WHITTIER DAILY NEWS’ 2018-19 GIRLS BASKETBALL ALL-AREA TEAM
DAILY NEWS PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Donteylor Maxwell, El Rancho, Forward, Senior
The Del Rio League is home to some of the best girls basketball players in the area. At La Serna this season there was the duo of Izabella Apodaca and Rosalie Avalos. Santa Fe had a star player in JoAnna Stroud.
However, when you ask coaches in the league who was the best overall player, they all came up with the same answer: El Ramcho’s Donteylor Maxwell.
For the past two seasons, the 5-foot-11 center provided outstanding production for a program that has produced its share of outstanding players.
Even with teams focusing their attention on her, Maxwell was still able to demonstrate that she was the best player in the area, as she averaged an eye-popping 19 points and nine rebounds a game. Coupled with the shooting prowess of Jaylene Oviedo, the duo helped the Dons record their fifth straight season of winning at least 20 games and they earned a share of the Del Rio League title.
For her outstanding play during the 2018-19 season, Maxwell has been named the Whittier Daily News girls basketball player of the year.
“It was a good run for our team and for my teammates,” said Maxwell, who was selected to the All-Area team in 2018. “I was very happy with the effort and everything that came from it.”
According to Maxwell, she wasn’t distracted by the attention she received from other teams.
“I just continue playing and being who I am,” Maxwell said. “One of the main strengths as a player has been my post moves. It’s one of my main strengths when I am on the basketball court.”
Maxwell gives a lot of credit to El Rancho coach Randy Shigezane for the development of her game.
“He is an incredible coach and I was so glad that he was able to coach me,” Maxwell said. “He cares a lot about his girls.
“Everything that I’ve accomplished has been because of him. He pushes me on and off the court – he is incredible.”
DAILY NEWS COACH OF THE YEAR: Zach Cokely, Santa Fe
Zach Cokely is finding out that when you win a CIF-SS championship, as his team did this season, there is a certain level of celebrity when you walk around the school campus.
“People come up to you and say ‘congratulations on winning a championship,’ ” Cokely said. “Some people I’ve never met before, but it’s a very good feeling.”
Cokely wasn’t getting any of those accolades as his team entered the CIF-SS Division 4A playoffs. The Chiefs finished in fourth place in the ultra-competitive Del Rio League and were awarded an at-large berth in the playoffs. The Chiefs made the most of the opportunity, winning the program’s first sectional title and advancing to the Division IV state semifinals.
For his accomplishments in the 2018-19 season, Cokely has been selected the Whittier Daily News girls basketball coach of the year.
“We lost to the co-league champions by four points,” said Cokely when asked about the parity in the league. “It’s a battle every night and it’s great. I love these close games, going up against these greet coaches, it makes us better.”
Cokely just completed his second season at Santa Fe. It has become obvious that he has changed the culture of a program that was not used to seeing success on a regular basis.
“You have to put the work in and be confident in yourself along with being patient,” Cokely said. “The biggest thing that we had to do from a culture point of view was to get our girls to love the game. We got a big group of girls that really love the game and they love being together. That was the biggest thing that helped us being successful this season.”
DAILY NEWS ALL-AREA TEAM
FIRST TEAM
Guard: Ludovica Albanelli, St. Paul, So.
Guard: Izabella Apodaca, La Serna, Sr.
Guard: Joleen Corona, Whittier Christian, Jr.
Guard: Raylene Cosio, Pioneer, Sr.
Guard: Shanece Garrett, Sonora, Sr.
Guard: Justine Nieto, St. Paul, Sr.
Guard: Jaylene Oviedo, El Rancho, Jr.
Forward: Rosalie Avalos, La Serna, So.
Forward: JoAnna Stroud, Santa Fe, Jr.
Forward: Guadalupe Vasquez, Cantwell Sacred Heart, Jr.
Center: Clarissa Watkins, Whittier Christian, Sr.
SECOND TEAM
Guard: Allie Llamas, Whittier, Sr.
Guard: Alejah Navarro, California, Sr.
Guard: Nicole Robles, California, Sr.
Guard: Valerie Huerta, St. Paul, So.
Guard: Rebecca Pereida, Montebello, Sr.
Guard: Jasmine Montes de Oca, Schurr, Sr.
Guard: Brooklyn Vega, La Serna, So.
Forward: Aidan Sherfey, Whittier Christian, Fr.
Forward: Julissa Chavez, Pioneer, Fr.
Forward: Jessica Berry, Sonora, So.
Forward: Johovana Villegas, El Rancho, Sr.
Forward: Madison Tavera, Whittier, So.
Center: Janelle Ramos, La Mirada, Sr.
