DeSoto’s defense, leadership lift youthful Bonanza

Bonanza's boys volleyball team returned only two players from the team that won the 2011 state championship.

But the Bengals brought back their key defensive cog.

Senior libero Kenny DeSoto, the team leader in digs for the past three seasons, was named Southwest League Most Valuable Player by league coaches.

"He was pretty much the heart and soul of our defense," said Bonanza coach Joe Cap, who earned coach of the year honors. "We knew if he was out there, he'd make a play, and we could extend every rally."

DeSoto and Brycen Duckworth were the lone returners to this year's squad. The Bengals (15-4) also placed Duckworth, Kavanaugh Buck and Mitchell Barnes on the all-league first team.

"All the kids looked up to him with his knowledge and experience," Cap said of DeSoto, who had a team-high 512 digs and 439 serves received. "Once we got closer to the playoffs, Kenny stepped up his game and set the tempo for all the other guys to follow. They knew they had to get up to Kenny's level, or be left behind."

Sierra Vista's Paolo Lee, Bishop Gorman's Matt Lychock and Brian Fulmara and Desert Oasis' Alex Trillo rounded out the all-league first team.

Garrett Jones was named Northeast League MVP after leading Las Vegas High to another 14-0 league record. The Wildcats' Sue Thurman took coach of the year honors.

Silverado's Kyle Divicino claimed MVP honors in the Southeast League, helping the Skyhawks to a league title. First-year Silverado coach Kevin Schwallie was coach of the year.

Shadow Ridge's Tanner Maxwell and Palo Verde's Trent Gneiting shared MVP in the Northwest League, and first-year Shadow Ridge coach Trace Venable took coach of the year.

■ GOLF HONORS - Foothill's Taylor Montgomery and Shadow Ridge's Ben Davis were named golfers of the year for the Sunrise and Sunset regions, respectively.

Montgomery and Davis were joined on the All-Southern Nevada team by Arbor View's Zane Thomas, Coronado's A.J. McInerney and Matt Welch, Desert Oasis' Soungjae Baek and Niko Gonnella, Pahrump Valley's Dorian Patel and Palo Verde's Dillon Dudley and Brandon Bauman.

Coronado's Joe Sawaia took Sunrise coach of the year, and Gorman's Ben Gutman and Palo Verde's Todd Steffenhagen shared Sunset coach of the year.

Lake Mead's Quayd Brooks and Needles' Darron Wilson were each named to the Class 2A all-state first team.

White Pine's Ty Pickel was named 2A player of the year, and coach of the year was shared by Whittell's Steve Maltaste and Needles' Bill Darrow.

■ SMALL-SCHOOL HONORS - Boulder City senior outfielder Michael Hernandez was named MVP in Class 3A Southern League baseball, and Moapa Valley's Justin Williams took coach of the year.

Pahranagat Valley senior right-hander Kade Wadsworth was named 1A Southern League player of the year.

In 1A Central League baseball, Spring Mountain junior right-hander Joseph Skeirik and Round Mountain junior right-hander Emitt Davis shared MVP, and coach of the year went to Round Mountain's Jake Topholm.

In softball, Indian Springs senior pitcher Brandi Bryl was named 1A Southern League MVP, and coach of the year went to Indian Springs' Steve Lawson.

■ ALL-STAR GAMES ABOUND - The Southern Nevada Baseball Coaches Association All-Star Game will be played at 6:30 p.m. today at the College of Southern Nevada's Morse Stadium. It will follow a senior exhibition game, set for 3:30 at CSN.

The 41st West Charleston Lions Club Charity All-Star Football Game will be played at 7 p.m. June 2 at Bishop Gorman High.

The Senior All-Star Game in boys basketball is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. June 2 at Tarkanian Basketball Academy. An exhibition game is set for 5.