Alexis Whitfield, Chaminade’s junior center who helped the Eagles claim the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 girls’ basketball title, was named D-1 Player of the Year for 2019.

It’s the fourth time in the last seven seasons that a Chaminade player has earned the top honor, with Whitfield joining Mi'Cheal Wright (Division 3-A in 2013) and Valerie Higgins (Open in 2015 and 2016) as Players of the Year from the West Hills high school.

In the Eagles’ 52-49 championship game victory over M.L. King on Feb. 23, Whitfield scored 24 points (including the go-ahead basket with 19 second remaining) and grabbed 25 rebounds.

The post-season honors announced this week also named Chaminade’s Kelli Di Muro, now a four-time CIF-SS champion as coach, as Coach of the Year in D-1. Eagles’ senior Leslie Hunter was named to the All-CIF D-1 first team, as was senior Alexis Tucker of Serra/Gardena; both were first team Open Division choices in 2018.

In Division 5AA, coach Victor Tuberosi, who led Mary Star of the Sea to a series of upset wins in the CIF-SS tournament, was named Coach of the Year. Mary Star sophomore Isabella Serrano and Sacred Heart junior Angelica Matute were named to the D-5AA first team.

Local Catholic schools were well-represented on the All-CIF teams, as presented by the LA84 Foundation. Selections included:

    rn

  • Open: Junior Asia Avinger of state champion Rosary, senior Cailyn Crocker and sophomore Brooke Demetre of Mater Dei, and seniors Kayla Padilla and Kayla Williams of Bishop Montgomery (Padilla is a repeat selection).
  • rn

  • D-2A: Sophomores Elizabeth Elliott of St. Mary’s Academy and Helena Friend of Santa Margarita.
  • rn

  • D-3A: Senior Dominique Hernandez of St. Bonaventure.
  • rn

  • D-4AA: Freshman Jyah LoVett of Providence/Burbank.
  • rn

  • D-4A: Senior Dalila Rincan of St. Genevieve.
  • rn

  • D-5A: Sophomore Amanda Diaz of Bishop Conaty-Loretto, and senior Madison Fabbian of Villanova Prep.
  • rn

rn

Mike Nelson is the former editor of The Tidings (predecessor of Angelus News).

Start your day with Always Forward, our award-winning e-newsletter. Get this smart, handpicked selection of the day’s top news, analysis, and opinion, delivered to your inbox. Sign up absolutely free today!

author avatar
Mike Nelson
Mike Nelson is the former editor of The Tidings (predecessor of Angelus).