The Lassen high School girls’ basketball teams held an awards ceremony in the student center Thursday, March 14 to celebrate the end of a great season. Award winners and their coaches pose together after the ceremony.  Photos by Maddie Musante

March 15 — The Lassen High School girls’ basketball teams hosted a night of awards and celebration in the student center Thursday, March 14.

Before celebrating a successful season and receiving awards, the girls’ basketball teams passed out cake and punch to attendees who were excited for an evening of reliving memories and remembering the highlights of the season. Varsity coach Jessica Larson thanked her fellow coaches, the boosters and everyone who helped support the teams throughout the season.

Freshman girls’ coaches Tony Amero and Dorinda Shaffer kicked off the evening by calling the freshman team to the front of the room, introducing individual players and discussing the season. The freshman girls’ team went undefeated in league play.

“Dorinda and I both had fun,” Amero said, speaking about his experience coaching the girls.

Players voted on the awards for Most Improved, Best Offensive Player, Best Defensive Player and MVP. Tatum Uburu won Most Improved. As she stepped up to receive her award, Amero discussed her fun personality and recalled memories of her singing Whitney Houston songs while traveling to away games. Colby Sherman was voted Best Offensive Player. The award for Best Defensive Player went to both Garyn Harlan and Carissa Shaffer. Taylor Knecht won MVP. The Coaches’ Award, which was renamed the Ultimate Grizzly Award, went to Jenae Larson. The freshman team also received custom T-shirts with “undefeated” printed across the front.

Next up was the junior varsity team. Prior to handing out awards, coach Mark Zaengle gave a speech outlining the team’s impressive stats for the season and how close-knit they were as a team. He described the team as, “a great bunch of young ladies,” and said, “it was really fun with you guys.”

Taylor Speers was voted Most Improved by her teammates. Julisa Rodriguez won Best Defensive Player. Sandra Radey won Best Offensive Player. The MVP and Ultimate Grizzly awards went to Miranda Langenhorst, who had a double-double in every game she played this season. The JV team also gave the coaches a thank you gift to show their appreciation for an incredible season.

Larson introduced the varsity team, showing the crowd a necklace the players got her as a thank you gift and handing out memory books to each player as she introduced them.

Senior Gracie Radey and Jacqui Smith won awards for having 4.0 GPAs. The team voted Danica Guillen Most Improved. The award for Best Offensive Player went to Mikailia McClure-Bustamante. Smith won Best Defensive Player. Emily Terwilliger was awarded MVP. Laken Cagle took home the Ultimate Grizzly Award. Sara Carson got All-League Honorable Mention. Terwilliger and McClure-Bustamante each won All-League.

The evening was full of laughter and emotion, as both players and coaches recalled the season behind them and looked forward to next year.