Without question, Alyssa Marino was the floor general of the Gateway Panthers this past season. The Panthers’ point guard led them to their firstever Orange Belt Conference Championship, a 20-win season and another trip to the regional playoffs.
In three years as a starter, she has scored more than 1,000 points, led Gateway to a 62-22 record, three regional appearances and a Final Four. This year she’s the Osceola News-Gazette Girls Basketball Player of the Year.
Her junior season numbers speak for themselves—18.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 7.0 assists, and 2.9 steals per game. Despite having the ball in her hand constantly, she averaged less than two turnovers per game.
An outstanding shooter, Marino made 47% of her threepoint attempts (80 of 172) and had at least five assists in every game played this season, including a season-high 11 against Harmony in the season opener.
Despite the success, Marino called her season unfinished.
“Individually, I thought I played well, but we didn’t go anywhere near as far in the playoffs as I thought we should have (GHS fell in the district championship and regional quarterfinals),” she said. “As point guard, I put a lot of that on myself. I felt we had the potential to be better and I needed to be better.”
Marino added she’s looking forward to her senior season.
“We have all our key players back and they are going to be a year older and more mature. We also have some talented players coming in. We are playing a much tougher schedule this year, so our regular season record may not be a whole lot better, but the schedule will help prepare us for the playoffs.”
Joining Marino on the All-County Team are:
Ashlynn Day, Gateway, Fr.— Just a freshman, she posted huge numbers, averaging 22.7 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 7.3 steals per game. Had three 30-point games, including 34 against Lake Wales. Played two years of varsity basketball as a seventh and eighth grader for Life Christian Academy and already has 1,087 career varsity points.
Savanah Kroener, St. Cloud, Sr.—Played through injuries for most of season, averaging 13.2 points per game. Three-year starter for Bulldogs, scored 49 points in two regional playoff games.
Adrianna Viera, St. Cloud, Sr.—Led Bulldogs in scoring (20.2), 90 three-point field goals made led all Class 7A in state. Reached double figures in 24 of 26 games, including 15 games of 20+. Averaged 24 points in four post-season games—including career high 30 in regional semifinal.
Evelyn Juden, Celebration, So.—Played a major role in Storm posting first winning season (12-10) in five years. Led team in scoring (18.5), rebounding (10.8), assists (2.4) and blocks (3.4). Ten games 20+ points, including season high 30 vs. Tohopekaliga.
Second Team/Reserves: Evana Rivera, Gateway, Jr.; Jayme Montanez, Harmony, Jr.; Sanaa Charles, Tohopekaliga, Jr.; Emma Zukowski, Celebration, Jr.; Natalia Calderon, Poinciana, Jr.; Keyanna Stanley, Osceola, Jr.; Vanessa Vohs, St. Cloud, Sr.
Coach of the Year: Chad Ansbaugh, St. Cloud: Facing an almost total rebuild, the Bulldogs went 19-9, won a district title and made it to the regional semifinals.
