TRC Youth Movement

There was something familiar and something new Wednesday night when Three Rivers Conference basketball coaches voted on postseason honors.

Crescent’s Elizabeth Battelo was voted the girls most valuable player and Hennessey’s Angel Rodriguez garnered the honor for the boys for the 2018-19 season.

It was the third straight year a Hennessey boys basketball player was named MVP as Dalton Vinson won back-to-back honors prior to this year.

Battelo, meanwhile, snapped a three-year streak of the award going to a Cash-ion Lady Wildcat.

Only a sophomore, she averaged 16.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 8.2 steals as the Lady Tigers finished 19-10 and advanced to the 2A area tournament.

They were also 4-2 in conference games and finished runner-up in the conference tournament in January.

Rodriguez is on the all-conference team for a second straight year, but is a first-time MVP.

The junior scored 13.5 points, 4.5 assists and 1.8 steals in guiding the Eagles to a 26-3 overall record.

Hennessey advanced to a state championship game for just the third time in school history, eventually finishing as the 2A runner-up to Rejoice Christian.

The Eagles were 5-1 in conference games and took third place in the conference tournament.

Joining him on the all-conference team for a second straight year was teammate Hugo Rodriguez. Other Eagles voted to the honor were Bryan Villalobos and Cooper Fuksa.

Also making the list were Jacob Woody and Alex Nabavi of Cashion, who helped the Wildcats win the conference tournament for the first time ever.

Other local players making the all-conference team were Cristian Avila, Tucker Neuenschwander and Kaleb Harris of Okarche and Hunter Bowers of Crescent.

Battelo’s teammate Katie Cronister joined her on the girls all-conference team.

Other Kingfisher County players named were Kaitin Taylor, Tatum Robertson and Neeley Bedick of Cashion; Kassidy Rother, Madison Owens and Raegan Robinson of Okarche; and Morgan Wymore of Hennessey.