Central Valley High School's varsity girls basketball team successfully defended its Western Athletic Conference championship this season.
The Hawks (10-2) won their second straight title, first outright, thanks to the stellar play of Brittany Martinez, Valerie Olide, Diana Carmona and Vivien Fermil.
The quartet was recognized during the WAC year-end coaches meeting on Feb. 27 in Turlock.
Central Valley leader Jesse Padilla was the the conference's coach of the year for the second straight season.
"I had a good group of players and coaches," he said. "They (Martinez, Olide, Carmona and Fermil) were the workhorses all year."
Brittany, a 6-foot-2 junior center, was selected to the WAC first team.
Martinez finished second in MVP voting behind Los Banos' Brianna Harden
Brittany averaged 11.3 points, 12.8 rebounds, 3.1 blocks, 1.5 steals and shot 46 percent from the field.
Brianna averaged 13.9 points, 12.3 rebounds, 2.5 steals, 1.5 blocks and shot 39 percent from the floor.
Central Valley had a 2-0 record versus second-place Los Banos.
Martinez totaled 29 points, 24 rebounds and seven blocks.
Harden had 24 points, 27 rebounds and three blocks.
"I knew it was going to be close," Padilla said. "I wasn't going to argue. It is what it is. Brianna is a good player. She's a senior. She's going to San Francisco State. Brittany had a pretty solid year too. She matured a lot. It (not being voted MVP) is going to make her work harder. I'm going to hold it over her."
Olide, a senior forward who missed the previous season due to poor grades, earned second-team honors.
She averaged 8.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game.
Valerie shot 67 percent (30 of 45) from the free-throw line.
"We could always count on her," Padilla said.
Senior backcourt mates Carmona and Fermil received honorable-mention accolades.
Diana averaged 9.3 points, 4.2 steals, 3.4 assists and 2.4 rebounds per game.
Vivien averaged 9.3 points, 2.7 assists and 1.1 steals. She made 24 3-pointers.
Ceres High junior Bryce Ford was voted to the WAC first team. She was named the league's MVP as a sophomore. Ford led the conference in scoring (14.5 ppg) this year. She also averaged 8.5 rebounds.
"I'm happy for her," Bulldogs head coach Vanessa Morris said. "She did a lot for us."
The Hawks (10-2) won their second straight title, first outright, thanks to the stellar play of Brittany Martinez, Valerie Olide, Diana Carmona and Vivien Fermil.
The quartet was recognized during the WAC year-end coaches meeting on Feb. 27 in Turlock.
Central Valley leader Jesse Padilla was the the conference's coach of the year for the second straight season.
"I had a good group of players and coaches," he said. "They (Martinez, Olide, Carmona and Fermil) were the workhorses all year."
Brittany, a 6-foot-2 junior center, was selected to the WAC first team.
Martinez finished second in MVP voting behind Los Banos' Brianna Harden
Brittany averaged 11.3 points, 12.8 rebounds, 3.1 blocks, 1.5 steals and shot 46 percent from the field.
Brianna averaged 13.9 points, 12.3 rebounds, 2.5 steals, 1.5 blocks and shot 39 percent from the floor.
Central Valley had a 2-0 record versus second-place Los Banos.
Martinez totaled 29 points, 24 rebounds and seven blocks.
Harden had 24 points, 27 rebounds and three blocks.
"I knew it was going to be close," Padilla said. "I wasn't going to argue. It is what it is. Brianna is a good player. She's a senior. She's going to San Francisco State. Brittany had a pretty solid year too. She matured a lot. It (not being voted MVP) is going to make her work harder. I'm going to hold it over her."
Olide, a senior forward who missed the previous season due to poor grades, earned second-team honors.
She averaged 8.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game.
Valerie shot 67 percent (30 of 45) from the free-throw line.
"We could always count on her," Padilla said.
Senior backcourt mates Carmona and Fermil received honorable-mention accolades.
Diana averaged 9.3 points, 4.2 steals, 3.4 assists and 2.4 rebounds per game.
Vivien averaged 9.3 points, 2.7 assists and 1.1 steals. She made 24 3-pointers.
Ceres High junior Bryce Ford was voted to the WAC first team. She was named the league's MVP as a sophomore. Ford led the conference in scoring (14.5 ppg) this year. She also averaged 8.5 rebounds.
"I'm happy for her," Bulldogs head coach Vanessa Morris said. "She did a lot for us."
