Amber Melgoza was named CIF Player of the Year and Andrew Butcher was honored as Coach of the Year in the 3AA Division.
Amber Melgoza is the CIF 3AA Division Player of the Year.
Andrew Butcher is the 3AA Division Coach of the Year
Only a sophomore, Melgoza was the leading scorer for a Dons team that won its first Southern Section division title in program history. She poured in 40 points in a quarterfinal win at Irvine and pumped in 38 points in the 3AA championship victory over Lakeside.
Melgoza is Santa Barbara’s first CIF Player of the Year since Holly Ford in 1983 and 1984. Ford went on to earn All-American honors at USC. Her No. 23 Santa Barbara jersey was retired last year.
The CIF Coach of the Year award is the first for Butcher is his 32 years of running the Dons’ program.
This season has been a magical one for the coach. He’s guided Santa Barbara to a 30-5 record, a section title, a state regional crown and its first appearance in the CIF State Finals. The Dons play Modesto Christian on Friday at 2 p.m. at the Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento.
Santa Barbara senior Desirea Coleman was selected to the nine-player All-CIF 3AA Division team. Coleman’s leadership, ball handling and clutch shooting have been instrumental during the Dons’ postseason success.
Bishop Diego’s Jordyn Lilly earned All-CIF honors in Division 5AA. Lilly, a junior, averaged 19 points and 7 rebounds per game and led the Cardinals (17-10) to the division quarterfinals.
