Photos: 2016 TRIBUNE GIRLS BASKETBALL ALL-AREA
Player of the Year: Tianna Eaton, Rowland, Guard, Junior
The great thing about Rowland High School’s Tianna Eaton is she’s got another year to showcase all she can do.
And if the preview is any indication of what’s in store, area fans are going to get their money’s worth her senior year.
Rowland, not your typical girls basketball powerhouse, went undefeated in the Valle Vista League with 
the junior earning league most valuable player honors. It was the Raiders’ first league title since 1988.
Not done, Eaton helped lead the Raiders to the CIF Southern Section Division 2A semifinals, losing a heartbreaker to Agoura, 43-41.
It was another historic milestone for Rowland, reaching the semifinals for the first time since 1979.
At the center of it all was Eaton, who in addition to be named to the Division 2A first team, has been selected the San Gabriel Valley Tribune 2016 girls basketball player of the year.
Eaton, who who is considering Loyola Marymount, Hawaii, U.C. Riverside and others as schools start to notice her all-around game, was thrilled to accomplish so much this past season.
“It was such a great feeling winning a league title,” Eaton said. “Coming into high school it was a goal of mine and achieving it felt amazing. As far as the playoffs, we had a great run and I believe we made it further than people expected. We know what we need to work on and we will be back next year.”
That win also did wonders for the school and community.
“Putting Rowland on the map for girls basketball was a process,” Eaton explained. “As a team, we had to learn to embrace the underdog role. The students and staff at Rowland are very supportive and I am very glad Rowland is finally getting recognition.”
Eaton, a 6-foot-1 guard/forward combo, helped Rowland finish a remarkable 25-3 while averaging a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
When she arrived at Rowland she thought she would spend her years in a forward role, but her athleticism helped her make a seamless transition to guard, and she’s thrived as a do-it-all player.
“When she got here she was apprehensive about dribbling the ball and working out with guards,” Rowland coach Quentin Carr said. “I told her you’re going to work out with the guards and she did it so well. She got rebounds, pushed in transition and it helped make everyone around her better.”
It was something Eaton knew she could do.
“All my life I’ve trained as a guard and a post and I believe that is what separates me from other players,” Eaton said. “My trainers Jelani Gardner & Fred Castillo have always emphasized how important it is for taller players to be able to have an outside game as well as inside.”
Eaton’s most memorable game came in a clutch 66-64 second-round playoff win over Thousand Oaks, in which she scored a career high 25 points to go with 13 rebounds.
“My entire family took the long drive to Thousand Oaks and my dad flew out to California from Ohio to watch my team and I play,” Eaton recalled. “Having my family there pushed me even harder and in the end I was able to score my career high.”
Coach of the Year: Scott Wiard, Duarte
Talk about a chip off the old block.
Scott Wiard, the son of legendary girls basketball coach Richard Wiard, who won multiple CIF Southern Section and State titles, and multiple area coach of the year awards during his long tenure at Bishop Amat, has carved a name for himself in just his first year as a head basketball coach at Duarte High School.
After leading Duarte to the Montview League championship, Duarte kept it going, defeating Yucca Valley, El Segundo, and Lompoc before losing in the final seconds to St. Paul, 45-44, in the CIF SS Division 4AA championship game at Azusa Pacific University. It was Duarte’s first girls basketball championship appearance in school history.
Although the Falcons came up short, you got the idea that under Scott Wiard, there will likely be many more opportunities. For his efforts, Wiard has been named the 2016 Tribune girls basketball coach of the year.
“It was an amazing experience to get to the CIF finals,” Scott Wiard said. “I think it was very rewarding for the kids who worked so hard all year to accomplish something special.”
Wiard said the best moment came in a come-from-behind 43-42 semifinal win over Lompoc on the road that punched the Falcons’ championship ticket.
“It defined who we were so well,” Wiard recalled. “The walk through and pre game were business like because we knew we had a job to do.
“Then we stressed all year “32 minutes of us” and that game defined it especially as we overcame them jumping out to an early lead. Then the long ride home was so much fun. When we stopped for dinner, none of the kids were on their phones, they were just enjoying the moment with each other because more important than anything, our kids were a family.”
Duarte also beat Orosi in the first round of the Division IV state playoffs before losing to St. Anthony in the second round to finish a remarkable 28-5 overall.
And like his days at Amat when Scott Wiard was an assistant to his father Richard, they kept the family affair going. Richard was Scott’s assistant coach and his mom Kathleen kept the scorebook.
“I would like to say that this year proves you can still be successful in high school with kids from the same neighborhood if they believe in each other and have a common goal,” Scott Wiard said. “I’d also like to thank my family. My dad who helped make decisions on and off the court, my mom who kept score for us, and my sister who kept score a few games, filmed a few games, and even helped scout a few games.”
Tribune First Team
Destinee Garr, Diamond Bar, Guard, Senior
The Brahmas captain helped her team to a 24-5 overall record averaging six points and seven boards per game. But numbers didn’t tell everything, she was a factor in everything that they did, which was evident with Garr being named to the Palomares League first team and the CIF-Southern Section Division 1A first team.
Joy Krupa, South Hills, Guard, Senior
The heart and soul of the Huskies’ Palomares league championship squad was a constant triple-double threat, which is why she was named the Palomares League MVP and also was named to the CIF-Southern Section Division 3AA first team. Her constant pressure, rebounding and scoring helped the Huskies reach the quarterfinals for a second straight year.
MacKenzie Barnes, Duarte, Senior, Guard
The Falcons’ do-everything senior averaged 15 points with six rebounds and five assists and was named the Montview League most valuable player and also was a CIF-Southern Section Division 4AA first team selection. She was a key reason why the Falcons advanced to the Division 4AA championship before losing a heartbreaker to St. Paul.
Juliana Gamboa, Diamond Bar, Forward, Junior
The feisty all-around junior could do it all, averaging 12 points, four rebounds and nearly three steals per game. She had 17 points and 11 boards in a win over Bonita and scored a season-high 28 against South Hills. She was named to the Palomares and CIF-SS Division 1A first team.
Farrah Castillo, Rowland, Guard, Senior
The sensational shooter and slasher helped the Raiders to the Valle Vista League title and a CIF-Southern Section Division 2A semifinal appearance in helping her squad to a 25-3 overall record. The 5-foot-2 guard averaged 14 points with four rebounds and four assists while nailing 46 3-pointers. She was selected to the Valle Vista league first team.
Mariah Sierra, Covina, Forward, Junior
The Colts standout averaged 10 points, eight rebounds, three assists and was named to the Valle Vista League first team and also was a CIF-SS Division 4AA first-team selection. Her best game came in a 44-36 win over Sierra Vista, scoring 18 points with 15 rebounds. She also helped the Colts reach the second round of the playoffs
Kimberly Urbina, South El Monte, Guard, Senior
The Mission Valley League first team selection was a scoring machine, averaging 16 points with eight rebounds, five assists and five steals per game. She could do it all, helping the Eagles to a second place finish in the MVL and a 19-8 overall record. She scored a season high 31 points in a 52-24 win over league champion El Monte.
Emmy Pham, El Monte, Forward, Senior
Pham was named the Mission Valley league most valuable player after leading the Lions to the league championship and an 18-8 overall record. The 5-foot-10 senior averaged 10 points with seven rebounds and scored a season-high 18 points in a 44-30 win over Montebello. El Monte also advanced to the second round of the CIF-SS Division 3AA playoffs.
Jenna Gonzalez, Bonita, Center, Senior
The 5-foot-10 center was named to the Palomares League first team after helping her team to a third-place finish in a tough league that included league champion South Hills and Diamond Bar. She nearly averaged a double-double, averaging 9 points with 10 rebounds and nearly two blocks per contest. She also helped the Bearcats reach the CIF-SS Division 3AA second round.
Patricia Morris, Duarte, Center, Sophomore
The 6-foot-7 sophomore is going to be a hot ticket on the recruiting trail as she continues to grow not just in size, but her game. She averaged a double-double, 12 points and 11 rebounds in leading her team to the Montview League title and CIF-SS Division 4AA championship game. She was named to the Montview League first team and also was a Division 4AA first team selection.
Tribune Second Team
Natalie Guillen, St. Lucy’s, Forward, Senior
Denise Wang, South Hills, Junior, Guard
Michelle Can, Glendora, Guard, Sophomore
Ulani Wells, Los Altos, Guard, Sophomore
Ryley Thompson, Duarte, Guard, Guard, Junior
Diana Navarro, Covina, Guard, Junior
Dy’mond Mitchell, San Dimas, Guard, Senior
Kayla Rice, Diamond Bar, Guard, Senior
Taylor Riggs, Bonita, Guard, Senior
Jezteni Espinoza, Los Altos, Guard, Junior
Tribune Third Team
Selena Guerrero, Sierra Vista, Guard, Junior
Jenna Pitpit, Walnut, Guard, Junior
Nicole Valdiviez, West Covina, Guard, Senior
Yasmin Dabbous, Walnut, Forward, Sophomore
Sara Kretschmar, Diamond Ranch, Forward, Senior
Faith Castillo, Rowland, Guard, Sophomore
Alyssa Ono, Bonita, Guard, Junior
Allison Ayala, Covina, Guard, Sophomore
Vanessa De La Garza, Nogales, Forward, Senior
Chloe Nakamoto, Rowland, Guard, Senior
Final Top Ten Rankings
1. Rowland (25-3)
2. Duarte (28-5)
3. South Hills (21-8)
4. Diamond Bar (24-5)
5. Los Altos (20-8)
6. Covina (22-7)
7. El Monte (18-8)
8. Bonita (19-11)
9. Bassett (17-4)
10. South El Monte (19-8)
League Champions
Baseline: Etiwanda
Del Rey: Serra
Hacienda: Chino
Miramonte: Bassett
Mission Valley: El Monte
Montview: Duarte
Palomares: South Hills
Valle Vista: Rowland
