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Camp Verde basketball teams rack up accolades

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It was a successful winter season at Camp Verde High School as the Cowboys racked up the postseason awards.

Juniors Jason Collier and Abelardo Gonzalez each earned 2A Central All-Region First Team recognition.

Collier received Regional Player of the Year honors after leading the region in scoring at 23 points per game.

He also led the 2A Central in 3-pointers made at 88 on 39 percent efficiency.

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The Cowboys tasked Gonzalez with the opponent’s biggest threat and Gonzalez responded by winning Defensive Player of the Year.

He led the Cowboys in blocks with 0.7 blocks and placed fourth in steals at 1.7.

Freshman guard Jose Salas-Zorrilla earned second-team honors, while sophomore Coke Bast made honorable mention.

Bast recorded six double-doubles this season and was one rebound shy in four separate instances.

Salas-Zorrilla made at least one three in 23 out of 30 games and converted 42-111 3-point attempts.

Cowboys coach Dan Wall received 2A Central Coach of the Year after leading the Cowboys to a 26-4 record and postseason berth.

Camp Verde’s 26-win season was their highest win total and first 20-plus win season dating back to 2004.

This year, Camp Verde will lose three players to graduation including Xavier Rios, Dayton Smith and Nick Stone.

Not to be outdone, the girls’ side saw juniors Tanna Decker and Jacy Finley each earn first-team all region honors.

The Cowboys’ offense featured two of the regions three leading scorers as Finley finished second [12.7], while Decker placed third [12.5].
Finley and Decker are not new to the all-region team, however, as both earned first-team distinction last year.

Decker also earned regional offensive player of the year status after averaging 12 points, three rebounds and four assists in 31 appearances.

Decker has earned first-team honors in all three years of her high school career.

Finley led the region in rebounding [10.1], blocks [2.8] and double-doubles [10] in 17 appearances.

Senior guard Hope Ontiveros earned second-team honors and averaged six points after converting 30 3-point attempts.

Next season should feature some familiar players as Ontiveros is the only player Camp Verde loses to graduation.

Cowboys forwards Shelly Warfield and Maya Hedges rounded out the Cowboys recognition as each earned honorable mention.

Ivan Leonard

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