Bonney Lake’s Jazmyn Shipp, Lincoln’s Oliviyah Edwards, Tahoma’s Hope Hassmann, Auburn’s Monique Carter and Bonney Lake’s Jazmyn Shipp are The News Tribune’s All-Area Girls Basketball Team, photographed for this photo composite at Curtis High School in University Place, Washington, on Saturday, March 11, 2023.
Tony Overman
toverman@theolympian.com
Each year, with input from local coaches, The News Tribune selects its All-Area girls basketball team.
This year, nine high schools from the South Sound are represented by players and coaches selected to the first and second teams.
The 12 spots, broken down by leagues, are 4A North Puget Sound League (two), 4A South Puget Sound League (five), 3A North Puget Sound League (one), 3A Pierce County League (three) and 3A South Sound Conference (one).
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Tahoma senior Hope Hassmann is The News Tribune’s All Area Girls Basketball Player of the Year. She is photographed at Curtis High School in University Place, Washington, on Saturday, March 11, 2 Tony Overman toverman@theolympian.com
HOPE HASSMANN
Tahoma
Guard, 5-8, sr.
Three-time 4A NPSL MVP and three-time TNT All-Area pick was the heart and soul of this year’s Tahoma group — which was the first to play in the state tournament since 1999. Hassmann led the Bears to an undefeated 4A NPSL title and program-best third-place finish at the 4A state tournament in the Tacoma Dome, also earning all-tournament first-team honors. Averaged 17.5 points, 5.5 assists and 3.5 steals. Cal State Fullerton commit.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Tahoma head coach Peter Smith is The News Tribune’s All Area Girls Basketball Coach of the Year. He is photographed at Curtis High School in University Place, Washington, on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. Tony Overman toverman@theolympian.com
PETER SMITH
Tahoma
Fifth-year Tahoma coach guided the Bears to a 23-3 record, undefeated 4A NPSL title, runner-up finish at the 4A West Central/Southwest district tournament, the program’s first state tournament appearance since 1999 and a third-place trophy at the 4A state tournament in the Tacoma Dome — the first state placing in program history.
FIRST TEAM
Emerald Ridge senior Monique Carter is one of six players named to The News Tribune’s All Area Girls Basketball Team. She is photographed at Curtis High School in University Place, Washington, on Saturday, March 11, 2023. Tony Overman toverman@theolympian.com
MONIQUE CARTER
Emerald Ridge
Guard, 5-6, sr.
The engine of Emerald Ridge’s 4A state tournament team, Carter was never sped up, running the show for the Jaguars. 4A SPSL South MVP, who was also the division’s co-MVP last winter and this season’s co-defensive MVP, averaged 11.5 points and five assists in a balanced offense. Paced Emerald Ridge to the top spot in the 4A SPSL South standings and a sixth-place finish in the 4A state bracket in the Tacoma Dome — the program’s first-ever state trophy.
Lincoln freshman Oliviyah Edwards is one of six players named to The News Tribune’s All Area Girls Basketball Team. She is photographed at Curtis High School in University Place, Washington, on Saturday, March 11, 2023. Tony Overman toverman@theolympian.com
OLIVIYAH EDWARDS
Lincoln
Forward, 6-3, fr.
What a debut from Edwards, who paced Lincoln to a sixth-place finish in the 3A state bracket, posting three double-doubles and averaging 15.3 points and 13.8 rebounds during the Abes’ four-game run in the Tacoma Dome. Edwards’ 55 total boards in the tournament was a Tacoma Dome-best this season, and she earned an all-tournament second-team nod. 3A PCL first-team selection showed why she’s one of the top recruits nationally in the 2026 class this winter, leading Lincoln in scoring average (15 ppg), rebounds (9) and blocks (2.5).
LAINEE HOUILLON
Sumner
Guard, 5-6, jr.
4A SPSL North MVP ran the show Sumner, averaging 19.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 4 steals per game and leading the Spartans to a second consecutive 4A state tournament appearance this winter despite the program graduating a pair of former TNT All-Area picks in twin-duo Alyson and Catelyn Deaver following last season’s runner-up finish in the Tacoma Dome. Houillon kept Sumner atop the 4A SPSL standings this winter, pacing the program to a 4A SPSL North regular season title and 4A SPSL tournament championship.
Bonney Lake junior Jazmyn Shipp is one of six players named to The News Tribune’s All Area Girls Basketball Team. She is photographed at Curtis High School in University Place, Washington, on Saturday, March 11, 2023. Tony Overman toverman@theolympian.com
JAZMYN SHIPP
Bonney Lake
Forward, 6-1, jr.
Shipp earned 3A PCL co-MVP honors this season, was also the league’s MVP last season, and was a double-double machine for the Panthers this winter, averaging 17.3 points and 12.7 rebounds per contest. Led Bonney Lake to a second consecutive appearance in the 3A state tournament, and passed 1,000 career points in the Tacoma Dome this Mach. Two-time TNT All-Area selection.
Bellarmine Prep junior Kiara Stone is one of six players named to The News Tribune’s All Area Girls Basketball Team. She is photographed at Curtis High School in University Place, Washington, on Saturday, March 11, 2023. Tony Overman toverman@theolympian.com
KIARA STONE
Bellarmine Prep
Guard, 5-5, jr.
A factor at both ends of the court, the 4A SPSL North defensive MVP and first-team selection averaged 15.7 points, 3.8 assists and 3.1 steals this winter as part of a talented trio of Lions guards. Led Bellarmine to the 4A state quarterfinals, and was named to the all-tournament first team after averaging a tournament-best 20.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3 steals during the Lions’ three-game run in the Tacoma Dome.
SECOND TEAM
G Keiara Curtis, Bellarmine Prep, soph.
G Maliyah Elliott, Auburn Mountainview, sr.
F Natalia McBride, Olympia, sr.
G Soraya Ogaldez, North Thurston, soph.
G Ciona Wells, Lincoln, jr.
Jon Manley covers high school sports for The News Tribune. A McClatchy President’s Award winner and Gonzaga University graduate, Manley has covered the South Sound sports scene since 2013. Born and raised in Tacoma.
Lauren Smith is a sports reporter at The News Tribune. She has covered high school sports for TNT and The Olympian, as well as the Seattle Mariners and Washington Huskies. She is a graduate of UW and Emerald Ridge High School.
