BIG PINEY – The Wyoming Coaches Association released its annual All-Conference and All-State honors list last week following the conclusion of successful seasons for the Puncher boys’ and girls’ basketball teams.

Senior Edwin Gonzalez received 2A All-State, 2A Southwest All-Conference and 2A Southwest Conference Player of the Year recognition. Big Piney seniors Kaden Raza and Carlos Munoz were named to the 2A All-State and All-Conference teams. Please see their story on page 14.

The Wyoming Coaches Association named senior Cassidy Espenscheid to the All-State and All-Conference list. Please see her story on page 15.

Senior Jakobi Hibbert made the 2A Southwest All-Conference list.

“Jakobi might be the best defender in our state at the 2A level,” said head girls’ coach Brian Espenscheid. “She is always locked in defensively and never gets worn down. Jakobi is just awesome in that regard and is a luxury for our team. She also made great improvements offensively.”

Espenscheid added that Hibbert switched from post to guard this year, and made the transition seamlessly.

Senior Ryker Goodman also represented the Big Piney girls’ team on the All-Conference team.

“Ryker is up there in rebounds and is a really good defender and plays well on the inside,” Espenscheid said. “She is the definition of steady – she can always be depended on to play strong and she played hard against much bigger players through the years. Ryker also made a lot of improvement offensively.”

Junior Hanna Hansen made the All-Conference list for the first time.

“Hanna was just a shot maker,” said Espenscheid. “She just always found a way to score the ball. Hanna is really into basketball and works hard to improve on the team. She is one of the best shooters on the team and there was no doubt that she would make the All-Conference list. I look forward to seeing big things out of her next year.”

Junior Sierra Keiter received All-Conference honorable mention.

“Sierra has a lot of fire and intensity – look for big things out of her next year,” Espenscheid said.

Junior Ethan Whiterock represented the boys’ team on the 2A Southwest All-Conference team.

“Ethan, the lone junior of the All-Conference group, really matured into a consistent player, but more importantly, a consistent, unselfish leader,” said head boys’ coach Nate Strong. “He readily accepted his role and excelled both on and off the court. We really look forward to having him back and seeing the improvements he can add to his game, but also how he can lead others to improve during the offseason.”

Coach Strong gave a shoutout to the team and the All-Conference honorable mention.

“I know each of these All-Conference kids would say that they could not do it without all their teammates,” he said. “I want to point out that Liam Hughes, Cam Thomas and Seth Stoutenburg were honorable mention All-Conference players and these three all could have easily been selected to this team, but they were not worried about anything other than getting better and winning.”