Beckler’s Dedication Paid Dividends

MISSION HILLS — Kate Beckler, scoring machine.

It was a job title, a position, a way of life.

From the time Beckler first set sneakers on Alemany High’s campus, she was an offensive threat to be taken seriously.

Drives, pull-up jumpers, three-pointers, off-balance one-handers. Few shots weren’t in her arsenal.

By the time she was done, almost every team in the region had been riddled by her sharp shooting.

Beckler leaves Alemany not only as The Times’ Valley player of the year, but as one of the region’s top all-time players.

She averaged 19.7 points in 111 career games, and her 2,184 career points rank third in the region behind Michelle Palmisano of Thousand Oaks and Michelle Greco of Crescenta Valley.

Beckler, a 5-foot-9 guard who has committed to Rice, reached such heights through hard work, innate talent and an uncommon love for basketball.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had a kid who was more dedicated to the game,” said longtime Indian Coach Melissa Hearlihy. “On a daily basis, she worked harder than anyone.”

It showed in Beckler’s steady improvement during a four-year varsity career that included three Mission League championships, a Southern Section Division III-AA title and a trip to the state final in 1998.

Beckler, who missed only one practice in her career, grew into arguably the region’s most dangerous defender.

As a senior, she averaged 5.5 steals, most resulting in layups at the other end. Her speed and quickness were always evident.

“There were two paces to games,” Hearlihy said. “There was Kate’s pace and everyone else’s pace. She’s as fast as anyone who plays the game.”

That continued to the very end, when the three-time All-Valley player scored 34 points in a state playoff loss to eventual state Division III champion Bishop Montgomery.

Would you expect anything less from a scoring machine?

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Player of the Year: Kate Beckler

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Raquel Alotis / Chatsworth

Coach of the Year

20-6

Assistant: Mitch Cannon.

Guided the Chancellors to the co-championship of the West Valley League, their first league title since the 1995-96 season. Chatsworth also won the San Fernando tournament title and advanced to the City Championship semifinals.

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Valerie Pina / Valencia

5-3, Guard

Junior

The Foothill League most valuable player was a penetrating point guard who averaged 10.8 points and 5.3 assists in helping Vikings win their first league title.

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Kate Beckler / Alemany

5-9, Guard

Senior

Player of the year.

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Christina Aguinaga / El Camino Real

5-5, Guard

Junior

A savvy floor leader and clutch shooter, Aguinaga led regional City Section players in scoring with a 19.3 average and led her team in steals, assists and three-point shooting.

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L’Tanya Robnett / Harvard-Westlake

6-1, Forward

Senior

One of region’s top offensive threats, Robnett averaged 21 points and 7.5 rebounds to lead the Wolverines to the section Division III semifinals and a berth in state playoffs for third consecutive season.

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Sierra Hauser-Price / Notre Dame

5-8, Guard

Junior

A talented multi-sport athlete, Hauser-Price averaged a region-best 24.1 points, as well as 4.5 steals. She made 48 of 85 three-point shots.

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Crystal McCutcheon / Antelope Valley

5-9, Guard

Junior

The Golden League most valuable player led the resurgent Antelopes to the league title. She averaged 17.9 points and 5.7 assists.

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Karina Siam / Alemany

6-0, Forward

Junior

The versatile forward averaged 8.5 points and played a pivotal role in leading the Indians to the Mission League title and state Division III quarterfinals.

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Sinnamonn Garrett / Crescenta Valley

5-10, Guard

Senior

The New Mexico State-bound guard finished her four-year career by averaging 20.6 points and 8.5 rebounds for the Falcons.

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Brooke Porter / Harvard-Westlake

5-5, Guard

Senior

This savvy point guard and two-time All-Valley selection averaged 12.2 points and five assists for the Wolverines, who were 100-29 with Porter in the starting lineup.

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Liz Sun / Chatsworth

5-9, Guard

Sophomore

A versatile standout who could penetrate or pull up and shoot with equal ease. She averaged team-highs of 15.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4.0 steals and 2.6 assists.

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Second-team chart, final standings and statistical leaders on Page 14.