By Jon Johnson
PHOENIX – Is the Pima Pipeline for women’s basketball now a thing?
Former Rider Ashlynn Chlarson set the mold, and after graduating from Pima, Chlarson excelled at Eastern Arizona College for two years before moving on to NCAA Division 1 Arkansas, where she averaged nearly 5 points and 5 rebounds a game last season. Chlarson is now in the transfer portal, looking to take advantage of the NIL money now available to college athletes.
Adysen Hoopes is following Chlarson’s example, and after graduating from Pima last year, she now holds a roster spot on the newly minted NJCAA Division 1 National Champion EAC Gila Monsters.
EA won the national championship with defense (much like how the University of Arizona has excelled this year as well), and now, perhaps the latest in the Pima Pipeline has shown up on the radar as junior Hanna Ashby has been named the 2A East Region Defensive Player of the Year.
Ashby played an integral part on a Pima team that went 22-3 and made it to the semifinals of the Copper Division 1A -3A State Tournament, bowing out to eventual state champion Tuba City.
While the Riders lost two senior starters this year, Hanna is likely to return for her senior year, and Pima is likely to continue thriving through its impressive girls’ basketball program, helmed by Roy Corona.
Other regional awards were:
2A East Region Coach of the Year: Brandon Robinson – Lincoln Prep
2A East Region Defensive Player of the Year: Hanna Ashby – Pima
2A East Region Offensive Player of the Year: Caylee Longstreet – San Carlos
2A East Region Player of the Year: Tamia Pietila – Miami
2A East All-Region 1st Team
Tamia Pietila – Miami
Caylee Longstreet – San Carlos
Hanna Ashby – Pima
Macy Allred – Pima
Maggie Hartman – Gilbert Classical
Kylee Juan – Lincoln Prep
Corynn Foster – Leading Edge Academy-Gilbert
2A East All-Region 2nd Team
Morgan Russell – Pima
Olivia Chacon – Miami
Hayden Rendell – Lincoln Prep
Malia Antonio – San Carlos
Alyson Hopkins – San Carlos
2A East Region Honorable Mentions
Jade Cheung, Kate Westervelt – Chandler Prep; Samantha Dunkin – Gilbert Classical; Armani Rameriz – Leading Edge Academy-Gilbert; Samantha Morris, Lexi Treglia – Lincoln Prep; Audreanna Carlyle, Adisynne Davis, Tessa Roberts, Xandri Thompson – Miami; Cheyanne Alder, Page Ashby, Taylor Ashby – Pima; Drianna Dosela, Anaya Juan – San Carlos.
