*EDITORS NOTE: This article has been corrected to show that Rian Peters was selected Forks’ team MVP. The original article incorrectly stated Chloe Leverington was Forks’ team MVP.
PORT ANGELES — A season full of phenomenal freshman performances interspersed with sensational senior leadership highlighted the 2017-18 prep girls basketball season.
Oh, and there were some standout sophomores and juniors in the mix as well.
Headlined by All-Peninsula Girls Basketball MVP Millie Long of Port Angeles (see above story), here is the 2017-18 All-Peninsula Girls Basketball Team.
Neah Bay
• Gina McCaulley, sr., point guard: McCaulley capped off her Red Devils career with a trip to the Class 1B state semifinals and an eventual fifth-place finish at “State B” in Spokane.
A heady, intelligent floor leader, McCaulley posted per-game totals of 9.8 points, 5 assists, 4.1 steals and 2.5 rebounds. She was a consensus All-North Olympic League selection, earned the NOL’s Defensive Player of the Year honor and was voted honorable mention All-State honors in balloting by the Associated Press. She played in the Washington Girls Basketball Coaches Association All-State Game after the season.
McCaulley will play basketball for the Peninsula College women next season.
• Laila Greene, fr., guard: Fearless for her size, Greene went a little under-the-radar during the regular season despite some spirited performances, including leading the Red Devils in scoring in wins over Class 1A Forks and Chimacum.
Greene came on in a big way during the postseason, playing well in the Tri-District Tournament and leading Neah Bay in scoring at the state tournament.
She showcased heart and fire on the big stage at Spokane Arena, including hitting her first three 3-point baskets in Neah Bay’s state-opening win over Mount Vernon Christian.
Greene averaged 9.4 points per game, 3.8 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.4 assists this season.
She was an All-North Olympic League first-team selection.
• Courtney Swan, fr., guard/forward: Neah Bay’s scoring and rebounding leader with per-game totals of 12.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 2.4 assists. Swan excels at dribble penetration and getting to the rim for layups or high-percentage shots and also possesses a strong 3-point shot. Had a 30-point, 20-rebound game against Clallam Bay, scored 31 points and 14 rebounds against Mount Vernon Christian in Tri-District Tournament and 25 points in Tri-District Championship win.
She was an All-North Olympic League first-team selection and the NOL Offensive MVP.
Port Angeles
• Madison Cooke, fr., guard/forward: Explosive freshman provided boost to Roughriders off the bench for much of the season. The goggle-wearing Cooke averaged 6.5 points and was second on Port Angeles with 6.3 rebounds, testimony to her ability to jump out of the gym. Also showed a knack for end of quarter/half moments, frequently coming up with a bucket to lift Riders.
• Cheyenne Wheeler, sr., guard: Senior leader was a steady presence for Riders’ three freshman standouts (Millie Long, Cooke and Jaida Wood). A deceptive dribbler, Wheeler shined by shimmying through defenses for close looks at the hoop. Received second-team All-Olympic League 2A honors from league coaches.
Wheeler averaged 6.9 points per game and 2.3 steals per game for Port Angeles.
Port Townsend
• Kaitlyn Meek, sr., point guard: Meek has been a rock for the Redhawks on both ends of the floor since since her freshman season. Her coach Scott Wilson said “Kaitlyn is one of those once-in-two-decades [types of] basketball players.” The Olympic League 1A Division MVP scored a North Olympic Peninsula-best 13.3 points per game on 52-percent shooting, along with 9.3 rebounds, 6.2 steals/deflections and 3.6 assists. Led Port Townsend to Class 1A State Regional Round, first state appearance for PT since 2004. Selected to play in the Washington State Girls Basketball Coaches’ Association 1A/2A All-State Game.
GIRLS BASKETBALL: Senior guard Kaitlyn Meek never mild for Port Townsend
• Jaz Apker-Montoya, jr. guard: All-Olympic League 1A Division first teamer recovered from a mid-season concussion to help lead Redhawks to state regional round. Port Townsend’s most consistent 3-point threat and a solid rebounder.
Forks
• Chloe Leverington, fr., post: Six-foot freshman averaged a double-double for Spartans, collecting 14.6 rebounds per game and scoring 11.8 points. Filled up the stat sheet with 2.7 blocks, 1.8 assists and 1.7 steals. Second-team All-Evergreen League selection.
• Rian Peters, soph, forward: Peters benefitted from Leverington’s presence inside to score 10.9 points per game with 8.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.9 blocks. Ankle injury cost her some time on the court, but posted totals of 15.1 points, 13.3 rebounds and 4.4 assists upon her return during the second half of the season. A second-team All-Evergreen League selection and voted Team MVP.
Chimacum
• Mia McNair, fr., point guard: Dubbed a “defensive cyclone” by Port Townsend head coach Scott Wilson. A first-team All-Olympic League 1A selection for Cowboys.
Sequim
• Hope Glasser, soph., forward: Second-team All-Olympic League 2A selection was Wolves’ most consistent scorer and a solid rebounder.
Clallam Bay
• Miriam Wonderly, jr., guard: All-North Olympic League first-team selection helped lead Bruins to within one game of a repeat trip to the Class 1B state tournament. Plays taller than her 5-foot-8 frame on the boards and a steady scorer.
Honorable Mention
Jaida Wood, fr., Port Angeles; Kalli Wiker, Fr., Sequim; Grace Yaley, jr., Chimacum; Jada Trafton, jr., Chimacum; Patience Swan, fr., Neah Bay; Hannah Olson, jr., Clallam Bay; Cedar Johnson, fr., Clallam Bay; Jayden Olson, soph., Forks; Abby Weller, jr. Quilcene; Gina Brown, fr., Quilcene; Izzy Hammett, soph., Port Townsend; Jayla Julmist, fr., Sequim. Grace Baillargeon, jr., Crescent.
Coach of the Year
• Tony McCaulley, Neah Bay: Guided freshman-heavy roster to 23-4 record and fifth-place finish at Class 1B state tournament. Team won North Olympic League title, Tri-District Tournament championship and state regional round games. Selected to coach 1B team at the Washington State Girls Basketball Coaches’ Association 1B/2B All-State Game.
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
Michael Dashiell/Olympic Peninsula News Group Port Angeles’ Madison Cooke rises for a layup during a win over Sequim. Cooke is a member of the Peninsula Daily News’ All-Peninsula Girls Basketball team.
