Yamzon, Jackson share 2A basketball honors

Lake Mead junior guard Justin Yamzon and Agassi Prep senior forward Kalinn Jackson have been named Co-Players of the Year in Class 2A Southern League boys basketball by league coaches.

Yamzon, a 5-foot-5-inch sharpshooter, averaged 30.3 points, 4.1 assists and 2.6 steals in carrying the Eagles (12-16) to the league semifinals.

Jackson, a 6-1 swingman, averaged 17.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists for the Stars (22-5), who won the regular-season league title with a 13-1 record.

The Meadows' Gary Hannig and Agassi Prep's Wendell West, coaches for the teams that advanced to the 2A state tournament, shared Coach of the Year.

First-team all-league honors went to The Meadows' Garrett Gosse and Max Newman, Agassi Prep's Anson Williams and DeCari Lide, Needles' Aaron Burns and Lincoln County's Chandler Katschke.

In girls basketball, Mountain View senior guard Briana Marruffo was named 2A Southern League Player of the Year.

Marruffo, a 5-5 point guard, averaged 19.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 5.7 steals in helping the Saints (16-12) clinch their first state tournament bid since rising to Class 2A in 2008-09.

Mountain View's Mike Valenzuela was named Coach of the Year.

First-team all-league honors went to Lincoln County's Leti Escobedo and Lacee Babcock, Needles' Holly Laswell and Abby Chandler, Calvary Chapel's Deja Harris and Lake Mead's Taylor Badua-Kono.

In 1A Southern League boys basketball, Spring Mountain junior center Roemello Brandon and Pahranagat Valley junior guard Tyler Higbee were named Co-Most Valuable Players.

The 6-3 Brandon led the Eagles (23-6) to the league tournament title. The 5-11 Higbee led the Panthers (18-9) to the regular-season league title.

First-team all-league honors went to Spring Mountain's Tyrice Hall and Marqion White, Pahranagat Valley's Chase and Derek Hansen, Round Mountain's Serjio Chavez and Mitchell Doheny, Beatty's Jose Moreno and Sandy Valley's Ryan Hagan.

Spring Mountain's Ed Cheltenham was named Coach of the Year.