Valley Vista’s Rachel Matakas overcame uncertainty
The 2021 winter season for Arizona high school basketball players and coaches was like tip-toeing across a plank above the COVID-19 pit.
Teams had a truncated month and a half-long regular season, from Jan 18 to early March, forced to breathe through masks in competition and having their schedules altered from COVID tracing or cases on their rosters.
Among The Republic’s21 girls hoops Coach of the Year candidates, Surprise Valley Vista’s Rachel Matakas is this year’s winner for balancing her team’s season to win its second consecutive 6A state title. It was also their fourth in five seasons.
Matakas is a first-time recipient of The Republic’s Coach of the Year award.
“It is with great honor and pleasure to be named (Arizona) Coach of the Year,” Matakas said in a text message. “I am not
able to have the success without the support of my athletes, coaching staff and school administration.”
Valley Vista opened its regular season schedule with much uncertainty.
The Monsoon had gaps of nine and eight days between their first and second, then third and fourth games, respectively. Several opponents refused not to play them, or couldn’t because of COVID cases.
Also, Valley Vista lost its top player in junior guard Jennah Isai before their Feb. 12 loss in a rematch of the 2020 6A state championship against Chandler Hamilton.
“This past season was unique for sure,” Matakas said.”But I believe, as well as my players do, that adversity comes in many forms but it is how you react to that adversity that determines what type of player you are off and on the court.”
Following that loss, Matakas led the Monsoon to a 13-game win streak, including its back-to-back state championship wins over Hamilton on March 20.
Despite being the most successful active coach in the conference for the state’s largest schools, what matters the most to Matakas is being a algebra teacher before breaking down Xs and Os on the court.