Needles boys rewarded for historic basketball season

The Needles (Calif.) boys basketball team enjoyed a historic season, racing to a 14-0 league record and its first Class 2A state title since 2002.

So when the 2A Southern League postseason honors recently were announced, the Mustangs were rewarded.

Needles had five players receive all-league honors, led by senior guard Stevie Kidd, who took Player of the Year.

Needles also had senior forward Darra Russell named to the first team, freshman forward Michael Hills to the second team and freshman center Aaron Burns and junior swingman Anthony Ramos to the honorable-mention squad.

“With Stevie Kidd being Player of the Year, it’s well deserved,” Needles coach Jeff Plank said. “He plays both offense and defense 100 percent. He really hustles and plays hard.

“He’s worked really hard in the offseason to become a better player.”

Needles (31-6) outlasted Agassi Prep, 81-78, for the 2A state title on Saturday at the Orleans Arena.

Coach of the Year went to The Meadows’ Gary Hannig, who guided the Mustangs to an 8-6 league record.

The first team is comprised of Russell, Lincoln County’s Dantley Walker, Agassi Prep’s DeShawn Battle and Aerontay Shepherd, Calvary Chapel’s Dario Rahming and Mountain View’s Justyn Anderson.

The second team is comprised of Hills, Lincoln County’s Eric Rippetoe, The Meadows’ Austin Brown, Agassi Prep’s Quincy Brown, West Wendover’s Brandon Hoston and White Pine’s Wade Wilkinson.