Finnerty, Simpson, Weaver top girls all-region teams

Both Carson and Douglas High School’s had players named to the 2023-24 basketball all-region teams released Thursday afternoon.

For the Senators, junior Lauren Finnerty was a first team selection after being named as a second team player last winter.

Finnerty led the Senators, averaging 15.9 points per game alongside 8.6 rebounds per game and 3.5 steals per contest.

Finnerty led the North in points scored (397) while shooting 38 percent from the field.

She was accompanied at the top of the all-region squad with her coach, Nate Tolbert, who was named the Coach of the Year in the Class 4A North.

Tolbert served under the interim tag this season, starting December 13 after the team’s first six games.

(Carson High School interim girls basketball coach Nate Tolbert. / Courtesy)

For Douglas, Aleeah Weaver was a first team selection for the second season in a row.

The senior averaged 6.2 points per game to go with 99 rebounds, 57 assists, 48 steals and 13 blocks.

Joining Weaver on the first team all-region squad was fellow senior Zora Simpson.

Simpson led the Tigers with 8.9 points per game while pulling down 76 rebounds this winter. Simpson finished second in the region in 3-pointers made with 48.

Three Tigers were chosen for the all-region second team in Ashlyn Greenfield, Talia Tretton and Hailee Koontz.

Greenfield, a junior, was third on the team in points, averaging 7.2 points per game.

She also averaged three rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.5 assists per contest.

In 20 games this season Tretton grabbed 86 rebounds to her 78 points scored. She also swiped 26 steals and had 19 assists.

Koontz, making her debut on the all-region teams, was seventh in the league in rebounds per contest (7.3) as a sophomore.

Rounding out the all-region teams was Tiger senior guard McKenzie Main.

Main was a steady presence from beyond-the-arc this winter, hitting the fourth most 3-pointers in the league (35).  

Douglas’ point guard averaged 1.3 rebounds, assists and steals per game as well.

All-region teams

Player of the Year – Fa’anaetaua Puloka, So., Bishop Manogue

Coach of the Year – Nathan Tolbert, Carson

First team

Layni Noonkester, Sr., Spanish Springs; Lauren Finnerty, Jr., Carson; Milasarai Tau, Sr., Bishop Manogue; Quinn Garrett, Sr., Damonte Ranch; Zora Simpson, Sr., Douglas; Jaileen Yarrow, Sr., Bishop Manogue; Aleeah Weaver, Sr., Douglas; Mia Turner, Jr., Galena; Mata Peaua, Sr., Bishop Manogue.

Second team

Mya Ghisletta, So., Damonte Ranch; Kindle Rowe, Sr., Reno; Jazmyn Wright, Sr., Reed; Caitlin Hilson, Sr., McQueen; Mackenzie Chase, Fr., Spanish Springs; Ashlyn Greenfield, Jr., Douglas; Talia Tretton, Sr., Douglas; Hailee Koontz, So., Douglas.

Honorable mention

Aaliay Vance, Fr., Spanish Springs; Reese Wakefield, Jr., Spanish Springs; Ramona Peterson, Jr., Galena; Violet Gordon, Jr., Bishop Manogue; Anastasia Lombardi, Jr., Reed; Josie Tierney, Jr., Damonte Ranch; Leah Nisenfeld, Sr., McQueen; McKenzie Main, Sr., Douglas; Gianna Brunetti, Sr., Bishop Manogue; Ava Wulforst, Sr., Galena; Nisa Rodriguez, Sr., Damonte Ranch.

(Douglas High’s Zora Simpson gets around a defender this winter. Simpson was selected as a first team all-region player for the Class 4A North this season. / Ron Harpin)