It was a great day for Westwood at the 44th Annual UPSSA girls basketball meeting. The Patriots were named the Upper Peninsula Class C Team of the Year, Tessa Leece earned the title of UP Class ABC Player of the Year and Head Coach Kurt Corcoran captured UP Class ABC Coach of the Year. Leece along with backcourt mate Madelyn Koski were also the top two vote-getters on the all-UP Dream Team while Karlie Patron garnered Special Mention.
Leece, the Player of the Year in both the Mid Peninsula Conference and the West PAC, turned in 15.2 points per game and tallied 98 total assists. She shot 46% from the field, 42% from behind the arc and 83% at the free throw line. Leece also collected 141 total rebounds and represented the Patriots at the state three-point contest.
Koski averaged 15.8 points and four assists per game, both team bests. Koski also anchored the team defensively with a team-high 65 steals. She shot 41% from the field and connected on 60 three-point baskets this season. Koski was an 86% free throw shooter and participated in the state free throw contest last weekend. She also eclipsed 100 total assists for the season compared to just 56 turnovers.
Corcoran, now in his seventh year at Westwood, guided the Patriots to a 24-2 record as the Patriots reached the state quarterfinals for the first time in eleven years. He is the first Westwood coach to win UP Girls Basketball Coach of the Year since Tom Hammer in 2008.
Patron averaged 8.4 points per contest and led the team with 145 total rebounds. She was the team’s most efficient shooter, knocking down 53% of her field goal attempts. She also finished with 56 assists and came up with 35 steals.