Jessie Loera named CBBN Player of the Year

MOSES LAKE — After leading Moses Lake to its first undefeated season and third straight district championship, point guard Jessie Loera was named the Columbia Basin Big Nine Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.

Loera’s season included a 37-point effort against Chiawana in December, breaking the previous school record set by her older sister Jordan Loera.

More, Loera eclipsed 1,000 career points early this season against Walla Walla.

The Gonzaga bound guard will play in her third straight state tournament on Thursday when No. 2 Moses Lake meets No. 1 Central Valley.

Sophomores Jamie Loera and Abby Rathbun made the first and second team, respectively. Rathbun scored a career-high 21 points Friday in Moses Lake’s 60-48 regional win over Chiawana.

Junior Jessica Olson was honorable mention.

Jessie and Jamie Loera both made the all-defensive team.

Also, Moses Lake’s Matt Strophy was named Coach of the Year.

On the boys’ side, Cesar Sandoval made all-league first team. Sandoval led the Chiefs in scoring and started the season with multiple 30-point outings.

Ricardo Gonzalez and Isaiah Thomas were both honorable mention and selected to the all-defensive team.

Wenatchee’s Gavin Long was the Player of the Year and Travis Williams was the Coach of the Year.

Dominic Wise of Davis was the Defensive Player of the Year.