McDowell, Woody voted TRC players of the year
TRC MVPs –Okarche’s Rachel McDowell (left) and Cashion’s Jacob Woody (right) were recently named the players of the year for the Three Rivers Conference for the 2019-20 season. [Photos by Russell Stitt/www.stitt.smugmug.com]
Cashion's Kaitlin Taylor (left) and Hennessey's Angel Rodriguez (right) were the top vote-getters other than the players of the year for the 2020 Three Rivers All-Conference team. Rodriguez won player of they ear in 2019 [Photos by Russell Stitt (left) and Chris Simon (right).
Despite having the reigning players of the year returning, the Three Rivers Conference bestowed the honor on two new players this season.
After a vote of its coaches, the conference announced last week that Okarche’s Rachel McDowell and Cashion’s Jacob Woody are the 2020 Three Rivers Conference Players of the Year.
Elizabeth Battelo of Crescent and Angel Rodriguez of Hennessey were winners in 2019. Both earned spots on this year’s all-conference team.
McDowell averaged 13.3 points and 4.5 rebounds during her senior season. She added 2.0 steals and 1.8 assists while guiding Okarche to a 27-4 overall record that included an 18- game win streak during the regular season.
The Lady Warriors won the conference tournament and won their first four conference games before falling to Crescent and Cashion.
Their 4-2 conference mark was good for third place.
They bounced back from that to advance to the Class A state semifinals before losing to eventual state champion Hydro-Eakly.
For her career, McDowell averaged 10 points and 3.8 rebounds. In her final three seasons, Okarche was 78-17 and advanced to the state semifinals twice.
Teammates joining McDowell on the all-conference team were Raegan Robinson and Marlo Hunt.
Other local players, along with Battelo, to make the all-conference team were Kaitin Taylor, Cedar Stewart and Neeley Tilley-Bedick of Cashion; Alaysia Wilson of Crescent; and Skye Simunek of Hennessey.
Woody was a big part of history in Cashion.
The Wildcats were 25-3 and headed to the state tournament for the first time since 1996.
Included in that was a 6-0 conference mark as Cashion was the TRC regular season champion for the first time ever.
The Wildcats also won the conference tournament for the second straight year.
Along the way, Woody averaged 18.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals a contest.
A senior, Woody was a three-year starter and scored 1,409 points in his career.
Cashion’s Alex Nabavi and Jonah Jenkins were also named to the all-conference team.
Other local players making the list were Juan Dominguez and Christian Tovar of Hennessey; Kaleb Harris and Evan Endres of Okarche; and Trent Fisher of Crescent.
2020 Three Rivers All-Conference
Girls Team
Player of the Year - Rachel McDowell, Okarche
All-Conference
Kaitin Taylor, Cashion
Elizabeth Battelo, Crescent
Raegan Robinson, Okarche
Devan Hawk, OBA
Katelyn Jones, Thomas
Kyla Megli, Thomas
Emma Hussey, Watonga
Marlo Hunt, Okarche
Cedar Stewart, Cashion
Cooper Cayot, OBA
Skye Simunek, Hennessey
Neeley Tilley-Bedick, Cashion
Cacie Gorman, Watonga
Alaysia Wilson, Crescent
Boys Team
Player of the Year - Jacob Woody, Cashion
All-Conference
Angel Rodriguez, Hen-nessey
Donavan Kearney, Watonga
Baron Winter, OBA
Kaleb Harris, Okarche
Alex Nabavi, Cashion
Noah Rainwater, Thomas
Juan Dominguez, Hennessey
Jonah Jenkins, Cashion
Trent Fisher, Crescent
Aden Kelley, Thomas
Jacob Wilson, OBA
Blaine Stratton, Watonga
Evan Endres, Okarche
Christian Tovar, Hennessey