Casto receives AP award

SEATTLE – DeAngelo Casto had plenty of competition. Ashley Corral was a runaway choice.

Either way, both were named Associated Press Washington high school basketball players of the year on Wednesday in voting by sports writers and editors from around the state.

Corral, a senior at Prairie just outside of Vancouver, was a near-unanimous choice, and also named 4A player of the year. She was joined on the first team by Brittany Kennedy of state champion Lewis and Clark. Shadle Park’s Lexie Pettersen was given honorable mention.

Casto picked up the same honors as Corral, also being named the 4A player of the year, but voting on the boys’ side was far closer. Six players received votes for state player of the year, with Casto edging out teammate Shawn Stockton to win the award. Ferris teammate Jared Karstetter was given honorable mention.

Casto was the dominating center on Ferris’ record-setting squad that won its second straight 4A championship and will carry a 58-game win streak into next season. Casto averaged nearly 20 points per game in the playoffs and set a state record for blocked shots.

Corral, who is headed to Southern California next year, averaged 16 points and was an all-around force for Prairie. She was invited to play in the McDonald’s All-America game and led the Falcons to a third-place finish at the State 4A tournament.

Chase Ramey of State 2B boys champion Northwest Christian was chosen to the first team for the second consecutive time. Teammate Matt Zandbergen was given honorable mention. Josiah Tampien of Tekoa-Oakesdale was an honorable mention selection on the 1B team.

Melissa Meza of Lake Roosevelt was chosen to the girls 1A first team with Jordan Harazin of Colfax getting honorable mention. In 1B, Elisha Lopez of Garfield-Palouse was a first-team pick.

The complete list of first teams is on the Scoreboard, C4.