Pitton, Craig Among All-Metro Honorees by the Sacramento Bee

News

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – St. Francis Head Coach Vic Pitton was named the Sacramento Bee Girls Coach of the Year and senior Lauren Craig was selected to the All-Metro first-team, one of four Troubadour players named to the All-Metro team.

“It is certainly and honor to receive the award,” said Pitton. “It is representative of our entire coaching staff, certainly not just me. Unless the players perform really well, you are not in consideration. It really shows for the whole program – the players who performed and the whole coaching staff that helped get them there.”

Pitton, who was also the Delta League Coach of the Year, led the Troubadours to the 2016 NorCal Division I Championship and a runner-up finish in the CIF State Championship game. St. Francis won the Delta League with a perfect 14-0 record and went 29-6 overall.

Pitton is in his 14th season at St. Francis High School as the varsity basketball coach. He has led teams to eight league and three section titles during his tenure and his Troubadours have earned 294 victories under Coach Vic. The Nor Cal Championship in 2016 is the first in his career.

Craig was named to the five player All-Metro first team including player of the year Mira Shulman of Elk Grove, Angelica Baylon of antelope, Briana Dulgar of Oak Ridge, Alceah Hernandez of Sacramento and McKenzie Forbes of Folsom.

Craig, who was the Delta League Player of the Year, recorded 29 double-doubles on the season in 35 games. She eclipsed the 1,000-point and 1,000-rebound marks for her career, finishing her four-year career with 1,260 points and 1,153 rebounds.

“To have Lauren on the first team and have three players earning honorable mention is a great representation for our program.

Seniors Tia Hay and Kyra Huffman joined junior guard Janae Fairbrook earning honorable mention honors. Hay and Craig will play in the Optimist All-Star game on April 16.

SACRAMENTO BEE ALL-METRO TEAM

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

MIRA SHULMAN

Guard, Elk Grove, junior

FIRST TEAM

ANGELICA BAYLON

Guard, Antelope, senior

BRIANA DULGAR

Guard, Oak Ridge, senior

ALICEAH HERNANDEZ

Guard, Sacramento, senior

McKENZIE FORBES

Guard, Folsom, sophomore

LAUREN CRAIG

Center, St. Francis, senior

SECOND TEAM

BRANDY HUFFHINES

Guard, Rio Linda, junior

MADISON WONG

Guard, Elk Grove, senior

KELSEY WONG

Guard, McClatchy, senior

HAILEY McCOY

Forward, Oak Ridge, sophomore

BAYLEE VANDERDOES

Forward, Placer, senior

THIRD TEAM

DANIELLE CRAFT

Guard, Ponderosa, senior

NADIA JOHNSON

Guard, Antelope, junior

NIA JOHNSON

Guard, Antelope, sophomore

PAITON DEMPS

Forward, Elk Grove, junior

JORDAN CRUZ

Forward, McClatchy, junior

HONORABLE MENTION

Guards/wings: Namiko Adams, West Campus; Anna Belenis, Davis; Alyssa Black, Valley; Akylah Bowens, Center; Danielle Biggs, Del Campo; Airahseli Chavez, Laguna Creek; Irene Colivalu, Rosemont; Maddison Coleman, El Camino; Shanaijah Davison, Pioneer; Janae Fairbrook, St. Francis; Payton Garvey, Casa Roble; Kaliya Griffin, Inderkum; Quayonna Harris, Sacramento; Kelsey Forrester, Davis; Kelsie Graf, Cordova; Tia Hay, St. Francis; Kiara Jefferson, West Campus; Abreanna Lake, Cosumnes Oaks; Tiana Lowery, River City; Kalani Mark, Christian Brothers; Cierra McClain, Capital Christian; Shantanice Mendoza, Sheldon; Brittany Nguyen, Pleasant Grove; Cassie Piski, Lincoln; Jordan Purvis, Rocklin; Sara Shimizu, McClatchy; Saraya Smith, Ponderosa; Chanel Stuart, Franklin; Lyric Wilson, Sacramento; Daisia Williams, Inderkum; Madison Witcher, Cosumnes Oaks; Kristi Wong, McClatchy; Alexis Zimmerman, Rio Linda

Forwards/centers: Adriana Avent, Sacramento; Kylee Bauer, Colfax; Daeja Black, Granite Bay; MacKenzie Crouch, Oakmont; Kassidy DeLapp, Oak Ridge; Rachael DiRegolo, Bella Vista; Rebeccah DiRegolo, Bella Vista; Jada Ellison, Rosemont; Cailyn Francis, River Valley; Kamryn Hall, McClatchy; Bailey Hawkins, Antelope; Ariyan Hudson, Franklin; Kyra Huffman, St. Francis; Quoquese Jackson, Foothill; Samantha Klinkenborg, El Dorado; Katie MacKenzie, Dixon; Lillian Olson, Sacramento Waldorf; Brea Price, Burbank; Kaely Rath, Bear River; Adrienne Russell, Granite Bay; Jikara Sellers, Florin; Arianna Spann, Antelope; Acacia Tyler, Casa Roble; Kyanna Thurston, Highlands; Destiny Walker, Capital Christian; Kamrynn Williams, Monterey Trail

COACH OF THE YEAR

VIC PITTON, ST. FRANCIS

With Pitton stressing effort, fundamentals and trust on the floor, St. Francis was 29-6, its finest season in Division I. The Troubadours won the Delta League and the CIF Northern California Division I championship before losing to 10-time CIF State champion Brea Olinda in the state finals at Sleep Train Arena. It was St. Francis’ first appearance in the state finals since 1993, in Division III. Pitton, who called this his best and most enjoyable team, said the loss in the state title game didn’t define the team, the entire season did.