The Herald's All-County girls team

Here's a look at who turned out to be the top high school boys' basketball players in the county this season. The Herald's AllCounty basketball team:

Yulissa Alvarez, Alisal >> Alvarez was a critical part in the youthful Trojans' rise to the postseason, putting up consistent numbers all season, averaging 10.8 points a game. The junior post also pulled down 7.9 rebounds a game, while handing out 2.5 assists, collecting 1.5 steals and 1.1 blocks for a 17-win program.

DELANEY CASTAGNA, CARMEL >> A double-double machine for the Padres, the 5-foot-11 forward averaged 12.1 points and 12.2 rebounds this past season. A fouryear varsity player, Castagna led the county in blocks with 99 and was second in rebounds. The senior connected on 109 field goals.

SYDNEY CLYMO, STEVENSON >> A bright spot in a rebuilding season for the Pirates, Clymo fought off double teams to average just under 11 points a game. A unanimous first-team selection in the Pacific Coast Athletic League Mission Division, the multi-sport senior was second in the county in assists (81) and led the Pirates in rebounds (6.1) and steals (2.5).

MIA HENSON, MONTEREY >> A threesport standout at Monterey, Henson evolved as a leader on the floor by example, averaging a team-high 18.5 points. A member of the Toreadores Northern California DIII softball title team last year, Henson also led Monterey in steals (3.3) and assists (4.5), while adding 6.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocks a game.

DAEJA HOLLANDS, NORTH SALINAS >> A three-time Herald Player of the Year, Hollands closed a chapter as arguably one of the county's best basketball players in the past 40 years. The 5-foot-8 guard averaged over 24 points a night, with a handful of 30-point games, as well as a team-high 8.1 assists. She shared the team lead in steals at 5.1 and pulled down 6.0 rebounds. In her four years, including the pandemic-shortened season, North Salinas went 65-15.

AVA MARSHALL, PACIFIC GROVE >> A repeater on the all-county team, the Mission Division Player of the Year averaged a double-double on the season at 16.5 points and 13.5 rebounds. Tenacious on defense, the senior recorded 2.5 blocks a night and 2.1 steals. Unselfish, Marshall was also a distributor, finishing with 3.1 assists a night.

MELANIE MARTINEZ, PACIFIC GROVE >> The Mission Division's Offensive Player of the Year, Martinez was a big part of the Breakers' rise to their first league title in nine years. Martinez gave Pacific Grove another scoring option, dropping in 14.5 points a game, while doling out 3.1 assists. She played both ends, pulling down 6.5 rebounds and collecting 3.2 steals a game.

LESLY RODRIGUEZ, ALISAL >> Providing a scoring punch for a program without a senior on the roster, Rodriguez averaged 17.1 points a game. The junior also led Alisal in assists at 8.1 and finished among the team leaders in steals (3.5) and blocked shots (2.0), while grabbing 3.8 rebounds a game.

DALILAH RUANO, NORTH SALINAS >> Overshadowed playing alongside the best player in the county, the junior evolved into a muchneeded second scoring option for the Gabilan Division champions. Ruano averaged double digits in the scoring column in 22 of the team's 24 games, dropping in 14.1 points a night. She also added 5.1 steals, 4.2 assists and 5.5 rebounds for North Salinas.

VALERIA SEGURA, SOLEDAD >> The rise of the Aztecs toward the end of the regular season and playoffs started with Segura, whose effort on both ends of the court took the program into uncharted waters. The only sophomore named to the team, Segura led Soledad in rebounds and blocks, setting a school record with 13 blocks in one game. She shot 55 percent from the field, while averaging 11.1 points a game.

ARIANA VILLAGOMEZ, GREENFIELD >> The Cypress Division Most Valuable

Player, no one made a bigger impact on her team than Villagomez. When she was out, the two-time league champion Bruins were winless. The point guard was a demon on defense, finishing second in the county in steals at 5.6. Villagomez also handed out nearly five assists a game. While not asked to score, she still dropped in 6.8 points.

ASHLEY YU, SALINAS >> When you're the lone offensive option, box-and-ones are an expectation from opposing defenses. Yet, the senior still averaged a third of the team's point total. Yu dropped in nearly 12 points a game in the Gabilan Division, while the playmaker finished among the team leaders in assists and steals.

JULIE FIGUEROA, RANCHO SAN JUAN COACH >> Improving 11 games in the win column included a school record 14 wins and an undefeated Santa Lucia Division season. Figueroa took the Trailblazers to their first winning season and a spot in the playoffs, producing more wins this past season than the previous three years combined.

HONORABLE MENTION >> Quincy Key, York; Abby Shipnuck, Carmel; Jayne Schalesky, Rancho San Juan; Latai Matelau, Greenfield; Sage Flores, King City; Caroline Byrne, Carmel; Aveena Ducsuin, Notre Dame; Nayeli Gil-Silva, Alisal; Erin Salindo, North Salinas; Dominayan Black, North Salinas; Sabrina Moore, Salinas; Jimena Hernandez, Greenfield; Ahsani Collins, Seaside; Braniah Charles, Seaside; Norma Tulua, Seaside; Taylor Sifuente, Marina; Kassandra Lopez, Soledad, Katherine Amaro, Soledad; Izbella Ibarra, Alvarez; Savannah Hardy, Pacific Grove; Angelina Navarro, Gonzales; Jasmine Encallado, Alvarez.