Blake, Schulte nab top honors

Adam Candee

Tuesday, March 30, 2004 | 9:44 a.m.

The old saying goes that youth is wasted on the young. Not so on the Sun All-State basketball teams, where both the boys' and girls' players of the year will return to play high school basketball next year.

Palo Verde sophomore Nate Schulte and Centennial junior Ashley Blake are the boys' and girls' players of the year for 2003-04 after leading their teams to 4A state championships.

A year after helping the Panthers to the state title game as a freshman, Schulte returned in his second year to become the leader of the Palo Verde squad. A rugged forward who never stops working to improve his game, Schulte displayed the enthusiasm of a young player and the poise of a veteran as the Panthers outlasted Durango in the region title game before dispatching Elko and Foothill in the state playoffs.

Schulte is the lone underclassman on the boys' team, which features three heart-and-soul point guards and a polished swingman.

Foothill's Jamaal Smith carried the Falcons all the way to the state championship game in his senior season, bringing his school its first-ever region championship along the way. Elko senior Ryan Klekas and Durango senior Tywain McTyer both paced their teams to strong campaigns with their leadership and steady play. Cheyenne's Harvey Perry did a little bit of everything for the Desert Shields.

Selection to the All-State team is nothing new for Blake, who earned second-team honors as a freshman and a sophomore as the Bulldogs won consecutive state championships. But in her junior year, Blake stepped forward in the Bulldogs' backcourt during the playoffs as the clutch shooter, ballhandler and defender to lead Centennial to its third consecutive title.

Blake is joined on the girls' team by teammate Italee Lucas, a stunning freshman guard with the potential to become one of Nevada's all-time best. Bishop Gorman senior guard Moneka Knight is the final Southern pick, earning a nod for her standout play at point guard for the Gaels.

In the North, Reed's Maria Moore and Reno's MacKenzie Butler would make a formidable inside-outside threat. Moore, a speedy junior point guard, paced the Raiders to the state playoffs. Butler, a tough junior center, controlled the paint as the Huskies advanced to the state final.

Extensive input from basketball coaches and various media sources throughout the state, including Chuck Hildebrand of Nevadaprep.com, was used to select the All-State teams. Coaches and media are asked to select the five best players, regardless of position.