Washougal’s Bea named AP’s 2A state player of the year

Washougal senior Beyonce Bea was named the Associated Press’ Class 2A girls basketball player of the year Wednesday, as voted on by media members statewide.

Bea, a three-time 2A Greater St. Helens League MVP and program’s career scoring leader, led the Panthers to their first state title last month, capping a career that includes four league titles in addition to a district title this past season. The Idaho signee was a unanimous pick for 2A player of the year and also was a first-team all-state pick who averaged better than 17.5 points and 9.7 rebounds per game.

In the 2A state championship game in Yakima, Bea scored a game-high 30 points, including 12 of her team’s 14 overtime points, and grabbed 15 rebounds in a 49-40 overtime win over East Valley (Spokane).

Bea is one of seven Clark County players earn all-state honors. Prairie seniors Brooke Walling (first-team) and Cassidy Gardner (honorable mention) earned honors in Class 3A girls, and Union’s Ethan Smith is honorable mention for Class 4A boys. Walling, bound for Fresno State, earned 3A all-tournament MVP honors and Gardner (Portland State signee) led the Falcons in scoring, as both helped Prairie win its first state title since 2012. Smith, the 4A GSHL co-MVP, made 104 3-pointers leading the Titans back to the state tournament.

In 1A, La Center’s Hunter Ecklund (1A boys first-team), King’s Way Christian’s Khalfani Cason (1A boys honorable mention) and Taylor Stephens (1A girls first-team) earned all-state honors. Ecklund, a junior and Trico League MVP, led the Wildcats back to the 1A state tournament and Cason helped the Knights to their best state finish in program history (second place). Stephens, the Trico League’s co-MVP headed to Central Washington next season, became the girls basketball program’s career scoring leader this past season.

Gonzaga Prep’s Anton Watson and Kamiakin’s Oumou Toure were voted the all-classification boys and girls basketball players of the year.

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2019 Associated Press all-state basketball teams

BOYS

State player of the year, all classes _ Anton Watson, sr., Gonzaga Prep.

CLASS 4A

Player of the year _ Anton Watson, sr., Gonzaga Prep.

First team _ Anton Watson, sr., Gonzaga Prep; Jaden McDaniels, sr., Federal Way; Jabe Mullins, jr., Mount Si; Zack Paulsen, sr., Curtis; Colten Northrop, sr., Richland.

Honorable mention _ Tari Eason, jr., Federal Way; Ethan Smith, sr., Union.

CLASS 3A

Player of the year _ Shaw Anderson, sr., Kelso.

First team _ Shaw Anderson, sr., Kelso; Paolo Banchero, soph., O’Dea; MarJon Beauchamp, jr., Rainier Beach; RaeQuan Battle, sr., Marysville-Pilchuck; Tyson Degenhart, soph., Mt. Spokane.

Honorable mention _ Maurice Barnett, sr., Franklin.

CLASS 2A

Player of the year _ Clayton Whitman, sr., Lynden.

First team _ Clayton Whitman, sr., Lynden; Micah Pollard, sr., Foss; Noah Pepper, soph., Selah; Elijah Pepper, sr., Selah; Steele Venters, sr., Ellensburg.

Honorable mention _ Demarco Williams, sr., Renton; Brandton Chatfield, sr., Clarkston; Christian Zamora, sr., Lynden.

CLASS 1A

Player of the year _ Cole Bajema, sr., Lynden Christian.

First team _ Cole Bajema, sr., Lynden Christian; Antonio Salinas, sr., Zillah; Mason Landdeck, soph., Cashmere; Kody Newman, sr., South Whidbey; Hunter Ecklund, jr., La Center.

Honorable mention _ Jobi Gelder, jr., Deer Park; Khalfani Cason, sr., King’s Way Christian; Tyler Linhardt, fr., King’s.

CLASS 2B

Player of the year _ Brock Ravet, sr., Kittitas.

First team _ Brock Ravet, sr., Kittitas; Erik Farias, sr., St. George’s; Caleb Harris, sr., Kittitas; Fano Arceo-Hansen, sr. Toledo; Matt Pearson, sr., Willapa Valley.

Honorable mention _ Alex Weirth, sr., Crosspoint; Issak Ottmar, sr., Liberty (Spangle); Joe Taylor, sr., Brewster; Cade Gebbers, soph., Brewster; Xander Werkman, sr., St. George’s; Carson Cloaninger, sr., Colfax.

CLASS 1B

Player of the year _ Ross Faber, sr., Sunnyside Christian.

First team _ Ross Faber, sr., Sunnyside Christian; Bryan Strom, jr. Yakama Nation; Lucas Dykstra, sr., Sunnyside Christian; Ryan Moffat, jr., Odessa; Bryce Strom, jr. Yakama Nation.

Honorable mention _ Maguire Isaak, sr., Almira-Coulee-Hartline; Kash Nichols, sr., Muckleshoot Tribal, Levi Rivera, jr., Riverside Christian; Sean Bitegeko, sr., Neah Bay.

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GIRLS

Player of the year, all classes _ Oumou Toure, sr., Kamiakin.

CLASS 4A

Player of the year _ Keeli Burton-Oliver, jr., Eastlake.

First team _ Keeli Burton-Oliver, jr., Eastlake; Jordyn Jenkins, jr., Kentridge; Mia Hughes, soph., Woodinville; JaQuaya Miller, sr., Kentride; Jacinta Buckley, sr., Lewis and Clark.

Honorable mention _ Ashlee Maldonado, sr., Sunnyside.

CLASS 3A

Player of the year _ Oumou Toure, sr., Kamiakin.

First team _ Oumou Toure, sr., Kamiakin; Brooke Walling, sr., Prairie; Brynna Maxwell, sr., Gig Harbor; Dalayah Daniels, jr., Garfield; Aspyn Adams, sr., Mt. Spokane.

Honorable mention _ Cassidy Gardner, sr., Prairie; Jayda Noble, jr., Mt. Spokane; Tiarra Brown, jr., Bethel; Olivia Wickstrom, jr., Bainbridge.

CLASS 2A

Player of the year _ Beyonce Bea, sr., Washougal.

First team _ Beyonce Bea, sr., Washougal; Genesis Wilkinson, sr., East Valley (Spokane); Ashlyn Wallace, soph., Clarkston; Janealle Sutterlict, sr., Wapato; Keylie Hershey, jr., Lynden.

Honorable mention _ Madison Cooke, soph., Port Angeles.

CLASS 1A

Player of the year _ Hailey Van Lith, jr., Cashmere.

First team _ Hailey Van Lith, jr., Cashmere; Taylor Stephens, sr., La Center; Isabela Hernandez, sr., Lynden Christian; Julianna Walker, soph., Annie Wright; Trista Hull, soph., La Salle.

Honorable mention _ Grace Sterk, sr., Lynden Christian; Jalyn Sackrider, jr., Elma; Irena Korolenko, jr., Cedar Park Christian; Allison Uecker, soph., Naches Valley.

CLASS 2B

Player of the year _ Talia von Oelhoffen, soph., Tri-Cities Prep.

First team _ Talia von Oelhoffen, soph., Tri-Cities Prep; Macie Elliott, sr., Wahkiakum; Erika Glenn; soph., Ilwaco; Kaeley Schultz, fr., Rainier; Maisie Burnham, jr., Liberty (Spangle).

Honorable mention _ Justine Benson, jr., La Conner; Kyra Gardner, fr., Raymond.

CLASS 1B

Player of the year _ Dakota Patchen, sr., Colton.

First team _ Dakota Patchen, sr., Colton; Gabi Isaak, sr., Almira-Coulee-Hartline; Maddy Dixon, soph., Pomeroy; Courtney Swan, soph., Neah Bay; Emily Schultheis, sr., Colton.

Honorable mention _ Denise Curley Bear, sr., Taholah; Lilli Zimmerman, sr., Naselle; Jenna Andringa, soph., Sunnyside Christian; Jada Liulamaga, soph., Yakama Nation; Ashley VanDam, sr., Grace Academy; Nettie Mal, sr., Taholah.