WATSONVILLE — There are not many holes in Delaney Moore’s game.
The Monte Vista Christian senior forward has size, a high basketball IQ, toughness, experience…
“Heart, intensity, work ethic,” said Watsonville head coach Randy Braga, who has only seen Moore from afar as a head coach at St. Francis and this year with the Wildcatz. “You name it, she’s got it. She’s phenomenal.”
Braga was not the only coach who noticed Moore. She was recently voted the Monterey Bay League Gabilan division’s co-Most Valuable Player for the second year in a row. She shares the honor with North Salinas senior Danae Snell.
“I’ve put a lot of work into my game and my team over the years so it’s nice to be recognized,” Moore said. “It was a great way to end my high school career.”
Moore did it all for the Mustangs again this year, leading them in scoring (17.8 ), rebounding (10.0), assists (2.9) and steals (4.6). The 6-foot-1 big was also much improved defensively this season, leading the team in blocks (4.5).
“Defensively I had to step up,” Moore said. “Not because the rest of my team couldn’t play defense but because I was the only one that was 6-feet. I can’t really explain how I got so many blocks.”
She added, jokingly: “I guess I just learned how to jump.”
After graduating two key starters and losing another a few weeks before the season to transfer, the Mustangs were not a lock to compete in the brutally tough MBL-G. But with Moore at the helm, they were able to finish second behind five-time defending champ North Salinas and earn their sixth straight Central Coast Section playoff berth.
Moore, who also made the MBL-G First Team, said this year’s team was different than the previous, especially in the chemistry department.
“We were really close. We were best friends and we still are right now,” Moore said. “I’m going to remember the relationships I made with the girls on this team.”
Moore said she is mulling over offers from several college basketball programs and doesn’t expect to make a decision on her future until after her spring AAU basketball season. She doesn’t want to rush the process, she said.
“I don’t want to jinx anything,” said Moore, who added that she wants to work on her jump shot, ball handling and conditioning in the offseason. “I want to make sure I’m making the right choice.”
“Wherever she goes someone is getting a great player,” Braga said. “She’s a scary player because she can do it all. Where ever you put her she fits in like a puzzle piece.”
Much like Braga’s fit with the Watsonville program.
In his first season with the Wildcatz, Braga, a three-time CCS champion coach at St. Francis, helped a youthful group flip its 8-16 record from last season to a 16-8 standing this season. Watsonville finished third in the MBL-Pacific division.
For that, his peers named him the co-Coach of the Year in the MBL-P. He shared the honor with Seaside’s Michael Turnan, who led the Spartans to the league title.
“I was surprised by it,” Braga said. “I thought we were going to give it to the champion coach. It’s great. It’s humbling.”
Braga said he didn’t have to do much work, indicating that his girls were the ones who took up the challenge of improving in the offseason and getting ready for the year.
“I knew that they had it in them and they knew they had it in them,” Braga said. “They put it all together.”
Watsonville junior Savanah Quintana was named to the MBL-Pacific’s First Team along with North Monterey County junior Jocelyn Cazarez and Pajaro Valley junior Jada Costello.
Watsonville junior Evelyn Rios and North Monterey County senior Amanda Torrez made the MBL-P Second Team.
Seaside’s Jordan Olivares was named the MBL-P’s Most Valuable Player.
Watsonville’s Julisa Vega, North Monterey County’s Alyssa Torres and Pajaro Valley’s Ruby Genis were named to the MBL-P’s All-Defense team.
In the MBL-G, Monte Vista Christian senior point guard Veronica Ward made the Second Team and senior wing Kylie Dillon made the All-Defensive team.
Monte Vista Christian won the Elgie Bellizio Sportsmanship award in the MBL-G.
Darren Jackson won the MBL-G Coach of the Year.
