Observer All-Area teams: Boys and girls basketball

With stellar performances, championship-winning teams and challenges off the court brought on by COVID-19, the 2020-21 boys and girls basketball season was full of wild ups and downs.

The area had several strong teams show up throughout the regular season and make deep runs into the playoffs — which includes a first-time state champion in the Dr. Phillips boys basketball team.

The following is the 2020-21 Observer All-Area team for both boys and girls basketball.
 

BOYS BASKETBALL

Player of the Year: Denzel Aberdeen, Dr. Phillips

Coach of the Year: Ben Witherspoon, Dr. Phillips

Most improved team: Olympia
 

FIRST TEAM

Denzel Aberdeen, Dr. Phillips, junior

Season stats: 19 ppg, 4 rpg, 4 apg, 40% 3FG

Quick hit: The floor general for the best team in Class 7A, Denzel Aberdeen led the Panthers in scoring, and flashed brilliance all season.
 

Kanye Jones, Windermere, senior

Season stats: 20.1 ppg, 1.6 spg

Quick hit: As the leading scorer for the Wolverines, Kanye Jones was deadly from just about every spot on the court. 
 

Trey Moss, Windermere, senior

Season stats: 17.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 5 apg, 1.4 spg

Quick hit: Trey Moss was the key piece for the Wolverines and had a hand in just about everything. 

Mike McCalister, West Orange, senior

Season stats: 15.3 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 1.3 spg

Quick hit: Senior Mike McCalister led an 18-6 Warriors team in both points and rebounds per game.
 

Ernest Udeh, Dr. Phillips, junior

Season stats: 9 ppg, 10 rpg, 2 bpg

Quick hit: At 6-foot-10, Udeh recorded numerous dunks and swatted away just about every ball shot within five feet.
 

SECOND TEAM

Tyeree Bryan, Olympia, senior (15.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg)

Jizzle James, Olympia, sophomore (14.4 ppg, 3.4 apg, 2 spg)

Noah Velasquez, Legacy Charter, senior (18.6 ppg, 13.8 rpg)

Zavien Williams, Windermere Prep, senior (13.9 ppg, 6 rpg, 4.2 apg, 2.2 spg)

Elijah Hulsewe, Windermere Prep, senior (11.6 ppg, 11.3 rpg)
 

THIRD TEAM

Imanuel Zorgvol, CFCA, senior (10 ppg, 9 rpg, 2.5 bpg)

Riley Kugel, Dr. Phillips, junior (13 ppg, 5 rpg, 2 spg, 4 apg)

Danny Stutsman, Foundation, senior (16.3 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 1.7 spg)

Bradon Holcomb, Foundation, sophomore (14.9 ppg, 8.5 rpg)

Jayden Williams, Windermere Prep, junior (16.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg)
 

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Player of the Year: Abigail Crain, Windermere 

Coach of the Year: Brian Rizo, West Orange

Most improved team: CFCA
 

FIRST TEAM

Talia Kemp, CFCA, freshman

Season stats: 16.5 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.9 apg, 6.3 spg

Quick hit: Talia Kemp led CFCA team in points, rebounds, assists and steals per game.
 

Zoe Sedo, Foundation, freshman

Season stats: 15.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.0 apg, 5.6 spg

Quick hit: The spark plug for the Lions, Zoe Sedo had no fear in pulling up for a shot anywhere.
 

Abigail Crain, Windermere High, senior

Season stats: 17 ppg, 8 rpg, 3 apg, 3 spg

Quick hit: Senior Abigail Crain led the Wolverines in multiple categories.
 

Chelsey Bryant, Foundation, freshman

Season stats: 13.9 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.4 apg, 3.3 spg

Quick hit: Chelsey Bryant scored buckets and cleaned the boards for the Lions in another solid season for the freshman.
 

Morgan LaBord, Olympia, sophomore

Season stats: 15.6 ppg, 5 rpg, 2.1 apg, 3.6 spg

Quick hit: Morgan LaBord led the Titans in points and steals per game.
 

SECOND TEAM

Amanda McClendon, Olympia, junior (10 ppg, 7 rpg, 2 spg, 3 bpg)

Ajalon Gibson, West Orange, junior (12.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.3 apg, 3 spg)

Lauren Olgee, Olympia, sophomore (10.3 ppg, 2.1 spg)

Jasmynne Gibson, West Orange, freshman (9.4 ppg, 8.5 rpg)

Sofia Miller, Windermere Prep, eighth grade (10.5 ppg, 9.3 rpg)
 

THIRD TEAM

Aubrey Satterfield, CFCA, seventh (8.9 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1.7 apg)

Jasmine Bocca, West Orange, freshman (8.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 3 apg, 2.2 spg)

Lakada Bryant, West Orange, senior (5.5 ppg, 6.9 rpg)

Kyla Cruz, West Orange, senior (8.2 ppg, 2.3 spg)

Kayla Cox, Olympia, junior (5.8 ppg, 9 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.6 bpg)