4A All-Idaho girls basketball team: Dominant center, Boise State commit tops elite list
GIRLS FIRST TEAM
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: CHINMA NJOKU, CENTURY
Why she is player of the year: The undefeated state champs could always rely on the 6-foot-3 senior center to own the paint. No one in the state could match up with Njoku, who averaged 15.2 points and 9.5 rebounds.
Coach’s comment: “Chinma is the total package. … She can score, rebound and she also is a great passer. She can do it all,” Century coach Chris Shuler said.
What others are saying: “She wreaks havoc on opposing teams with her length and ability to block shots on defense. She requires teams to alter their defenses, whether it’s packing it into a zone or doubling the low post, to slow her ability to score,” Twin Falls coach Nancy Jones said.
What’s next: She will sign a full-ride scholarship in April to play for Boise State.
[Related: Full all-state boys and girls basketball teams in every classification]
LEXI BULL, CENTURY
A pure scorer and standout defensive weapon, the 6-foot junior stood out on both ends of the floor for the Diamondbacks. She racked up 11.6 points and 6.0 rebounds per game as Century cruised to its third title in five years.
TAYLIA STIMPSON, MINICO
The Spartans fed off their 5-9 senior guard and senior leader, who stuffed the stat sheet with 14.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.4 steals and 2.0 assists. She feasted on lazy passes and weak ballhandlers all season long for easy points and game-changing runs.
JALEN CALLENDER, CALDWELL
The 5-8 senior forward and SIC player of the year had a hand in everything as the Cougars earned their first state runner-up trophy since 2001. She averaged 13.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.2 blocks.
BETHANY DOW, PRESTON
The Snow College commit made her presence known night in and night out, altering shots and pushing everyone outside the paint. The 6-1 senior center finished the year averaging 17.7 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.8 blocks and 2.3 steals.
COACH OF THE YEAR: CHRIS SHULER, CENTURY
He built Idaho’s first undefeated state champion team at the 4A level since Middleton in 2012.
SECOND TEAM
Player | School | Height | Year | Position | Stats |
Maycee Stenquist | Hillcrest | 5-7 | Senior | Point guard | 15.6 ppg, 7.5 reb, 4.2 ast, 3.8 stl |
Sadie Lott | Bonneville | 5-7 | Junior | Point guard | 15.2 ppg, 5.8 reb, 2.9 stl |
Allie Cannon | Blackfoot | 5-9 | Senior | Forward | 10.8 ppg, 4.1 reb, 2.1 stl |
Jazzi Cristobal | Mtn Home | 5-3 | Senior | Point guard | 13.4 ppg, 4.3 ast, 3.3 stl |
Maunayia Harrigfeld | Bonneville | 5-10 | Senior | Forward | 12.7 ppg, 8.7 reb, 2.9 blk |
This story was originally published March 27, 2019 at 10:09 PM.