Several local basketball players made an impression on the Big Country Preps writers. Nine athletes were recognized for end of season awards.
Senior Teafale Lenard of the Snyder Tiger basketball team was named Defensive MVP and earned first-team honors.
It was the latest of the post-season accolades for the six-foot-six senior following a season during which he averaged 15 points per game with 4.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.3 blocks.
“One of the things that made him successful was him being able to see the whole floor and predict what is about to happen,” Snyder head boys’ basketball coach Lee Scott said.
“We were able to put him at the top of the press with his length and athletic ability and he was able to tip passes where someone else stole it or he stole it himself. We could put him on literally anybody that we played and he was able to either get down low with them because he was able to make them shoot over him and he could guard the guards.”
Fellow senior Jayden Samaniego was named to the Gym Rat Team, an award given to the hardest working players in the region. Scott spoke highly of the seniors’ contributions to the Snyder program.
“Jayden is one of those guys that gave everything that he had,” he said. “He laid everything out on the line for his team and never took a play off. He was our go-getter. And (Teafale) was just a special player. To be his size and be able to handle the ball like he can and shoot and drive, those don’t come around very often. He has been on the team since we got in the playoffs for the first time in 10 years and won two district championships. Those two are pretty special. They meant quite a bit to our team.”
Senior Natalee James and junior Kamiah Davis earned second team honors.
The two led the way in scoring for the Lady Tigers and led the Lady Tigers to a bi-district title.
In Hermleigh, senior Makia Gonzales finished her career as a Lady Cardinal with all-state honors and was named the offensive MVP. She also earned first-team honors.
Senior Ryleigh Benitez was named as an honorable mention.
First-year head coach Kia McCarty led the Hermleigh boys’ team to its first playoff victory in more than 100 years and had three players appear on the award list.
Senior Kobe Roemisch was named to the Gym Rat team. Roemisch was also named to the third team.
Fellow senior Payton Rivera and junior Devin Hildebrand both earned honorable mentions.
“(Kobe) didn’t stumble upon this or happen upon it, he earned it,” McCarty said. “I was fortunate enough to come into a player of his talent and caliber. His senior leadership and understanding of what had to be done and how to get it done to be successful was massive and it was already here. He put in countless hours when most others didn’t. I think he is a good representative of Hermleigh and a good representative for the game of basketball.”
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