Green Valley’s Jarvis steps up to challenge

Jazmine Jarvis knew she had big shoes to fill this season.

The Green Valley junior took over point guard duties from a Division I recruit and with them an increased leadership role on a team that went undefeated in Southeast League play last season.

And she never missed a beat.

Jarvis, who took over for standout Victoria Naylor, helped the Gators to a second straight perfect league mark and a Sunrise Region title and earned Southeast League Most Valuable Player honors this season, as voted on by the coaches.

“She was just very consistent,” Green Valley coach Lorenzo Jarvis said of his daughter. “She really embraced being one of our leaders.”

Jazmine Jarvis averaged 19 points and 7.7 assists per game, triggering an offense that averaged 55 points in league play. She also averaged six steals per game.

“She has very good basketball instincts,” said Lorenzo Jarvis, whose team is preparing for a state semifinal against Bishop Gorman at 3 p.m. today at the Orleans Arena.

The younger Jarvis had plenty of help, though. Senior forward Vajae Robinson and junior guard Danielle Christenson were named to the Southeast League’s first team.

“I told everyone it wouldn’t be a one-person effort,” coach Jarvis said. “I can’t say enough about the job Danielle did. Vajae went from having an OK year last year to being one of the best post players in the state.”

Silverado’s Shea Collins and Mikayla Thielges, Liberty’s Amanda Delgado and Foothill’s Mercedes Starr also were named to the first team.

Valley’s Vanessa Corona earned MVP honors in the Northeast League after helping the Vikings to a second-place finish.

Desert Pines had three representatives — LaBrea Walker, Andrea Jefferson and Clarissa Davis — on the Northeast’s first team. They’re joined by Rancho’s Khalia Branch and Valley’s Iris Barahona.

Centennial’s Johnna Brown and Deanna Daniels shared the MVP award in the Northwest League, with teammates Alexis Byrd and Courtney Hayes being named to the first team. The Sunset Region champion Bulldogs were undefeated in league play.

Palo Verde’s Hayley Henderson, Mojave’s Jazzmine Robinson and Cimarron-Memorial’s Catherine Wyre also earned first-team honors.

In the Southwest League, Bishop Gorman’s Dannielle Diamant and Durango’s Mia Bell were named co-MVPs.

Diamant, a 6-foot-4-inch post player, helped Gorman to a perfect league record. Bell had the season-best scoring effort in league play, putting up 52 points against Clark.

Gorman’s Aaryn Ellenberg and Chelsie Pitt were joined on the first team by Bonanza’s Christin Figgins and Shirley Pitts, Pahrump Valley’s Kristi Daffer and Sierra Vista’s Jeannette Jackson.

The coaches of the year were Silverado’s Kelli Bray-Mathews (Southeast), Valley’s Barney Holmes (Northeast), Centennial’s Karen Weitz (Northwest) and Pahrump’s Jason Odegard (Southwest).