All-Sierra Nevada hoops named

The Nevada Appeal debuts a new feature in today's sports section, the all-Sierra Nevada boys and girls basketball teams.

In the past, Nevada Appeal staff had chosen all-Carson Country teams in football, volleyball, boys and girls soccer, boys and girls basketball, baseball and softball. The teams consisted of players from Carson, Douglas, Galena, Dayton, Fernley and Yerington High Schools.

Now the Appeal has expanded the teams to include all players from teams that are covered on a regular basis by publications in the Tahoe-Carson Area Newspapers group. Newspapers in the group are the Appeal, the Record-Courier in Gardnerville, the Lahontan Valley News in Fallon, the Sierra Sun in Truckee and in the Lake Tahoe area, the Tahoe Daily Tribune, the Bonanza and the Tahoe World.

This year's boys basketball team is represented by five players from teams who advanced to the NIAA State Basketball Championships. Northern 4A champion Galena is represented by three players - Derek Lorenzen, Chad Seidenstricker and Luke Babbitt.

Trent Wood represents Dayton, the Northern 3A champion and 3A State runner-up while Yerington, who also advanced to the State 3A tournament, is represented by Dylan Johnson.

Carson has three players represented on the teams - Nicole Scott and Andrea Hoff for the girls and Brian Welch for the boys. Douglas has four players represented - Brittany Puzey, Erin Brinkmeyer and Tammy Gough for the girls and Keith Olson for the boys.

Erin Brinkmeyer, 5-9, sr., Douglas: Scored almost 500 points this past season, averaged 17.1 points a game to help the Tigers finish second in the Sierra League and advance to the regional tournament semifinals. All-Northern 4A and all league first team selection.

Andrea Hoff, 5-11, sr., Carson: Her inside presence was key for the Senators on their way to fourth-place in the Sierra League and playoff berth. Earned second-team all-league recognition.

Nicole Scott, 6-2, jr., Carson: A forward who showed an ability to score from the outside as well as the inside. A second-team all-league choice.

Brittany Puzey, 5-9, sr., Douglas: Averaged 15.3 points a game. All-Northern 4A and all-league first-team. Has signed to play softball at Nevada.

Katarina Olivo, 5-10, jr., Fallon: Was a team leader and key inside threat for the Greenwave. Averaged 14.8 points a game on her way to first-team All-Northern 4A and all-league recognition.

Liz Lewis, 5-7, sr., Fallon: An outside threat that any team needed to keep track of. Averaged 10.9 points a game. First-team all-region and all-league.

Caitlin Anderson, 5-9, jr., Galena: Averaged 15 points and 8.5 rebounds a game and was a force on the final night of the regular season in leading the Grizzlies to a playoff-clinching win over McQueen. Was an all-Northern 4A first-team choice and an all-league first team.

Caitlin Crofts, 5-8, jr., Galena: A point guard who averaged 9 points and 4 assists. Was an all-league second team pick.

Tammy Gough, 5-7, sr., Douglas - A three-year varsity starter for the Tigers whose stats didn't reflect her contribution. An excellent ball handler and floor leader at point guard and all-league second-team pick.

Amanda Sbragia, 5-11, sr., Dayton: Led the way as the Dust Devils reached the Northern 3A playoffs this season. A first-team all-league selection. She was the region and state 3A player of the year in volleyball.

HONORABLE MENTION

Kelli Weyrick, Carson; Katelyn Pakes, South Tahoe; Rosella Nunez, Carson; Jessica Bettencourt, South Tahoe; Alyse Iverson, Galena; Becky Murphy, Fernley; Michele Beach, Fallon; Ashley Sloan, Fallon; Katryna Kacirek, Whittell; Monica Knight, Douglas; Sara Johnston, Carson; Jessica Woods, Whittell.

BOYS

Derek Lorenzen, 6-5, sr., Galena: Sierra Nevada sportswriters all-Northern 4A player of the year, all-Northern 4A first team, all-High Desert League first-team. Lorenzen shot 80 percent from the foul line and 49 percent on three-pointers. He averaged 19 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game.

Luke Babbitt, 6-7, fr. Galena: Babbitt shot 73 percent from the foul line and averaged 12.6 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game and was a factor for the Grizzlies in their drive to the regional tournament title.

Chad Seidenstricker, 6-2, sr., Galena: The point guard ran the offense and guarded the opponents' best player most often. He averaged 7.6 points, 4 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals.

Brian Welch, 5-11, sr., Carson: A three-year varsity veteran who played well inside and on the perimeter. He averaged 14.4 points and 8.2 rebounds a game. First-team all-league and second-team All-Northern 4A choice.

Keith Olson, 6-10, so., Douglas: Averaged 18.6 points and 12.6 rebounds a game. All-Northern 4A and all-league first-team in his second varsity season.

Jared Wood, 6-4, jr., South Tahoe: An All-league first-team pick who averaged 16 points and 9.8 rebounds. "He scored, rebounded and handled the ball for us. He consistently put forth a solid effort for us," South Tahoe coach Derek Allister said.

Jamie Maehler, 6-4, sr., Tahoe-Truckee: Northern 3A MVP and first-team all-state. Averaged 15.7 points and 9.8 rebounds. He has signed to play football as a wide receiver at Army.

Steve Stern, 6-5, sr., Fallon: Named first-team all-league and second-team All-Northern 4A. Averaged 13.8 points and 11 rebounds a game, and came up big against the stronger teams.

Jeff Weed, 6-0, sr., Fallon: Though he sustained a fractured elbow at the end of his soccer season, Weed averaged 10.6 points and was the Greenwave's primary outside threat. Helped Fallon win the state academic championship (3.77 team gpa).

Dylan Johnson, 5-11, sr., Yerington: Johnson was first team all-Northern 3A and first team all 3A state. He shot 75 percent from the foul line and averaged 16.4.

Trent Wood, 6-3, sr., Dayton: An all-around force who earned first-team all-league honors and helped the Dust Devils to the 3A state tournament title game.

HONORABLE MENTION

Mikey Burt, Yerington; Eric Emm, Douglas; Danny Hopper, Dayton; Sam Fahrner, North Tahoe; Julio Mendieta, Incline; Scott Oberly, Incline; Travis Wood, Dayton; Shane Castro, Dayton; Kyle Bacon, Carson; Conner Freeman, South Tahoe; Skylar McNabb, Douglas; Kevin Brush, Carson; Adam Houghton, Carson; Nate Whalin, Douglas; Casey Curcie, South Tahoe; B.C. Lampman, North Tahoe; Ryan Rife, Yerington; Cody Reiger, Fernley.