The News Tribune’s 2022 All-Area girls basketball team
Each year, with input from local coaches, The News Tribune selects its All-Area girls basketball team.
This year, 10 high schools from the South Sound are represented by players and coaches selected to the first and second teams.
The 12 spots, broken down by leagues, are 4A South Puget Sound League (six), 4A North Puget Sound League (two), 3A Pierce County League (one), 3A North Puget Sound League (one), 2A EvCo (one) and 1A Nisqually (one).
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
ALYSON DEAVER
Sumner
Guard, 6-1, sr.
What a comeback story for Deaver, who missed much of her first two high school basketball seasons with knee injuries. She finally emerged as one of the area’s top players as a junior — she was named the 2021 spring MVP of the 4A SPSL — but the state tournament was canceled because of the pandemic. Finally, she got her chance to shine this year, leading Sumner all the way to the 4A state championship game at the Tacoma Dome, where the Spartans fell to top-seeded Woodinville, 65-63. Deaver had a double-double in the loss, scoring 20 points and bringing down 10 rebounds. Deaver, who can score from anywhere on the floor, made her living attacking the rim and with her nose for the basketball, scoring often on second-chance points. Deaver averaged 24.5 points and 10 rebounds on the season, leading the Spartans to the 4A SPSL title and the District 3/4 tournament title. “She’s difficult to guard,” said Sumner coach Katie Hyppa. “She can attack. She can shoot. Defensively, she’s long. She’s active, which made it difficult for players to attack her on the defensive end. She has a lot of different weapons. She’s a multi-threat. It’s not like she could just do one thing.” Alongside her twin sister Catelyn, Deaver is committed to Dixie State (Utah).
COACH OF THE YEAR
Katie Hyppa
Sumner
Hyppa inherited a good situation in her first year as the Spartans’ head coach and made the most of it, leading Sumner to a 24-3 overall record, the 4A SPSL title, the District 3/4 title and a run all the way to the 4A state championship game, collecting wins over Camas and Pasco in the Tacoma Dome, before falling to top-seeded Woodinville, 65-63, in a championship game heartbreaker. The second-place finish was the best in program history and the first time Sumner had placed in the state tournament.
FIRST TEAM
AUBREY AMENDALA
Tumwater
Guard, 5-5, sr.
Co-MVP of the 2A EvCo alongside teammate Natalie Sumrok, Amendala ran the show for the T-Birds, which spent much of the year as the No. 1 ranked team in Class 2A. Tumwater picked up wins over 4A state champion Woodinville (78-55), 4A state tournament team Camas (53-50) and 3A state tournament runner-up Lake Washington (64-45) this winter. Amendala, a four-time 2A EvCo all-league first-team selection, averaged 15 points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals. Utah Tech commit.
CATELYN DEAVER
Sumner
Guard, 6-1, sr.
If twin sister Alyson was the fire, Catelyn may have been the ice, a constant threat to knock down outside shots for the 4A state tournament runner-up Spartans. First-team 4A SPSL selection averaged 12.2 points, 10 rebounds and three assists per game for Sumner this season. “She was our glue,” said Sumner coach Katie Hyppa. “She does it all. She does it all. She defended well, brought the ball up the floor, does the little things that matter. She hit huge shots for us at state when we needed them.” Will attend Dixie State with her sister.
HOPE HASSMANN
Tahoma
Guard, 5-8, jr.
The two-time 4A NPSL MVP and knockdown shooter filled up the stat sheet again during the 2021-22 season, averaging 21.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 3.7 steals per game for the Bears. Hassmann is a Cal Poly commit.
JAZMYN SHIPP
Bonney Lake
Center, 6-0, soph.
The 3A PCL MVP was a load in the paint for the Panthers, beating opponents all season long with her power, quick footwork and a soft touch. Led the Panthers to a berth in the 3A state tournament at the Tacoma Dome and did everything in her power to keep Bonney Lake playing, scoring 27 points and hauling in six rebounds in an opening-round loss to Snohomish. On the season, Shipp averaged 18.5 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists. Also played outside for the Panthers at times.
JAZMYN STONE
Annie Wright
Guard, 5-6, sr.
1A Nisqually MVP was one of the top players in Tacoma this season and ran the show for the Gators, averaging 26 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 4.6 steals per game. A knockdown shooter and high-level defender, Stone led the Gators to a 15-1 overall record and to the regional round of the 1A state tournament. College of Charleston signee.
SECOND TEAM
Monique Carter, Emerald Ridge, jr.
Jenai Ancheta, Rogers, sr.
Kiara Stone, Bellarmine Prep, soph.
Madelyn Brown, Auburn, sr.
Jersey Huerta, Kentwood, jr.
This story was originally published March 18, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
