Payson Roundup

Roundup file photo

Lady Longhorn coach Stacy Anderson was named the All-East Region Coach of the Year. Rose Hardt, shown with the coach, was named to the honorable mention team.

Christina Deaton

Cydney Figueroa

Jenna Robertson

The East Region’s champion girls basketball team was shut out in its bid for Player of the Year accolades, but did receive Coach of the Year honors.

Stacy Anderson, in her first full year at the helm of the PHS hoop program, received the COY plaudits in a voting of region coaches held at the conclusion of the regular season.

Player of the Year honors went to Alchesay senior Noel Hinton.

The Lady Horns did have three players named to the All-East first team and two others tapped honorable mention.

First teamers include Christina Deaton, Cydney Figueroa and Jenna Robertson. Kayla Morgan and Rose Hardt were honorable mention.

During the season, Anderson guided the Lady Horns to a 24-7 record and the East regular season and tournament championships. The team advanced to the second round of the state tournament before losing a heartbreaking 47-46 decision to eventual 3A champs Monument Valley.

Anderson will step down from her coaching position at the conclusion of the school year to accompany her husband, Josh, to Dakota State University. Last week, Josh Anderson was named head football coach at the school.

Deaton, a senior who some argue was deserving of the Player of the Year award, finished the campaign as the Lady Horns’ leading scorer, averaging 12.1 ppg.

Hinton probably won POY honors over Deaton because of her higher scoring average. The Alchesay star was the second leading scorer in the region at 15.3 ppg and was widely considered one of the East’s finest three-point shooters.

Deaton also corralled 206 rebounds, blocked a region-high 73 shots and doled out 53 assists.

Figueroa, the Lady Horns’ starting point guard, averaged 7.7 ppg, but more importantly, was the player designated to bring the ball up against the press and play the role of floor general finding open teammates for shots.

She led the team in assists (101) and steals (64).

Robertson is a three-sport star who averaged 9 ppg and hauled in a Lady Horn-leading 258 rebounds. She also recorded 60 steals and had 61 assists.

All five Lady Horns tapped all-region were seniors and are eligible to participate in the Arizona Coaches Association North vs. South All-Star game when it is played this summer.

Coaches will meet next week to select all-star players.