Hansen, Gibb take home MVP awards

By Lethbridge Herald on March 23, 2023.

Herald Photo By Justin Seward Delaney Gibb and David Hansen won their respective league MVP awards for the 2022-2023 season.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

The Southern Alberta Interscholastic Administrative Council (SAIAC) officially concluded the  Southern Alberta High School Girls and 4A Boys Basketball Leagues seasons with awards and All-Star Games on Thursday night at Chinook High School.

There were 20 players from both the girls and boys divisions that made up All-Star Game rosters, while the Coach of the Year, First and Second-Team All-Star awards and MVPs were handed out on the evening.

For the second year in a row, Raymond Comets  Delaney Gibb won Southern Alberta High School Girls Basketball League MVP.

“It feels pretty great,” said Gibb.

“I mean I have to hand it to my team for helping me out there. But it feels pretty good.”

Gibb agreed the award was icing on the cake after the Comets had just finished winning  back-to-back provincial titles in the week prior.

“I think it just kind of tops everything off,” she said.

The back-to-back provincial titles have special place in her heart.

“Obviously, my team is like my family now,” said the Grade 11 student.

“And to be able to win back-to-back provincial championships, I mean we made history. I don’t think it’s ever been done on the girls side of the program in Raymond. So, yeah it’s just super super special and I’m glad that  I could do it with my team this year.”

Gibb felt a lot of players stepped up and the team got better as the season went on.

She enjoyed her year overall.

“I mean we had a couple of ups and downs,” she said.

“But we came out successful and yeah it was just super fun.”

First Team All -Stars awards: Grace Hansen (Magrath), Mishynn Miller (LCI), Ellie Clawson (Raymond), Ami May (Raymond) and Bailey Blackmore (Magrath).

Second Team All-Star awards: Brooklyn Hardy (Cardston), Hallee Pilling (Cardston), Jaida Gold (Medicine Hat), Allie Hansen (Magrath) and Gracie Kradovill (Medicine Hat).

Magrarth Zenith’s David Hansen also won the 4A Boys Basketball League MVP for a second straight year.

“It means a lot because of the work I put in,” said Hansen.

“I’m just really glad I got some recognition for it.”

His goal was to put the work in and win a zone championship.

Magrath won the South Zone championship over Raymond to earn one of the three berths from the south  at provincials.

Magrath then went on to win provincial bronze.

“You know what we’ve come a long and it was very nice to end the year off with the boys with a win,” said Hansen.

Hansen will his last year as awesome and very special.

First Team All-Star awards: Everson Harker (Raymond), Mikey Holland (Cardston), Aiden Arcus (Raymond), Kale Orr (Magrath) and Arinze Aniagu (Medicine Hat).

Second Team All-Star awards- Reggie Olsen (Cardston), Trey Watson (Medicine Hat), Justin Baker (Raymond), McKrae Pitcher (Cardston) and Blake Van Bruggen (LCI).

Coach of the Year awards went to the Raymond senior boys Ryan Baldry, Jack McMurray of the Comets junior boys, Magrath Pandas senior girls Brad Karren and the junior girls honour was shared between Cardston’s Erica Burt and Magrath’s Riley Sabey.