All-Bay Area News Group girls basketball team
Player of the Year
KK Lacanlale, Acalanes, 5-5, senior
Engine for Acalanes team that advanced to the school’s first-ever North Coast Section Open Division championship game. Lacanlale, who was the Most Valuable Player of the Diablo Athletic League as a freshman, was so honored again as a senior, capping a season where she averaged 14.3 points, 5.7 assists, 2.9 steals and 2.8 rebounds per game. “Doing a little bit of everything,” as Dons coach Margaret Gartner put it. “In all our big games, KK was involved in just about every basket, scoring or assisting.” Scored 411 points in her senior year and dished out 166 assists, leading Acalanes to a 28-3 overall record and undefeated 11-0 league season. Scored 1,705 career points with the Dons. Committed to play basketball at Saint Martin’s University in Washington.
First team
Jolyn Ding, Pinewood, 5-8, senior
Senior guard averaged 14.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.8 steals per game, helping quarterback Pinewood to the Central Coast Section Open Division championship game. Co-West Bay Athletic League Most Valuable Player.
Layla Dixon, Carondelet, 5-11, junior
Junior guard averaged 13.5 points, 6.1 assists, 5.9 rebounds and 3.5 steals per game as an all-around contributor. Led Cougars to CIF Division I state championship win over Sage Hill-Newport Beach. East Bay Athletic League Defensive Player of the Year.
Ella Gunderson, San Ramon Valley, 5-10, sophomore
Sophomore sensation poured in 17.2 points per game while adding 6.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists on average. Led the Wolves to North Coast Section Open Division championship and CIF NorCal Open Division regional semifinals. EBAL Player of the Year.
Maliya Hunter, Archbishop Mitty, 6-2, freshman
Freshman named West Catholic Athletic League Player of the Year averaged 10.6 points per game to go along with 5.0 rebounds. Anchored Monarchs to CIF Open Division title game appearance after season-ending injury to reigning Bay Area News Group player of the year McKenna Woliczko.
Jhai Johnson, Oakland Tech, 6-3, junior
Junior forward averaged 17.7 points per game while leading the Bulldogs to the Oakland Athletic League championship, winning league MVP in the process. Crossed the 1,000-point threshold for her career in February. Scored 42 points and added 22 rebounds and five steals in a win over McNair-Stockton in December.
Alyssa Rudd, San Ramon Valley, 5-8, junior
Junior transfer from crosstown Monte Vista played a key role in maintaining excellence at SRV one year after the Wolves lost three Division I players from the 2024 NCS Open Division runners-up. Averaged 14.8 points and 9.9 rebounds per game.
Jenelle Solis, Piedmont, 5-3, freshman
Freshman phenom averaged 17.6 points per game plus 6.3 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.7 steals. Shot 45% from the field, 40% on 3-pointers and 80% on free throws.
Nicole Steiner, Los Gatos, 6-1, senior
Versatile senior do-everything forward averaged 11.0 points, 11.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 3.0 steals and 1.3 blocks per game. Holds the Wildcats’ school records for points, rebounds, assists, and blocks in a game, rebounds in a season, and points, rebounds, and blocks in a career. Led Los Gatos to CCS Division I championship in final season.
Ze’Ni Patterson, Archbishop Mitty, 5-9, sophomore
WCAL first-teamer transferred in from Heritage-Brentwood and provided depth scoring punch that Mitty desperately needed after Woliczko’s injury. Averaged 9.1 points per game to go along with 2.3 rebounds. Sophomore provided strong all-around defense to help anchor Mitty’s active full-court pressure scheme.
Second team
UGreat Daniels, Priory, 6-0, junior
Much like her first name, Daniels was Priory’s exemplar of greatness all season long. All-around junior forward averaged 11.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game. Led the Panthers to the CCS Open Division bracket and the NorCal Division I quarterfinals, where Priory lost 56-51 in overtime to St. Mary’s-Stockton.
Jayla Stokes, Bishop O’Dowd, 5-7, junior
Stokes was the leading player on a team that advanced to the CIF NorCal Division I championship game. The Dragons beat California and Archbishop Riordan to advance to the final, where they lost to Carondelet. The junior reached 1,000 career points this season and was named the West Alameda County Conference Co-Player of the Year after leading O’Dowd in points, rebounds, steals and deflections.
Sofia Kwan, Mills, 5-7, senior
Kwan finished her high school career with 384 points in her senior season, which ended with a 44-41 loss to Castilleja in the CIF NorCal Division IV quarterfinals. Back-to-back first–team all-Peninsula Athletic League Bay Division awardee averaged 14.1 points per game and 5.1 rebounds per contest. Had five games of over 20 points, including 29 against Santa Cruz.
Shirina Shi, American-Fremont, 5-4, sophomore
The sophomore guard – whom some called unstoppable – dominated the Mission Valley Athletic League, winning the most valuable player award while averaging 24.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. The Bay Area News Group athlete of the week for Jan. 6-11 was also named the MVP of the NorCal Invitational Classic Tournament in Santa Cruz.
Tara Dacic, Archbishop Riordan, 6-3, senior
The 6-foot-3 senior center was the anchor of a Riordan team that went 19-9 overall and finished second in the WCAL with a record of 8-4. First-team all-WCAL player averaged 12 points per game and eight rebounds per contest. Scored a season-high 25 points against Valley Christian and 22 against St. Francis, adding 10 rebounds against the Lancers.
Sophia Sanchez, St. Ignatius, 5-4, junior
Junior guard led Wildcats to a 15-13 overall record and third-place finish in WCAL with 7-5 record. Scored team-high 21 points in win over Valley Christian and 17 points in win over St. Joseph-Notre Dame. First-team all-WCAL selection.
Deoujenea Clay, Clayton Valley, 5-4, sophomore
Clay powered Clayton Valley to a strong season that ended with a 72-65 loss to Redwood in the NCS Division I third-place game. The Ugly Eagles finished 22-9 overall and 11-1 in league play, good enough for second place in the Diablo Athletic League. Scored team-high 21 points in an overtime loss against Piedmont at the Sabrina Ionescu Showcase.
Sadie Slaughter, Prospect, 5-10, senior
High-scoring senior forward guided Prospect to first-ever CCS title with win over Christopher in Division II championship game, pouring in 15 points to lead all scorers. Averaged 18.9 points per game, 8.9 rebounds per contest, 4.2 assists and 2.0 steals per matchup. Blossom Valley Athletic League Mt. Hamilton Division Most Valuable Player.
Dulci Vail, Acalanes, 6-0, senior
Acalanes’ leading scorer averaged 15.2 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, adding 1.0 assists on average. The 6-foot forward shot 54% from the field, including 33% from 3-point range, and 74% from the free-throw line. Scored 456 points in her final high school season and will take her talents to Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo in the summer. Diablo Athletic League first-team selection. Scored 1,588 career points with the Dons.
Maia Jimenez, St. Francis, 5-1, senior
The 5-foot-1 senior point guard captained the Lancers’ offense with 9.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.4 steals per game. All-WCAL second-teamer led St. Francis to 18-10 overall record, CCS Open Division win over Sacred Heart Cathedral and 62-57 loss to eventual state champion Carondelet in NorCal Division I opening round.
Honorable mention
Sofia Addiego, California, senior
Jazzy Alcantar, Encinal, senior
Celeste Alvarez, Carondelet, sophomore
Eve Amram, Menlo-Atherton, senior
Kayli Bertand, Cornerstone Christian, sophomore
Hania Bowes, San Ramon Valley, sophomore
Kate Brongiel, Granada, senior
Aastha Bhagat, Evergreen Valley, junior
Kaycee Carrasco, Christopher, senior
Ashley Childers, Los Gatos, senior
Sophie Chinn, Acalanes, senior
Simdi Chukwu, Bishop O’Dowd, senior
Kat Clement, Live Oak, senior
Devin Cosgriff, Archbishop Mitty, junior
Delaney Dorwin, Half Moon Bay, senior
Mikaela Dumagan, Washington-Fremont, senior
Madison Eade, Sacred Heart Cathedral, senior
Clara Fan, Monta Vista, senior
Jocelyn Figueroa, Cristo Rey-San Jose, senior
Almbria Gallon, Kennedy-Richmond, senior
Radhika Garapaty, Notre Dame-San Jose, senior
Katherine Garr, Pinewood, senior
Lulu Giometti, St. Ignatius, freshman
Madison Gordon, Bishop O’Dowd, senior
Ariana Hallstrom, Acalanes, senior
Alana Hernandez, Mountain View, senior
Zoey Hinkle, Del Mar, junior
Willow Ishibashi-To, Carlmont, senior
Cassie Itatani, Pioneer, junior
Intrigue Jackson, Skyline, junior
Juliana Johnson, Alameda, senior
Vallory Kuelker, Pinewood, senior
Payton Ladrido, Heritage, sophomore
Iwalani Lealao, James Logan, junior
Gaia Lembo, Dublin, sophomore
Zoey Lemoge, Half Moon Bay, junior
Ruiqi Liu, Menlo School, senior
Isabella Lo, Harker, senior
Lara Macian, Westmont, sophomore
Andrea Martin, Piedmont, freshman
Tiera McCarthy, Archbishop Mitty, sophomore
Ali McCauley, Campolindo, senior
Dexie Medida, Wilcox, senior
Kaitlyn Mills, San Ramon Valley, freshman
Eve Monzon, Freedom, senior
Tallyah Nasol, Archbishop Riordan, sophomore
Kiara Nitao, Hillsdale, junior
Kenedi Nomura, Valley Christian, junior
Ellie Ortega, Moreau Catholic, junior
Luciana Ortiz, Fremont-Sunnyvale, senior
Vanessa Parilla, Salesian, senior
Marlee Richard, St. Mary’s-Berkeley, senior
Morgan Ross, Head-Royce, senior
Sophia Ross, Carondelet, junior
Terri’A Russell, Oakland Tech, junior
Jadee Salvador, Berean Christian, senior
Maddison Sardelich, Northgate, sophomore
Janiya Sawyer, Salesian, senior
Naliyah Sefidi, Monte Vista, sophomore
Vienn Sheng, Priory, senior
Gina Shim, Branham, senior
Sa’rye Starks, Ygnacio Valley, senior
Keira Tom, Dougherty Valley, junior
Jeselle Tu, Andrew Hill, senior
Dannyae Turner, Pinole Valley, freshman
Natalia Valerio, Willow Glen, senior
Antonia Vlahos, Castilleja, senior
Olivia Wang, Homestead, senior
Briana Webb, Piedmont, senior
Alice Wu, Lynbrook, senior
Patricia Wu, Mission San Jose, senior
Lauren Yee, California, senior
Coach of the Year
John Cristiano, San Ramon Valley
One year after losing Division I players Sofia Bowes, Sierra Chambers and Avery Knapp, plus its other two starters, all San Ramon Valley did was retool on the fly and win the North Coast Section Open Division championship with a stunning 76-43 blowout of Acalanes. The Wolves similarly blew out Pinewood 56-32 in the CIF NorCal Open Division first round before falling 69-62 to NorCal Open runner-up Clovis West on the road. Cristiano invoked the Miracle on Ice to inspire his team before its title game win over Acalanes, but SRV played more like the Red Machine – selfless, swift and stellar – all season long. The Wolves finished the 2024-25 season with a 28-4 record and perfect 9-0 mark in league play. SRV was the first-ever public school to win the NCS Open Division crown. The Wolves, who graduated nine players in the 2024 class, did it without a single senior on their roster. It’s not hard to imagine them being even better next year.
Honorable mention
Bryan Gardere, Piedmont
Margaret Gartner, Acalanes
Sara Quilici Giles, Los Gatos
Justin Matsu, Mills
Kelly Sopak, Carondelet
WHO IS ELIGIBLE AND HOW SELECTIONS ARE MADE
Athletes eligible for all-Bay Area News Group recognition come from leagues based predominantly in Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. The selections this season were made by the Bay Area News Group’s Darren Sabedra, Joseph Dycus, Nathan Canilao and Christian Babcock.
