Simon named 2A Player of the Year

COLUMBIA BASIN — The play of Ephrata Tigers basketball player Patrick Simon was key in the squad’s push for a second Class 2A state title in two years.

Despite their run falling short in the semifinals, Simon’s play all year was recognized throughout the state as the senior forward was named the 2010 Class 2A boys’ Player of the Year.

Moses Lake High School’s Jordan Loera was named to the girls’ Class 4A Honorable Mention team.

Simon also earned Class 2A First Team Honors.

“It’s a great honor and it’s cool to be named top player of the year,” Simon said. “I would have traded it for a higher place at state but it’s a good feeling.”

Simon finished the regular season averaging 23.2 points, 13 rebounds, and four assists per game.

Simon averaged 28.5 points and 11.8 rebounds per game at the state tournament, including a state-high 48 points in the Tigers’ semifinal loss to Squalicum.

“I am extremely proud of Patrick and all the years of all hard work that paid off for him individually,” Ephrata coach Brandon Evenson said. “I’m sure he’d say he’d like to give it back for a state title. That is how unselfish he is and how much he deserves the award.”

Simon will begin his collegiate playing career at Washington State University in the fall.

Moses Lake’s girls late run to the state tournament and eighth-place finish was sparked by the play of Loera, as the junior made it three-for-three in trips to the season’s final weekend.

“She’s very deserving of the recognition,” Moses Lake coach Matt Strophy said. “Her ability to lead three separate teams to the state tournament says a lot about here. We had the supporting cast those first couple of years that made her the piece that got us over the top. This year she was the lone holdover and getting back to state was a huge accomplishment.”

Loera finished the season averaging 18 points, seven rebounds, and five assists per game.

“It’s pretty exciting to see myself up there and seeing how we did this season,” Loera said. “Definitely I was a key leader and a part of our success but so was everyone and they all had to step up. I give a lot of credit to my teammates for stepping up when they needed to and they never gave up.”

Currently, Loera is in the process of deciding where she will play following her graduation from Moses Lake in the spring of 2011.