History in the High Desert: Lady Timberwolves Sweep District Honors

The East Mountain Lady Timberwolves didn’t just break the glass ceiling this season; they shattered it into a million pieces. After a rocky start, the team ignited a blistering 19-game winning streak, finishing with a historic record (22-6 overall) and the school’s first-ever district title and state tournament appearance.

The district took notice, showering the program with All-District 5-3A accolades.

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The Sophomore Sensation

Sophomore Evelyn Kannolt was the undisputed engine of the Timberwolves’ success, earning the prestigious Player of the Year title. Kannolt played like a “robber-bandit” on the court, terrorizing opponents with a relentless defensive pressure that yielded 6.3 steals per game.

Her defensive grit fueled an equally impressive offensive output:

• 16.0 PPG: Team leader in scoring.
• 3.8 APG: Team leader in assists.
• 1st Team All-District: A lock-in selection for the conference’s best.

The Double-Double Machine

Joining Kannolt on the All-District First Team is freshman phenom Kate Hushman. Hushman dominated the paint, averaging a monstrous double-double with 14.5 points and a team-high 13.5 rebounds per game. Between Hushman and Kannolt, the future of East Mountain basketball looks exceptionally bright.

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A Full House of Honors

The starting five’s chemistry was the secret sauce to this record-breaking season, with the remaining three starters earning All-District Honorable Mentions:

Player	Key Stats	Impact
Emee Naylor	6.2 PPG, 3.7 SPG	A defensive pest who kept the pressure high.
Maya Cheney	7.5 RPG, 5.0 PPG	The team’s secondary force on the glass.
Genesis Navarro-Chavez	4.1 PPG, 2.5 SPG	A reliable contributor on both ends of the floor.

The Architect

At the center of this transformation is Ron Drake, who was deservedly named Coach of the Year. Drake inherited a program that had never seen a winning season and steered them to a district championship and their first-ever trip to the State Tournament. His resolve turned a winless legacy into a winning culture.