Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Herald: Pima girls basketball head coach Roy Corona has repeated as the 2A East Region Coach of the Year.
By Jon Johnson
PIMA – The Pima boys and girls basketball teams swept the 2A East Region awards as the coach of the year, player of the year, and defensive player of the year categories were all won by Pima.
Girls Basketball
On the girls’ side, Pima head coach Roy Corona was named as the 2A East Region Coach of the Year. Corona has guided the defending 2A State Champion Roughriders to a 14-0 conference and 27-1 overall record, with their next game versus St. Johns in the 2A State semifinals on Friday. Corona was also named 2A East Region Coach of the Year and 2A Conference Coach of the Year last year.
Senior guard Saydee Allred – who surpassed 1,000 points for her varsity career earlier this year – was named the 2A East Region Player of the Year.
Allred is an outside threat – always ready to pull the trigger – and is dangerous in the open court. While her mid-range game has seen improvement this season, what is even more impressive is how often she finds teammates and makes the best pass for the most positive outcome.
Additionally, Pima center Ashlynn Chlarson was named 3A East Region Defensive Player of the Year.
The 2A East All-Region 1st Team includes Saydee Allred, Ashlynn Chlarson, Aubrie Sherwood, and Ashlie Sherwood, from Pima, and Julianna Aguilar, and Zenayah Cortez, of Morenci. The all-region teams each include seven top players chosen from all of the teams in the region.
The 2A East All-Region 2nd Team includes Samantha Pippo, of Pima, and Devanie Medina, of Morenci.
The Region Offensive Player of the Year is Gabriella Lopez, of Bisbee.
Honorable Mentions include Jayci McClain, of Pima, and Mia Ontiveros, of Morenci.
Boys Basketball
On the boys’ side of things, Pima head coach Cliff Thompson was named 2A East Region Coach of the Year.
Thompson has led the Roughriders back to the semifinals for the second year in a row and has compiled a 13-1 conference and 23-5 overall record. Pima’s next game will be in the 2A State semifinals in Phoenix on Friday against Scottsdale Christian.
Coach Thompson is well-known and respected in the basketball world, as are his Pima teams that have been consistently good throughout his career.
Doing a little bit of this and a little bit of that, Mr. Everything Grant Ashby was selected as the 2A East Region Player of the Year.
Ashby wears a lot of hats for this Pima team, but his most important one is as a leader.
Additionally, Pima guard Leland Thompson was selected as the 2A East Region Defensive Player of the Year.
The 2A East All-Region 1st Team includes Grant Ashby, Leland Thompson, Seth Russell, and Coy Miller, of Pima, and Tristen Sanchez, and Marco Muñiz, of Morenci.
The 2A East All-Region 2nd Team includes Garrett Curtis, of Pima, and Christian Mutengela, and Derek Saenz, of Morenci.
The Region Offensive Player of the Year is Tristen Sanchez, of Morenci.
Honorable Mentions include Pierce Ashby, and Wyatt Wiltbank, of Pima, and Daylen Johnson, and Joey Seballos, of Morenci.
