THE MONITOR’S 2023 ALL-AREA GIRLS BASKETBALL SUPERLATIVES AND TEAMS
Player of the Year: Emma Lucio, Edinburg Vela
Offensive Player of the Year: Ashley Gonzalez, Harvest Christian
Defensive Player of the Year: Yulissa Yebra, McAllen Rowe
Newcomer of the Year: Jamie Gonzalez, Harvest Christian
Utility Player of the Year: Sophia Pecina, Progreso
Most Improved Player of the Year: Lola Mallard, McAllen High
Coach of the Year: Jaime Gonzalez, Harvest Christian
All-Area First Team: Kimora Fagan, Edinburg High; Janai Coleman, Edinburg Vela; Morgan Perales, Weslaco High; Emily Carranco, Edinburg High; Britzeida Sanchez, Rio Grande City.
All-Area Second Team: Daylah Vega, Sharyland High; Lexi Garcia, Harvest Christian; Dana Serna, Edinburg Economedes; Madison Martinez, Edinburg High; Madison Borjas, McAllen Memorial.
Player of the Year: Emma Lucio, Edinburg Vela
Offensive Player of the Year: Ashley Gonzalez, Harvest Christian
Harvest Christian junior Ashley Gonzalez has been the focal point of the offense since she stepped on campus as a freshman.
Her first year, Gonzalez averaged 26.8 points per game, forcing defenses to game plan against her going forward.
Despite facing double-teams and several different defensive strategies to slow her down, Gonzalez has continued to dominate all the same the past two seasons, including another 20-point-per-game season this year.
Gonzalez is The Monitor’s 2023 All-Area Girls Basketball Offensive Player of the Year.
“I really like this accomplishment,” said Gonzalez, who won the same award last year. “I’m proud of it, but I must stay humble. We have a target on our back now. Personally, I don’t get worried about it. I’m going to keep playing my game and so is the team. We’re just going to get better.”
Gonzalez was a walking bucket this season, with her crafty handles and three-level scoring ability making it difficult to stop the Eagles’ guard.
Her offensive prowess was on full display all season, averaging 21.9 points per game in 42 games played this season.
Gonzalez’s offensive impact didn’t end with scoring. The 5-foot-8 guard flashed her court vision this season, dishing out 3.4 assists per game.
She also crashed the boards with the best, averaging 7.6 rebounds per game, and served as one of the team’s top defensive players with 3.7 steals per game.
Gonzalez’s dominant all-around effort helped lead the Eagles to a 35-7 overall record, marching through the TAPPS 1A playoffs en route to the team’s first state title.
“I think the biggest thing I improved on was my defense and my mentality,” Gonzalez said. “I don’t feel like it is just me. I realize it is about my whole team. I think having the team have my back has been one of the most helpful things because I know if they double me, I have my teammates around me. I’m just really proud of them because I couldn’t do this without them.”
Defensive Player of the Year: Yulissa Yebra, McAllen Rowe
McAllen Rowe’s defense was one of the toughest in the Valley this season, allowing just 36 points per contest en route to their first third-round playoff appearance since 2012.
Anchoring the Warriors’ defense was 6-foot-0 post Yulissa Yebra. The Howard College signee crashed the boards to limit opponents’ shot attempts, while turning away numerous shots and creating countless turnovers.
Yebra is The Monitor’s 2023 All-Area Girls Basketball Defensive Player of the Year.
“I really love playing defense, so it is an honor to get this award,” Yebra said. “I’ve always worked hard on my defense to get to where I’m at right now. I’m just really proud of myself.”
Yebra towered over most of her competition this season, standing a 6-foot-0. The Howard College signee used her size, along with her elite athleticism to terrorize opposing players.
Her presence inside the paint led to several multi-block games for Yebra during her senior year. Not shown on the stat sheets, however, is how her sheer presence in the paint helped turn away potential shot attempts.
Yebra also displayed quick hands this year, coming up with two or more steals in countless contests this season.
“I always just try to stay low and keep my head in the game,” Yebra said. “When they’re going up for a shot, I just try to keep my hands up and not foul out because I know my team is going to need me in the game. My size has been an advantage, especially for blocking shots. I just try to keep my hands up and deflect any passes or shots just to help my teammates at least slow down the ball and force turnovers.”
Newcomer of the Year: Jamie Gonzalez, Harvest Christian
Cracking the starting lineup on a team that advanced to the state tournament on any level can prove to be a difficult task for any player.
Harvest Christian’s Jamie Gonzalez made it look almost seamless.
The freshman guard emerged as a top contributor for the Eagles during their TAPPS 1A state title run, averaging 12.8 points, 3.5 steals and 3.4 assists per game. She is The Monitor’s 2023 All-Area Girls Basketball Newcomer of the Year.
“It means a lot to win this award,” Gonzalez said. “This was one of my goals from the beginning of my freshman year. Of course, my main goal was to win state with the team, but this was a good little side.”
Gonzalez stepped into the starting lineup with ease during her freshman year, ranking second on the team in points per game behind only her sister, Ashley.
She also served as arguably the team’s best defender, tasked with shadowing the opposing team’s best player night after night.
The addition of the youngest Gonzalez made the Eagles nearly unstoppable on the hardwood this year, as they posted a program best 35-7 overall record en route to the school’s first state championship.
Gonzalez looked like a seasoned veteran during her first state tournament appearance, scoring a game-high 30 points during the semifinal round to send the Eagles to the championship game.
She added a 15-point performance, 13 of which came during the opening quarter, in the state final to help the Eagles win the TAPPS 1A crown.
Despite her breakout freshman season, Gonzalez already has her eyes set on next season and improving her game.
“I definitely need to work on my left side and more on my shooting,” Gonzalez said. “I think I already do really well on defense, pushing the ball and just being active. There definitely is pressure. It is always harder to repeat because now you have a target on your back and people know you now.”
Utility Player of the Year: Sophia Pecina, Progreso
No player did more for their team this season than Progreso’s Sophia Pecina.
The junior guard contributed in nearly every way possible for the Red Ants, leading the team in points, rebounds, assists and steals per game en route to a bi-district playoff win.
Pecina is The Monitor’s All-Area Girls Basketball Utility Player of the Year.
“It wasn’t expected,” Pecina said. “Coming from a small school, we don’t really get that recognition that much. At bigger schools it is easier to be seen. Coming from a small school, it is an honor to be selected for this award. It gives me more push for next season, especially after going through confidence problems this year. It gives me that recognition and makes me feel seen.”
Pecina was a near guaranteed double-double this season, accomplishing the feat in all but two of 31 contests this year. The junior guard also added 15 triple-doubles this year.
Offensively, Pecina led the team in points per game, scoring 18.0 a night on a 44% clip from the field and 38% from beyond the arc. Both percentages ranked first on the team.
When she wasn’t scoring, Pecina was dishing out assists to her teammates, averaging a team-high 7.8 assists per game.
Pecina’s efforts continued on defense, averaging a team-high 14.8 rebounds per game and nabbing a ridiculous 7.5 steals per contest.
“I started off playing ball really young,” Pecina said. “I’ve had a bunch of different coaches and played on a bunch of different teams. I’ve played different positions for each team. I had to make myself a different player for each team. I’ve never been a stats person. I’ve just tried my best to do everything I can to get a win.”
Pecina’s play led the Red Ants to a 21-12 overall record, including a 12-4 mark in district play.
She opened the playoffs with a 19-point, 18 rebound double-double to help lead the Red Ants past Donna IDEA 49-25 and into the area round. Pecina also added six assists and five steals that game.
After falling in the area round, Pecina has her eyes set on bigger things during her final season, hoping to build off her impressive junior year and turn it into deeper postseason success.
Most Improved Player of the Year: Lola Mallard, McAllen High
Junior year presented a new challenge for McAllen High’s Lola Mallard on the hardwood, going from an option on the team’s offense to the Bulldogs’ go-to scorer.
Mallard took the challenge head on and emerged as one of the top hoopers in the RGV, setting career highs in nearly every statistical category. She is The Monitor’s 2023 All-Area Girls Basketball Most Improved Player of the Year.
“I’m grateful for this,” Mallard said. “I’m grateful for my team and for God that I am able to have this opportunity. I just want to use it to help me grow more in my skills.”
Graduation hit the Bulldogs hard over the summer, leaving Mallard as one of team’s most experienced players this season.
Mallard took the challenge head on, upping her scoring average from 5.8 points per game as a sophomore to 14.1 this year. Her scoring numbers ranked well ahead of everyone on her team, with no other player averaging more than five.
“I feel like my driving helped me take the game to another level this year,” Mallard said. “This year I drove a lot more, while last year I was more afraid to do that. Honestly, my mentality just flipped. I knew I had to get the ball in the basket. I have the skill to do it, so I knew I just had to get in there and do it.”
Mallard’s scoring numbers weren’t the only ones to see a jump. The junior guard increased her rebound per game from 3.1 to 5.8 this season, also seeing an uptick in steals from 1.6 to 3.0 and assists from 1.8 to 1.5.
Her rebound and steal numbers set new career bests, while her assists ranked second in her high school career behind her freshman year when she averaged 2.0 per contest.
Mallard’s play kept the Bulldogs in playoff contention for most of the season, just missing out on a postseason berth down the stretch.
The now-senior leads an experienced group of individuals into next season, hoping to continue to build off her breakout season and get McAllen High back into the playoffs.
Coach of the Year: Jaime Gonzalez, Harvest Christian
Expectations were high for Harvest Christian this season after falling just short of a TAPPS 2A state title last season.
The Eagles responded to the expectations in dominant fashion under the tutelage of head coach Jaime Gonzalez, setting a program record in wins and capturing the TAPPS 1A state title.
For his coaching efforts, Gonzalez is The Monitor’s 2023 All-Area Girls Basketball Coach of the Year.
“It is a pretty high honor,” Gonzalez said. “Honestly, I think there are whole lot of other coaches better than I am, and I sincerely mean that. I think I’m just blessed with an opportunity being at Harvest to do this with my daughters and the kids that I got.”
Gonzalez knew he had a good team heading into this year, returning nearly every player from last season’s state semifinalist squad.
All he had to do was sit back and let them figure it out on the court, Gonzalez said, crediting his players for the season’s success.
The team was able to piece things together through a gauntlet of a season constructed by Gonzalez, which included contests against several UIL Class 4A-6A opponents.
The Eagles posted a 35-7 overall mark this year, a new program best, including wins over UIL playoff teams La Feria, La Joya High, Los Fresnos and Rio Hondo.
Their tough regular season schedule set up a dominant postseason run, outscoring their four playoff opponents 291-95 en route to the TAPPS 1A state title.
“I’ve said it a couple of times this year, but I have a good thing going here. I just got to make sure I don’t get in the way,” Gonzalez said. “It is an honor, but I feel like there is a whole lot of other coaches better than I am. When you’re in the right place at the right time and you’re doing what God has called you to do, his blessing is on it and the results just are really good. It makes me look better than I really am.”
