Heath, St. Maries, 6-5, sr., P; Zach Lehman, St. Maries, 6-4, sr., P; Derek Maloney, Kimberly, 6-7, sr., F; Drew McKie, Weiser, 6-4, jr. P; Max Salesky, Priest River, 6-2, sr., G.
3A GIRLS
FIRST TEAM - Cassie Thompson, Timberlake, 6-2, sr., P (Player of the Year); Georgia Brown, Sugar-Salem, 5-11, jr., P; Vanessa Hawkes, Sugar-Salem, 5-8, sr., G; Marquita Palmer, Weiser, 6-2, jr., P; Sarah Viehwig, Marsh Valley, 6-0, jr., P.
SECOND TEAM - Kimber Choffin, Sugar-Salem, 5-6, sr., G; Liz Halcro, Priest River, 6-1, jr., P; Jarica Martarano, Fruitland, 5-11, sr., P; Eden Van Orden, Snake River, 6-0, sr., F; Kara Wenstrom, Timberlake, 5-6, jr., PG.
2A BOYS
FIRST TEAM - Joey Nebeker, Melba, 6-6, jr., F (Player of the Year); Kory Andersen, Firth, 6-3, sr., P; James Frankos, Soda Springs, 6-3, sr., G; Jack Nygaard, Kamiah, 6-1, jr., G; Carson White, New Plymouth, 6-1, jr., G.
SECOND TEAM - Mark Beus, Melba, 6-4, sr., G; Jake Mellenthin, New Plymouth, 6-1, jr., G; Tanner Smart, West Side, 6-2, sr., P; Clint Thomas, McCall-Donnelly, 6-2, jr., G; Dallas Turnbow, West Side, 6-2, sr., F.
2A GIRLS
FIRST TEAM - Kylie Brown, Grangeville, 5-7, sr., G (Player of the Year); Shelby Cloninger, Kamiah, 5-11, so., P; Tiffany McDonald, West Jefferson, 5-9, sr., F; Nichole Solberg, Grangeville, 5-10, sr., P; Jessica Sorensen, Malad, 5-9, jr., F.
SECOND TEAM - Paige Anderson, Soda Springs, 5-11, jr., G; Alli Holdaway, West Jefferson, 5-8, sr., G; Cassidy Skidmore, West Jefferson, 5-6, jr., G; Angela Vitek, Gooding, 5-9, sr., F; Sydney Webb, Declo, 5-11, jr., F.
1A DIVISION I BOYS
FIRST TEAM - Eugene Heavy Runner, Clearwater Valley, 6-3, sr., P (Player of the Year), Chase Ackerman, Grace, 6-3, sr., F/C; Sam Druffel, Genesee, jr., G; Garrett Sant, Shoshone, 6-0, so., W; Devin Schmidt, Prairie, 6-3, sr., F.
SECOND TEAM - Alan Berry, Genesee, 6-0, sr., F; Josh Jensen, Grace, 6-2, so., G/F; Beau Schlader, Prairie, 6-2, sr., G; Jake Squires, Clearwater Valley, 6-2, jr., P; Domenic Valerio, Notus, 5-11, sr., P.
1A DIVISION I GIRLS
FIRST TEAM - Natahnee Spencer, Lapwai, 5-5, so., G (Player of the Year); Lauren Garlie, Challis, 6-1, sr., P; Jade Gutzman, Clearwater Valley, 5-2, jr., G; Sierra Higheagle, Lapwai, 5-9, jr., W; Katherine Samuels, Lapwai, 5-7, sr., G.
SECOND TEAM - Tarah Anderson, Notus, 5-7, sr., F; Hailey Greenwood, Raft River, 5-5, so., G; Mikel Harrington, Clearwater Valley, 5-9, sr., F; MeShel Rad, Prairie, 5-10, jr., F; Emily Rainboth, Liberty Charter, 5-7, jr., G.
1A DIVISION II BOYS
FIRST TEAM - Blair Peck, Carey, 5-8, sr., G (Player of the Year); Ethan Couie, Salmon River, 6-5, jr., P; Tyler Hansen, Castleford, 6-3, sr., P; Christopher Riggers, Nezperce, 6-3, sr., G; Jacob Zarpentine, Kootenai, 6-3, sr., G.
SECOND TEAM - Baley Berg, Carey, 5-10, jr., F; Matt Nelson, Rockland, 6-3, sr., P; Humberto Pacheco, Murtaugh, 5-10, jr., F; Justin Swift, Meadows Valley, 6-2, sr., F; Sawyer Wahl, Nezperce, 6-5, jr., P.
1A DIVISION II GIRLS
FIRST TEAM - Moriah Dill, Dietrich, 5-9, jr., F (Player of the Year); Charley Bingham, Dietrich, 5-5, so., G; Aspen Holbrook, North Gem, 5-8, sr., G; Mirian Rivas, Richfield, 5-3, sr., G; Michelle Seitz, Nezperce, 5-6, sr., G.
SECOND TEAM - Keren Bankhead, Tri-Valley, 5-6, sr., F; Chancey Jones, Garden Valley, 5-11, sr., P; Sasha Kent, Richfield, 5-3, jr., G; Savanah Prigge, Summit Academy, 6-1, jr., P; Alaysha Whitworth, Mackay, 5-5, sr., G.