Gators hitter honored

Green Valley senior outside hitter Siga Appelgate was named Gatorade Nevada Volleyball Player of the Year on Wednesday.

Appelgate, who signed with Pacific in November, led the Gators (30-7) to the Class 4A state title match, where they fell 3-1 to Silverado. The 6-foot-1-inch Appelgate had 488 kills and 51 aces on the season.

She now is a finalist for the Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year honor.

• VARNER HONORED -- Green Valley girls soccer star Kayla Varner was named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/adidas Girls High School All-America Team.

Varner, a junior forward who has given an oral commitment to Brigham Young, had eight goals and 16 assists last season in leading Green Valley to a 12-1-1 Southeast League record.

• HOLIDAY TOURNEYS -- Several area holiday basketball tournaments begin this week.

The first full day of the boys Bishop Gorman Holiday Tournament begins at 1 p.m. today at Gorman. Play at Faith Lutheran begins at 3:40. The title game is at 6:20 p.m. Saturday at Gorman.

Durango's Amare Stoudemire Each 1 Teach 1 National Invitational begins at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, with a handful of games being played at Sawyer Middle School. The Stoudemire Bracket final is at 3:15 p.m. Wednesday, and the Each 1 Teach 1 Bracket final will follow at 5.

The Sierra Vista Invitational boys and girls tournaments will start at 10 a.m. (girls) and 11:20 (boys) Saturday, with title games slated for 3 p.m. (girls) and 4:30 (boys) Tuesday.

Henderson International's Rock Holiday Classic begins at 9:30 a.m. (girls) and 11 (boys) Friday, with title games set for 6:30 p.m. (girls) and 8 (boys) Monday.

• 3A AWARDS -- Truckee (Calif.) dominated the Class 3A all-state football team as voted by coaches, though Moapa Valley senior Colby Powell took Lineman of the Year.

Moapa Valley receiver Matt Newton, center Cameron Lim, Powell and Boulder City running back Devin Combs took first-team offense honors. Moapa Valley's Powell, defensive end Lim, defensive back Newton and linebacker Jake Pearce were first-team defense picks.