Modesto Bee Player of the Year watch list: Warwick the ‘glue’ for Modesto Christian girls

Who do you think should be the All-District Girls Basketball Player of the Year?

— The Modesto Bee (@modbee) February 18, 2016 (Click here to vote, see results)

Modesto Christian High School girls basketball coach Robb Spencer sums up Nicole Warwick’s value with one word.

And it sticks.

“She’s that glue,” Spencer said. “Whatever you tell her to do, she gets it done. It’s stuff you can’t teach – heart and effort. Every play is like the last play for her.”

Now, if he could only clone the 5-foot-7 junior, a two-time Sac-Joaquin Section champion and member of the Crusaders’ 2013 CIF state title team.

Wait a sec ...

There is another Warwick, a twin sister in street clothes. Meagan Warwick injured her back and won’t play this season.

While her sister works through rehabilitation, Nicole has emerged as a Modesto Bee All-District Player of the Year candidate. She is averaging 11.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists from the guard position. A majority of her rebounds (2.7) have come on the offensive glass, a stat that resonates with Spencer.

“She’s the type of player you’d like to have. Games go on and stuff happens, but you can always count on her effort,” said Spencer, whose club wrapped up a 14-0 campaign in the Modesto Metro Conference on Tuesday. “She’s a rebounding guard who can shoot the three, go to the rack with both hands and defend anybody. She can do it all. She’s strong enough, quick enough and smart enough.”

Here’s a look at some of the other Player of the Year candidates, including one of Warwick’s teammates:

Lailoni Gaines, Modesto Christian: The Bee’s Athlete of the Week finished the regular season with a bang, scoring 20 or more points in back-to-back games for the first time all season. She had 21 points, three assists and three steals in a 47-point win over Downey, then produced 25 points, eight rebounds and five steals against Beyer. Spencer will need that kind of production from the lanky 6-foot wing in the postseason. Modesto Christian will set sail in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I tournament, a bracket dominated by national No. 1 St. Mary’s, and Sacramento powers Oak Ridge, St. Francis and McClatchy.

Katie Dillon, Enochs: Coach Curtis Reynolds has called Dillon the best pure shooter in the MMC, and her numbers justify the praise. Dillon is shooting 36 percent from three-point range and has made a conference-best 43 three-pointers. She has scored in double figures in 11 consecutive games, including a 25-point barrage in a 68-47 victory over Davis on Feb. 11. The Eagles’ all-time leading scorer ranks third in the MMC in scoring average at 14.8 points. Dillon trails Gaines and teammate Zakiya Williams, who is netting 15.2 points. Together, Dillon and Williams, another on The Bee’s Player of the Year watch list, form a potent 1-2 punch. Dillon’s touch from range opens driving lanes for Williams, while Williams’ ability to penetrate creates shooting windows for Dillon.

Olivia Vezaldenos, East Union: Those who have watched Vezaldenos, a fourth-year varsity starter for coach Jim Agostini, are reminded of another Lancer who went on to a fine career at Stanislaus State. She is Christin Gowan 2.0, a flashy guard with handle and a hot hand. Vezaldenos is averaging 22.3 points, six assists, six rebounds and four steals for East Union, which completed a perfect run through the Valley Oak League with a 52-38 victory over Oakdale on Tuesday. The Lancers are a district-best 26-1. The only knock on the 5-foot-8 Vezaldenos is her height, but then again, Gowan was 5-7.

Loretta Kakala, Manteca: The Stanislaus District’s top recruit prospect is building considerable interest east of the Mississippi River. National powers South Carolina and Duke recently visited Winter Gym to watch the 6-2 junior forward in action, according to Chris Roemer, the girls basketball coach at Lincoln and an analyst with NorCalPreps.com. She is worth the look. There isn’t much Kakala can’t do. She is averaging 16.1 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.1 blocks, and she’s scored in double figures in 14 of the 15 games in which she’s appeared. Kakala’s only Kryptonite has been a quick whistle. Her physical prowess has acted as a double-edged sword. Officials often misconstrue her sheer dominance of the opposition as a foul.

Stephanie Moore, Golden Valley: The Central California Conference champion Cougars have been idle for more than week. Golden Valley finished a second consecutive undefeated tour through the CCC with a 59-40 win over Merced on Feb. 9. Moore had 17 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals in the rivalry victory. The reigning conference MVP is a shoo-in to win the award again after ranking in the top six in the CCC in scoring (18.1), rebounds (7.3), assists (3.2) and steals (4.3).

Others to watch: Zakiya Williams, Enochs (15.2 points); Ruby Dauby, East Union (14 points, 5.0 assists); Lexi Thompson, Merced (18.2 points); Abbee Croninger, Golden Valley (10.2 points, 10.6 rebounds); Kaylin Randhawa, Pitman (12.9 points, 6.3 rebounds).

This story was originally published February 17, 2016 at 5:53 PM with the headline "Modesto Bee Player of the Year watch list: Warwick the ‘glue’ for Modesto Christian girls."