Local players make ALLESL team
Luther named Coach of the Year
For their nearly perfect record in the East Sequoia League, which included winning the ESL title, Granite Hills High School boys basketball had three players named ALL-ESL along with head coach Bud Luther being named the Coach of the Year.
Seven players total, two each from Lindsay and Strathmore, were selected to ALL-ESL teams, but Granite Hills’ three was the most of any team.
For the Grizzlies, junior Armando Cabrera made the ALL-ESL first team while juniors Abraham Gabinete and Austin Edmond were second-team selections.
“Armando was our point guard and he was instrumental for us on offense and defense,” Luther said. “He used his speed to disrupt on defense and on offense he could really get to the basket well. He got us into our offense and did a great job of that. He worked very hard to improve himself over the year. Had a very good, excellent season that led us to [an ESL] championship.”
Cabrera averaged 11.8 points during ESL and 12.4 points a game on the season. He also finished with 41 rebounds and 57 steals through the 25 games he played in. Both Cabrera and Gabinete were the team’s point guards, and unfortunately both had ankle injuries that kept them on the bench for a number of games this season.
“Luckily it wasn’t both at the same time because Abraham’s our backup point guard,” Luther said. “It took him a little longer to get in the groove, but he was a phenomenal three-pointer shooter at 40 percent I think on the season. And I want to say 40 during league. He was our best shooter, good defender. Very hard. He didn’t shoot a lot of two(-pointers) but he was very accurate from three.”
Gabinete was 27-of66 from beyond the arc and also shot 90 percent from the free-throw line in league. Along with Gabinete, Edmond was another top shooter for the Grizzlies and averaged 12 points a game during the overall season. Luther said that all three of his ALL-ESL players had a hand in bringing the ESL title to Granite Hills.
“Austin Edmond was instant offense,” Luther said. “When Austin was on then the Grizzlies are a very tough team. He was one of our best scorers, he could hit the three and take the ball to the basket. Austin was our x-factor. If he had a small on him we posted him, if he had a big guarding him we turned him into a driver.”
The fifth-seeded Grizzlies’ season came to an end in the first round of the CIF Central Section Division IV Championship tournament after being upset 51-47 by 12th-seeded Reedley (10-21).
From Lindsay, senior Javi Avalos averaged 16 points per game and made the ALL-ESL first team while sophomore Issac Muñoz averaged 10.6 points per game and made the second team.
“Javi has been the heartbeat of our program the last four years,” LHS head coach Frank Morin said. “It will be tough to replace him. But he changed the culture of our program from day one as a freshman. Because of that we will be forever grateful.”
Avalos was big on drives to the baskets and getting to the free throw line. Not one to shy away from contact, his energy was a big part of Lindsay (11-17, 6-4 ESL) tying for second in league.
On his young starter Morin said, “As a sophomore Issac hit some really big shots for us. He was our best 3-point shooter and was second on the team in scoring. It will be interesting to see what unfolds for him the next two years.”
Despite going 4-6 in league, Strathmore (919, 4-6 ESL) was a competitive team. In their first meeting against Granite Hills, the Grizzlies need overtime to beat the Spartans 57-55.
Making it to the first team for Strathmore was junior Jadon Guire who averaged 12 points and six rebounds a night. He had gamehigh scoring nights of 26 and 20 against Sierra Pacific (11-17, 5-5 ESL) and Woodlake (5-23, 0-10 ESL), respectively. Listed as a power forward and center, Guire was team’s top three-point shooter at 40 percent and led the team in free throw shooting. He was also voted the team’s Most Valuable Player.
“He developed as an overall leader for us this year,” SHS head coach Justin St. Clair said. “Displayed his inside and outside offensive ability this year. He also led the team in minutes played as well.”
On the second team for the Spartans was center Nick Salas. The senior averaged 11 points, nine rebounds and 2.5 blocked shots a game in the ESL.
“He was one of the keys to our defense being able to hold down the middle,” St. Clair said. “One of the top post defenders in the league. He and Guire made up what you could say was the best post combo in the league.”