ALL-IDAHO BOYS, GIRLS BASKETBALL: Buchanan, Sands, Williams, earn Player of the Year honors

Blake Buchanan of Lake City, Greyson Sands of St. Maries and Asher Williams of Bonners Ferry were named Player of the Year in their division as the all-Idaho boys and girls basketball teams were announced earlier this week.

Buchanan led 5A Lake City to a 26-0 record and the program’s first state title. The Virginia signee, currently practicing with the USA team for Saturday’s Nike Hoop Summit in Portland, averaged 15.2 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 3.2 blocks.

“Obviously, he’s a great talent that is 6-11. But he has worked his way to the ACC,” Lake City coach Jim Winger told The Idaho Statesman newspaper of Boise.

“During (my) 16 years as a head coach, we have been fortunate to play against three current NBA players while they were in high school. Blake Buchanan is at their level,” Post Falls coach Mike McLean said.

Lake City senior guard Kolton Mitchell was named to the 5A first team. Mitchell, who has signed with Idaho State, averaged 18.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 2.8 steals.

Lake City senior wing Nathan Hocking was named to the second team. Hocking, who has signed with NAIA Ottawa University in Surprise, Ariz., averaged 12.3 points, 1.6 assists and 1.2 steals.

Winger was named 5A Coach of the Year.

Sands, a senior point guard, led St. Maries to a third-place finish at state in 2A. He averaged 16.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 2.3 steals.

“He’s helped lead us to a first, second and two third-place finishes in the last four state tournaments,” St. Maries coach Bryan Chase told the Statesman.

The Luna twins from Kellogg, both seniors, were named to the 2A first team.

Riply, a 6-2 point guard, averaged 18.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.5 steals.

Kolby, a 6-2 guard, averaged 15.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.7 steals.

Both plan to walk on in football at the University of Miami.

Williams, a 6-4 sophomore guard, was honored after leading the Badgers to a runner-up finish in 3A, in the program’s first appearance in a state title game. He averaged 18.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.1 steals.

“(He) is a tremendous player who can score inside, outside and midrange,” said his father and coach, Nathan Williams. “He has great court vision, and brings energy and confidence to the court.”

“He seemed to hit every big shot when they needed it most,” Kimberly coach Daren Garey said.

Lakeland senior guard Scotty Hocking was named to the 4A second team. Hocking averaged 17.0 points, 2.8 assists and 1.8 steals in leading the Hawks to state.

In 1A Division 1, Lakeside senior guard Vander Brown was named to the first team. He averaged 23.8 points, 3.3 assists and 2.9 steals in helping the Knights win their second state title in four years.

Lakeside’s James Twoteeth was named Coach of the Year.

On the girls side, Coeur d’Alene’s Teagan Colvin and Post Falls’ Capri Sims were named to the 5A first team.

Colvin, a 5-7 junior point guard, averaged 18.3 points, 7.9 rebounds and 3.8 assists in leading the Vikings to the state title.

Sims, a 6-0 senior forward headed to NCAA Division II Central Washington, averaged 20.3 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.0 blocks.

Coeur d’Alene senior forward Madi Symons was named to the second team. The Wyoming signee averaged 13.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists.

Her mom and Coeur d’Alene coach, Nicole Symons, was named 5A Coach of the Year.

Sandpoint had a pair of first-team selections in 4A in Aliya Strock and Karlie Banks, both juniors.

The 5-5 Strock averaged 14.3 points and 4.7 rebounds, and the 5-10 Banks averaged 12.0 points and 7.7 rebounds.

Will Love, who guided the Bulldog girls to their first state title in program history, was named 4A Coach of the Year.

Timberlake freshman Malia Miller was named to the 3A first team. The 5-5 point guard averaged 16.1 points, 5.2 assists and 4.0 steals, and tied the single-season school record for assists with 130.

Asha Abubakari, a 5-9 junior forward from Bonners Ferry, was named to the 3A second team. Abubakari averaged 16.0 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.7 steals.

Britany Phillips, a junior guard from Wallace, was named to the 1A Division I second team. Phillips averaged 19.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.6 steals.

In 2A, Orofino senior wing Grace Beardin and Grangeville freshman point guard Caryss Barger were named to the second team.

Coaches vote on the all-Idaho teams. The Statesman compiles the results.