By Jeremy McDonald
jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
AURORA, Ore.– The North Marion girls nearly swept the first-team honors as four Huskies were named to the First-Team All-League Team. Of the four, North Marion also got the Player of The Year in senior guard Mar Verastegui.
“Honestly, it’s something that I never thought I would get and it feels good to get it. Knowing that your hard work has paid off feels good,” said Versategui of the honor Monday at practice.
Hunger, that’s what Head Coach Trevor Bodine has instill in his team since taking over three-years ago and seeing Verategui, Katie Ensign, Raymee Boese and Mya Hammack take first team honors was awesome.
“They have worked extremely hard and are still hungry. We talk all the time about grinding towards what is important and they have done that. To see where Mar has come from last year when she wasn’t the main option in our offense to where she is now as our leading point scorer and leader on the floor, is a testament to her dedication,” said Bodine. “Katie and Raymee have developed in leaps and bounds from where they were last year and are both being looked at by colleges to play at the next level. The reality is that they aren’t even playing their best ball yet.
“Mya has developed steadily and is what makes us go. She has a high ceiling as well and would be an All-State player (and still has a very legitimate shot to be this year) even though basketball is not her primary sport, which is also a little scary to think about. It’s funny that my two guards are soccer players that also happen to be really good at basketball. Paige (Martin) and Kenzie (Ulven) are two others that have made great progress in their games.”
Hammack and Versategui were members of the Huskie Soccer team this past season. As for Bodine though, he received Coach of the Year honors for the league, something he credits as a team effort as his team host Henley Saturday night at 5pm.
“The (Coach of the year) thing is great but it’s really just a snapshot of a team effort from myself and staff and what we are trying to accomplish. State Championships and high-level programs aren’t made in one year,” said Bodine. “They are a culmination of multiple years of dedication, development and desire to build that sustainable, high level program.”
Here is the full list of Tri-Valley Conference honors:
FIRST TEAM:
Jayden Davis-Madras
Mar Verastegui-North Marion *POY
Mya Hammack-North Marion
Katie Ensign-North Marion
Raymee Boese-North Marion
SECOND TEAM:
Dessie Alvarado-Gladstone
Jiana Smith-Francis-Madras
Mattie Myers-Molalla
Maddy Lisac-Molalla
Kaityn Curry-Molalla
HONORABLE MENTION:
Olivia Fritz-Corbett
Taryn Pinner-Gladstone
Isabelle VanHee-Corbett
Vanessa Culps-Madras
Izzy Hagel-Estacada
Jackie Zamora-Madras
Rylie Canifax-Estacada
Monika Stacoma-Madras
Chloe Porter-Estacada
Zoe Wood-Molalla
Jade Rowley-Gladstone
Paige Martin-North Marion
Aaliyah Asad-Gladstone
Makenzie Ulven-North Marion
