Columnist Spencer Patterson: Carter, Jordan named players of the year

Spencer Patterson

Thursday, March 1, 2001 | 10 a.m.

Spencer Patterson covers prep sports for the Sun. Reach him at 259-4085 or spencer@lasvegassun.com

After leading their teams to division titles and berths in last week's 4A Boys Basketball State tournament, Bishop Gorman's Jason Carter and Green Valley's Jamar Jordan have been named players of the year for their respective regions by area coaches.

Carter, a 6-10 senior center, helped the Gaels to a 29-3 record, the Southwest Division and Sunset Region titles and an appearance in the 4A state championship game, where Gorman lost 64-61 to Western last Friday.

Carter, who signed a letter of intent with Colorado, averaged 14 points, nine rebounds and three blocks this season.

Jordan, a 5-7 point guard, provided senior leadership for a young Gators squad that captured the Southeast Division title and went 22-11 this season, losing to Galena in the first round of last week's state tournament.

Jordan averaged 10 points and five assists for Green Valley this season.

Joining Carter on the all-Sunset first team were: Clark's Michael Cooper, Western's Tim Day, Durango's Martrel Johnson, Cimarron-Memorial's Jason Petrimoulx and Cheyenne's Kevin Richardson.

Along with Jordan, Las Vegas' Jeremy Atwater, Valley's Sam Jackson, Foothill's Dave Lainhart, Chaparral's Terry Robinson and Desert Pines' Maurice Thomas made the all-Sunrise first team.

For a complete list of honorees, see Scoreboard, page 8D.

Also named to the All-Southern Nevada team by area coaches were: Silverado's Abbey Mathis, Chaparral's Lyndsey Sobrero, Centennial's Nickie Olsen, Cheyenne's Jessica Lund, Rancho's Kamilah Bywaters and Bishop Gorman's Danielle Ghaffari and Cayla Tyndall.

Silverado's Adam Taylor, Centennial's Jay Howard, Rancho's Amy Whitemarsh and Western's Jim Sullivan were selected as the division oaches of the year.

Littlefield, who coached the likes of Greg Anthony and Mike Pritchard during three Sunrise Division championships seasons with the Rams, has a 144-42 record in 20 years of coaching...

Cimarron-Memorial's Chase Spencer, a member of this year's Sun all-state football team, has signed to play at Minot State in North Dakota. The 6-1, 215-pounder played defensive end and linebacker for the Spartans, playing for his father, former Spartans coach Greg Spencer...

Cimarron's Vanesha Bailey and Bishop Gorman's Joe Zaher have been named the Gatorade Nevada soccer players of the year.