Wright sets bar high for Canyon Springs

When Kenosha Wright came to Canyon Springs as a freshman, the school's girls basketball team was merely an afterthought.

Winning a game was a big accomplishment for the Pioneers.

Getting to the playoffs was a pipe dream, and winning a league title -- well, that was unheard of.

Thanks to Wright and her classmates, the Pioneers have a new bar by which to measure themselves.

A 5-foot-10-inch senior post, Wright led the Pioneers to a share of the Northeast League title and a spot in the Sunrise Region semifinals this season. She was named the league's Most Valuable Player.

"She really came through this year," Canyon Springs coach Analese Alvarez said. "The obvious contributions are her scoring and rebounds, but her all-around game, especially the leadership she showed, was key for us."

Wright led the Pioneers in scoring at nearly 14 points per game and in rebounding at a clip of 7.0 per game.

She and classmate Diamond Broadus gave Canyon Springs a 1-2 punch in the post that few Northeast teams could match.

When Wright, Broadus and fellow seniors Faith Harper and Bianca Johnson were freshmen, the Pioneers were 1-19. They finished 15-8, including a 13-1 mark in league, this year.

"It's all because of them," Alvarez said. "When I picked up the program (three years ago), I was on that class. I knew if I could get them to come back and stick to the program, there was so much potential."

Wright has left the program in far better shape than when she entered, and she might not be done making an impact.

"I believe she can play at the next level," Alvarez said. "We know she has the talent and potential. It's becoming more of an actual reality for a girl at Canyon Springs to be able to play at the next level. By the younger girls seeing how hard she works, it shows the hard work and dedication can pay off."

Valley's Shayna Porter and Christina Davis join Las Vegas High's Natresha Bernard and Shomari Harris and Chaparral's Jacquie Ferguson on the Northeast first team.

The Southeast League MVP is Liberty senior guard Amanda Delgado. On the Southeast first team are: Liberty's Jade Washington, Silverado's Natalie Lainhart, Green Valley's Mackenzie Butler, Basic's Kailai Brantner and Foothill's Cheryl Harless.

The Northwest League had co-MVPs with Mojave senior guard Jazzmine Robinson and Centennial sophomore post Jada Brown sharing the honor. On the first team are: Centennial's Ashley Klemz and Tamera Williams, Palo Verde's Jasmin Kiley, Legacy's Shakita Cox and Cimarron-Memorial's Traci Parks.

Sierra Vista senior guard Jeanette Jackson is the Southwest's MVP. On the league's first team are: Bishop Gorman's Amber Lane and Chelsie Pitt, Desert Oasis' Tatiana Kearn, Durango's Tiarra Beville, Pahrump Valley's Alyson Kunzi and Sierra Vista's Marley Wakeen.

The coaches of the year are: Valley's Roger Hansen, Northeast; Liberty's Quintin Lester, Southeast; Palo Verde's Phil Clarke, Northwest; and Desert Oasis' Laurie Evans, Southwest.

Contact reporter Bartt Davis at bdavis@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5230.