Pitman duo named Co-Players of the Year by the Bee after leading team to league title
Pitman senior Rayden Simmons and junior Jessica Smith did it all for the Pride’s girls basketball team.
“Rayden was a six-footer who didn’t play the post and our offense was getting her out to the 3-point line,” Pride coach Dustin Curtiss said. “Jessica had some of the quickest feet in the area and her on-ball defense is superb.”
The two talented players fed off each other and either one could have big games during the season.
“It was really nice to have these two,” Curtiss said. “On defense, Jessica was in the front while Ray was in the back and you could pressure the front and have Ray protect the rim.”
After leading the Pride (9-1, 22-7) to their first league title since 2011-12, the duo are the Bee’s Girls Basketball Co-Players of the Year.
“All the work we put in the preseason with the new offensive set and defensive press worked out really well for us,” Smith said. “The team was very united.”
Smith, who was named the Co-MVP of the Central California Athletic League along with Gregori senior Savannah Turner, led Pitman with 9.8 points per game and 5.5 rebounds and was second with 2.3 steals.
Smith worked on her 3-point shot in the offseason and led the team by making 36% of her attempts.
“She (Smith) annoys me a lot,” Simmons said jokingly. “She has a drive most people on team don’t have and is smart on and off the court. She probably has highest GPA of the team.”
Simmons was second on the team with 9.4 points per game and 5.3 rebounds and Curtiss said the senior was the one player opposing teams tried to stop.
Simmons missed the league loss against Gregori (Jan. 16) with an ankle injury and playoff loss against Edison (Feb. 18) with a concussion.
“Her on the court mindset is a complete different from her off the court mentality,” Smith said. “She is very serious in the game but so friendly and laughs around with everyone off the court.”
Simmons will play at Delta College next year, one of the best junior colleges in the state, and said she liked the culture of the team.
Smith was going to have a busy summer playing in front of college coaches but due to the spread of the coronavirus, the status of NCAA viewing events and travel basketball are up in the air.
“The big events might be canceled and I tried out for a team in the Bay Area and those practices might be canceled,” Smith said.
2019-20 Modesto Bee Girls Basketball All-District Team
| Name | School | Year | Note |
| Nia Boston | Modesto Christian | Senior | The Tri-City Athletic League first-team honoree led the Crusaders to the second round of the Div. II playoffs. She was an All-District honoree last year. |
| Savannah Turner | Gregori | Senior | A Central California Athletic League Co-MVP, Turner finished her career with 1,062 points, the most in school history. |
| Reina Sausedo | Ripon | Senior | A four-year varsity starter, Sausedo was a two-time Trans-Valley League MVP and four-time all TVL honoree. She made the All-District team last year. |
| Morgan Van Elderen | Ripon Christian | Senior | The TVL’s Most Outstanding Player, Elderen averaged 14.8 points per game, 8.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.7 steals. |
Maddie Coehlo | Hughson | Junior | Coehlo was a first-team TVL honoree and helped the Huskies advance deep in the section and NorCal playoffs. She averaged 9.8 points per game and 2.6 steals. |
Honorable mentions: Beyer senior Symeria James, Central Catholic junior Tessa Gallo, Hughson senior Giana Martella, Modesto Christian senior Dominique White, Orestimba sophomore Reagan Marroquin, Sonora junior Jessica Berry, Turlock senior Nataly Jimenez
