After breaking school records, Pitman forward named Girls Basketball Player of the Year
Pitman has had its share of talented girls basketball players.
Many have gone on to play at two- and four-year universities after successful careers in Turlock as members of the Pride’s program. Even with all of the talent in the past, no one has accomplished what Aleyah Higa did this season.
The senior forward became the first player in Pitman girls basketball history to average a double double, averaging 12.8 points and 10 rebounds per game.
“I was really surprised,” Higa said of how she felt when she found out she made school history. “I missed some games … and I thought I lost my chance at trying to do that. But I was super happy and it actually meant a lot to me because some really good basketball players have come out of this school and gotten to play at D1 or good D2 schools. I don’t compare it to them, but it was really cool to be able to do that. It felt really good.”
After making school history and leading the Pride to their second Central California Athletic League title in three seasons, Higa is The Bee’s Girls Basketball Player of the Year
Her offensive game improved every season of her three-year varsity career. She averaged three points per game as a sophomore and 8.6 points last season in the short season as a junior. A lot of basketball players love making the step-back jump shot or the flashy no-look pass, but rebounding has always been what Higa enjoys most.
“Since I’ve been playing basketball, (rebounding) has been the thing I’ve been best at,” she said. “This year, I’ve gotten a little better at shooting and dribbling and making plays, but I’ve always been, like, the best rebounder on the team.”
She says she started playing basketball at 10 and also has played volleyball and softball in her athletic career.
For Higa, the art of rebounding combines the athleticism of playing three varsity sports in her time at Pitman with hard work and a willingness to do the dirty work.
“You can tell when someone’s working the hardest on the court, even if they’re not the best player,” she said. “They’re the one running as fast as they can to block the ball or they’re the one diving on the floor to get those 50/50 balls. You have to have the heart to do those things.”
In addition to the double-double milestone, Higa set the new school record for offensive rebounds and rebounds per game and was just four rebounds shy of breaking the school record for total rebounds in a season.
“I’m good at rebounding because rebounding is a heart thing,” Higa said. “You have to want to go get the rebound. That’s the only part of your game you can control. You can’t control if your team’s shot is not going in that day, but you can control going up and getting a rebound.”
She will play at the collegiate level at Fresno City College, a top 10 women’s junior college program in California, along with teammate Abbie DiGrazia. She loves the competition of sports and the camaraderie it brings.
“I love competing with people no matter who it is or what it is,” Higa said. “The best part sometimes is being able to go out with your team to eat after, the team bonding and just making connections with people you’ll remember for the rest of your life.”
Small School Player of the Year
Orestimba’s Ciera Thibodeau is The Modesto Bee’s Girls Small School Player of the Year after averaging an impressive 18.4 points and 10.4 rebounds per game, leading the Southern Athletic League in both categories. Thibodeau led the Warriors to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV Playoffs as a No. 8 seed, giving them a home game against Trans-Valley League winner Escalon. She finished with 22 points and 19 rebounds in a 59-45 win. Behind Thibodeau’s dominant season, the Warriors were the only Stanislaus District team to make the second round of the playoffs.
2021-22 Modesto Bee Girls Basketball All-District First Team
Livi Fernandez, Junior, Riverbank
Voted the Trans-Valley League Most Outstanding Player, Fernandez led the league in both points per game and steals with averages of 19.9 points and 4.5 steals. She had six games of 25 or more points and scored a season-high 29 points three times. Helped lead Riverbank to the first round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV playoffs.
Macie Vickers, Sophomore, Escalon
Voted the TVL’s Most Valuable Player, Vickers averaged 13.3 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.7 steals per game. She helped lead the Cougars to a 10-2 league record, their first TVL title in 23 years, 20-5-1 record overall and their first playoff appearance in 16 years.
Abbie DiGrazia, Senior, Pitman
Was one of the top players in the CCAL before tearing her ACL during the season. Digrazia averaged 16.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals in 17 games. She made 48 threes, falling just one three-pointer shy of the school record. Combined with Higa to help lead the Pride to a league title.
Emilie Snyder, Junior, Turlock
A first-team All-CCAL honoree, Snyder finished second in the league in scoring, averaging 14.2 points per game and added a league-high four steals per game. She also led the Bulldogs with 1.7 assists. Snyder had a number of great outings, scoring 20 or more points four times this season.
Alize Martinez, Junior, Johansen
Averaged a double double and finished in the top five in the WAC in points (12.9), rebounds (led the league with 10.2), blocks (led the league with 3.8), steals (led the league with 3.5) and double doubles (led the league with 12). Martinez was named to the All-WAC first-team and helped Johansen claim a playoff spot for the first time in more than 20 years.
Second Team
Celeste Leon, Senior, Ceres
A four-year varsity player, Leon averaged a career-high 15.5 points in her senior season. A first-team All-Western Athletic Conference honoree, she led the league in scoring and added 5.3 rebounds and finished third in the WAC in steals with three per game.
Reagan Marroquin, Senior, Orestimba
Helped lead the Warriors to a 9-0 Southern Athletic League record and finished second in the league in scoring, first in steals and first in assists with averages of 15.4 points, 3.9 steals and 3.7 assists per game.
Rayne Tago, Sophomore, Patterson
Tago led the balanced Tigers team in both scoring and rebounds with averages of 12.3 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. She earned first team All-CCC honors and helped lead Patterson to the first round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II playoffs. She finished the season with 16 double doubles.
Sara Davis, Junior, Gregori
A first-team All-CCAL honoree, Davis had five double doubles in her junior season. She led the Jaguars in rebounds with 9.1 per game and added 8.5 points per game.
Sofia Eden, Senior, Downey
Eden finished the season by being named first team All-CCAL. She helped lead the Knights to the playoffs for the first time in more than 15 years by averaging a team-high 9.1 points per game.
Honorable Mention: Beyer: Kylie Kulina; Big Valley Christian: Trinity Beers; Central Catholic: Cora Grover, Peyton Garrett; Ceres: Mia Rodriguez; Davis: Aydryanna Ege; Downey: Madeline Van Diepen, Sarah Browning; Enochs: Kayla Yager; Gregori: Savannah Pearson; Hilmar: Emily Cogswell; Hughson: Madi Duron, Gracie Quillen; Johansen: Amira Manning, Bethany Albarran; Modesto: Victoria Cortez Ramirez; Patterson: Ranaye Manu, Ciera Cozart; Pitman: Muskaan Kashif; Ripon: Kaylee Hutchinson, Sierra Hollis; Ripon Christian: Maddy Yonker, Kristen Van Elderen; Riverbank: Taylor Macias, Chancis Gamez; Escalon: Soleil Gouzenne, Rachel Farley; Turlock: Kodi Nairn
