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2020 VYPE Houston Public School Girls Basketball All-VYPE Team
Team of the Year: Cypress Creek
No doubt this is the 2019-2020 VYPE Girls Public School team of the team. The Cypress Creek Cougars were the only team to advance to the 2020 UIL Girls Basketball State Tournament. The Cougars entered the tournament with an amazing 40-0 record. The Cougars defeated McKinney in the semifinals before falling to Duncanville in the state title game to finish 41-1.
"They stuck together, through and through. There were several points during the year where someone was out with injury or had to miss for testing or whatever. But they always stuck together and it wasn't really about one person or two people or our starting five. It was always next man up. Be ready to do your job. They did that really well. I think you saw that come to fruition in San Antonio. Some kids had to step up and their roles changed but they always did it together. It was always about the team."
Player of the Year: Kyndall Hunter, Cypress Creek
The basketball world got to watch as Cy Creek Cougar junior Kyndall Hunter took over in the regional tournament and then in the state tournament. At State, Hunter was leaned on more with the absence of Rori Harmon. In the State Semifinal against McKinney, Hunter went 11 of 25 from the field and 7 of 10 from the charity stripe to score 31 points. In the state title game, Hunter poured in 24 points on 7 of 14 shooting. Hunter showed time and time again this season of how good of a player she can be on and off the court.
"Every single [interview] it was about the team like you said. She was always thankful and proud of her teammates, first and foremost. She knows that as talented as she is and as special of a player she is there's five kids on the court and the kids on the bench rallying behind her as well. Leadership, really all year, but specifically at the state tournament when we were down in the final game she was literally picking kids' chins up. That just shows what kind of teammate she is too." - Jennifer Alexander
Coach of the Year: Jennifer Alexander, Cypress Creek
The job Jennifer Alexander has done has been phenomenal. In the past three years, Cypress Creek has advanced to the UIL State Tournament twice. Not many programs can say that. She also managed the team to a 109-12 mark in the past three years. Impressive work.
1st Team
Elyssa Coleman, Atascocita
DeYona Gaston, Pearland
Rori Harmon, Cypress Creek
Kamryn Jones, Magnolia West
Kylie Minter, Clear Springs
Bre'yon White, Shadow Creek
2ND Team
Raven Adams, Ridge Point
Gracelynn Alvarez, Heights
Maliyah Johnson, Summer Creek
Destini Lombard, FB Hightower
Mersadez Nephew, Oak Ridge
Atlantis White, Langham Creek
Honorable Mention
Josephine Adegbite, Clear Falls
Dala Allen, Ridge Point
Olaia Arenas, Cy-Fair
Alicia Blanton, Foster
Riane Burton, Cy Ranch
Krishana Boyd, La Marque
Dede Davis, Atascocita
Tyra Davis, Nimitz
Kimberly Duhon, Baytown Lee
Aleighyah Fontenot, Ridge Point
Malon Garner, Jack Yates
Aja Gore, Brazosport
Shalayne Gould, North Shore
Jermia Green, Clear Springs
Alex Haymon, Goose Creek Memorial
Morgan Hill, Cypress Creek
Imani Ivery, Foster
Jalayah Ingram, Pearland Dawson
Precious Johnson, Baytown Sterling
Zaria Johnson, FB Hightower
Teniola Kuyinu, FB Dulles
Ashlyn Mason, Friendswood
Kierra Merchant, Spring
Hannah Narvarez, Klein Collins
Nicole Nash, Friendswood
Moyo Orundami, Cypress Woods
Kaley Perkins, Langham Creek
Nicole Petrakovitz, Oak Ridge
Kamari Portalis, Magnolia West
Fatou Samb, Westside
Tierra Simon, Heights
Jada Stewart, MacArthur
Arianna Sturdivant, FB Bush
R'Mani Taylor, Shadow Creek
Shadiya Thomas, Cy Ranch
Nya Threatt, FB Dulles
Savannah Velazquez, George Ranch
MacArthur's Precious Jackson-Sanders, Angel Hudson, Jada Stewart, Bianca Rodriguez and Maria Ruiz
HUNGRY FOR THE PLAYOFFS : MacArthur Girls Ready To Fight For Postseason Berth
Stewart is back for her senior campaign and if first-year coach Christine Danzer could bet, she would go all-in on this year's version of MacArthur getting into the playoffs.
"I know that last year would have been a different story had we not had that injury, but I'd bet on my team if I could," Danzer, who served as an assistant the past five years, said. "This is going to be that year we're getting back. We're very confident right now."
MacArthur will be down in numbers this year, only dressing out nine players, but there is a lot of experience and upside in that mix.
Along with Stewart, the Generals return Bianca Rodriguez, Maria Ruiz, Angel "Blue" Hudson and Precious Jackson-Sanders, who played last year as a freshman.
"I'm ready to play," Stewart said. "I was sad that I couldn't play last year and I'm ready this year."
Stewart should be in the MVP conversation by season's end, but another who could battle her is Jackson-Sanders.
The sophomore averaged a double-double in district play last year and has worked on her ball-handling in the offseason.
"I've seen a huge improvement," Danzer said about Jackson-Sanders. "With her ability to go both ways, her rebounding and finishing, she could be something very special in this district. She's going to have a dynamite year."
After watching Jackson-Sanders do what she did from the bench last year, Stewart was impressed and knows what kind of weapon she is for them.
"Precious is one of our best players and she's a really strong asset to the team," Stewart said.
With this combination of talent, experience and youthfulness, Danzer's goal for this group is simple – make the playoffs.
"Our goal is that we're hungry to get back to the playoffs," she said. "I think we can make some noise if we're able to get out of our own district."
Bradley Collier/VYPE Media
MacArthur's Jada Stewart
