Jessie Loera named to WIBCA 4A All-State Team, Matt Strophy to coach

Moses Lake head coach Matt Strophy and point guard Jessie Loera just finished competing against some of the best Class 4A players in the state at the 2016 Hardwood Classic.

Now they’ll have a chance to compete with them.

The Washington State Girls Basketball Coaches Association announced the rosters for the All-State games March 19 on Wednesday: Loera made the 4A squad and Strophy was tabbed to coach.

“It’s quite an honor,” Strophy said. “Unexpected as well. Not winning the state championship I thought maybe Freddie Rehkow from Central Valley might be the logical choice to do that, but again, I’m completely honored and I think it’s a testament to not just me but my coaching staff and the players that I’ve had and just kind of the establishment of our program over the years. It’s kind of a nice reward and to be able to coach one of our players, Jessie Loera, in that same process makes it even more memorable.”

Loera and Strophy recently concluded a 25-1 season that featured a third straight district championship and a fourth place finish at the state tournament. In the process, Loera was named the Columbia Basin Big Nine Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and State all-tournament first team.

Loera — a Gonzaga commit — averaged 18.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 3.7 steals per game. She also eclipsed the 1,000-point mark early in the season.

“I think she’s excited to put on her shoes a couple more times and get a chance to play with those elite-level kids across our state that plan on going and most of them plan on playing in college,” Strophy said. “So it’s a chance to play with and against those same kids one last time. I think she’s got to be pretty excited and happy about that as well.”

Strophy will get a chance to work with some players he is already familiar with like Chiawana’s Braydey Hodgins and Lewis and Clark’s Riley Lupfer, but said he was most excited to see the trio from Todd Beamer: Bria Rice, Nia Alexander and Makenna Woodfolk.

Todd Beamer finished third in state for the second consecutive year.

On the opposite, the 3A team is loaded with talent. Gatorade Player of the Year Mikayla Pivec of Lynnwood, Stanford bound Anna Wilson of Bellevue and 6-foot-7 Lydia Giomini of West Seattle to name a few. All three players are headed to Pac-12 schools.

Strophy thinks the 4A team can compete offensively and will need to limit their 3A counterparts to one shot.

“I’m going to go in there and preach defense and rebounding and see where that takes me,” he said. “In an all-star game that usually doesn’t go too far.”

Other area players selected

Ephrata’s Harley Vanatta and Almira/Coulee-Hartline’s Brenna Oliver made the All-State 2A and 1B squads respectively.

Vanatta was first team all-league and Oliver helped the Warriors finish fourth in state.

ACH’s Dallas Isaak and Lind-Ritzville/Sprague’s Wyatt Roettger will play in the 1B vs. 2B All-State Game at Mountlake Terrace High School on March 19.