Here they are, The News Tribune’s annual all-area boys and girls basketball teams. Bellarmine Prep’s Abdul Gaddy and Kentwood’s Lindsey Moore were easy picks for Player of the Year honors. Filling out the first team was an entirely different matter. In an area deep with talent, narrowing the field to five players was difficult.
• ALL-AREA GIRLS
• ALL-AREA BOYS

ALL-AREA GIRLS

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: G Lindsey Moore 5-10, senior, Kentwood

Moore has played at a level above everyone else all season. The Class 4A state tournament was only the most recent example. She averaged 16.5 points per game in leading Kentwood to its first state title and tournament MVP honors. Kentwood lost only once all season, and that was when the SPSL North MVP sat out with a hamstring injury. The Conquerors were talented enough to have contended for a state title without Moore, but she made Kentwood unbeatable. She has signed to play at the University of Nebraska.

FIRST TEAM

G Nichole Jackson 5-9, senior, Auburn Riverside

Jackson’s season had its ups and downs, but the Portland State-signee remains one of the area’s top playmakers. She’s a great passer who can run the court, navigate in traffic and find open teammates. Jackson averaged 10 points per game this season and helped the Ravens place fourth at the Class 4A state tournament.

G Jessie Genger 5-11, senior, Kentwood

An all-around athlete – Genger also excels on the volleyball court. Genger is tall enough to do some work in the post and possesses a shooter’s touch that makes her a perimeter threat, too. The first-team all-SPSL North selection averaged 13.9 points per game.

G Mercedes Wetmore 5-8, junior, Auburn Riverside

Wetmore led a talented Ravens team in scoring with 15.4 points per game. The first-team all-SPSL North pick is quick to the hoop and can knock down the 3-pointer, too. She scored more than 20 points in a game five times and helped Auburn Riverside place fourth at state. She averaged 20.0 points a game at state and was voted to the all-tournament team.

G Simonne Potts 5-10, sophomore, Bellarmine Prep

The transfer from Virginia exploded onto the Narrows League this season. Potts averaged 12 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game, earning Bay Division MVP honors. Potts helped the Lions claim the league title and place eighth at the state tournament. Only a sophomore, her best is yet to come.

G Jacqie Evenson 5-10, senior, Federal Way

Federal Way has a few talented players, but the Eagles would not have reached the heights they did without Evenson. “She was the glue that held everything together,” coach Danny Graham said. A good shooter with an eye for passing, Evenson said she is considering walking on at Gonzaga.

SECOND TEAM

F Carrie Ojeda, 6-0, senior, Mount Tahoma

G Mechela Barnes, 5-9, junior, Bellarmine Prep

G Lauren Picha, 5-7, senior, Puyallup

F TyShana Burgess, 6-0, sophomore, Federal Way

F Kendall Williams, 6-2, senior, White River

COACH OF THE YEAR, Danny Graham, Federal Way

The third-year coached enjoyed a breakthrough season with the Eagles. Graham guided a youthful squad with little postseason experience to the third-place trophy at the Class 4A state tournament in the Eagles’ first trip to state in 11 years.

ALL-AREA BOYS

PLAYER OF THE YEAR; PG Abdul Gaddy 6-3, senior, Bellarmine Prep

A two-time All-Area Player of the Year, Gaddy is one of the best high school basketball players Tacoma has produced. A McDonald’s All-American and rated the No. 13 prospect in the country by Rivals.com, the Lions point guard can score in bunches, but also works to get teammates open. Gaddy will take his polished game to the University of Washington.

FIRST TEAM

F Joshua Smith 6-9, junior, Kentwood

The SPSL North MVP creates mismatches that no area team can account for. He’s so smooth, athletic and strong that teams have taken to fouling him instead of defending. Despite that, he averaged a double-double with 24 points and 16 rebounds per game. Considered one of the best big men in the Class of 2010, he could be an unstoppable force if his free throw shooting improves and teams are forced to defend him.

G Marcus Tibbs 6-1, senior, Decatur

A three-time All-Area selection, the fifth-year senior averaged 16.4 points and more than six assists per game in leading the Gators to the SPSL South title. Tibbs is capable of taking over games – he scored more than 20 points eight times – but instead of forcing shots, Tibbs would look to get the ball to teammates. Seattle University, Montana, Montana State, Portland State and San Francisco have been in contact with Tibbs.

G Gary Bell 6-1, sophomore, Kentridge

If folks didn’t know about Bell before the Class 4A state tournament, they do now. Bell blistered Inglemoor for 32 points in the quarterfinals, helped the Chargers place third and was voted to the all-tournament first team. Bell, who averaged 18.9 points per game, has been offered a scholarship by the University of Washington, and Cal has shown interest, too.

F Cole Dickerson 6-7, junior, Federal Way

When the Eagles needed big baskets in the Class 4A championship game, they went to Dickerson. The lanky junior with excellent footwork and shooting touch went 9-for-13 from the field in the title game, helping Federal Way win its first state title. That’s the kind of performance Dickerson gave his team all season, averaging 17.5 points per game and earning first-team all-SPSL North honors.

C John Gage, 6-9, junior, Vashon

Gage saved his best for last. He shot 60.4 percent from the field and averaged a double-double with 20.5 points and 12 rebounds per game at the Class 1A state tournament, leading the Pirates to their first state championship. Gage dominated the opposition all season, but he’d easily hold his own in a larger classification. Washington, Cal, WSU and Gonzaga have all shown interest.

SECOND TEAM

C Kevin Davis, 6-8, senior, Beamer

C Killian Larson, 6-9, senior, Puyallup

G Darnell Williams, 5-10, senior, Curtis

G Michael Hale III, 5-10, senior, Federal Way

G LuQuam Thompson, 5-10, senior, Foss

COACH OF THE YEAR: Mike Cocke’, Foss

The first-year coach had a heck of a rookie season. The Stadium High graduate guided the Falcons to the Narrows League Bridge Division title and the Narrows League tournament crown. Foss also reached the finals of the West Central District tournament and the Class 4A state semifinals for the first time since 2000.

Capsules by Doug Pacey, The News Tribune