St. Francis freshman guard Maya Calfee may appear small in stature and calm in demeanor, which is something the opposition most likely overlooked during the 2023-24 season.
However, the star hoopster played with a desire to outcompete her opponents each night, and attributes that to her lifelong passion for the game of basketball.
“It was a great season for [Calfee],” St. Francis head coach Jesse Yniguez said. “She can shoot, not just from the outside, she’s got a midrange. She can drive to the basket and find the open player.”
Standing at just 5-foot-6 and sporting a pair of distinctive glasses, Calfee torched teams with averages of 16.3 points, 4.5 assists, 7.9 rebounds and 4.6 steals per game in 24 games played this season.
Those accolades didn’t go unnoticed, as coaches within the Pacific Coast Athletic League named Calfee the Cypress Division’s Most Valuable Player for 2023-24.
Calfee spurs a new generation of St. Francis basketball with seniors Aaliysah Gomez and Emily Raich concluding their high school basketball careers. Gomez and Raich both earned All-PCAL First Team and Second Team honors, respectively.
“It means a lot,” said Calfee, on learning about her MVP award. “All of my hard work is really paying off. Hopefully I can get it next year and I could do better than this year. I just practice a lot and make sure I’m giving it my best.”
Calfee now has a league title and an MVP award under her belt, yet she still has three years remaining at St. Francis with no plans of slowing down.
The Sharks star player led the program to a historic 14-0 season en route to a PCAL Cypress Division crown.
Looking back at the season, Yniguez saw his team’s tenacious defense as the X-factor in each game and it was their claim to success.
“We pressed a lot, we pressed every single game,” Yniguez said. “And that’s a tribute to them for being able to press all game if we had to.”
Nobody on the Sharks roster took advantage more on the defensive end than Gomez, who was the energy of the team and led by example throughout the season.
Opponents feared Gomez on the defensive end of the court as she had an average of 5.9 steals per game—best in the Cypress. She also contributed on offense with 8.3 points and 8.5 rebounds per contest.
After finishing the previous season 1-9 in league play, Gomez’s hard work certainly translated to a winning team culture.
“It was really exciting to have that honor,” Gomez said. “I know I’m not the strongest dribbler or shooter, but I know that I’m aggressive and fast so I used my strengths to help the team.”
Raich scored the second most for the Sharks with 13.1 points per game as well as an average of 3.3 steals. She ended her basketball career with a league title and all-league second team honors.
It’s the exact opposite of her freshman year when an injury ended her season.
As if all cards fell into place for the Sharks’ perfect season, her high school career ended better than she could’ve imagined.
“It’s really exciting because it being my senior year feels like the hard work ended up paying off,” Raich said. “I’m just happy overall for my teammates. We all love each other.”
Below is a complete list of this season’s All-PCAL girls basketball teams and individual awards.
Cypress Division
Most Valuable Player: Maya Calfee, St. Francis
Offensive Player of the Year: Kassandra Arriola, North Monterey County
Defensive Player of the Year: Aveena Ducusin, Notre Dame
First team
Maya Armstrong, Pacific Collegiate
Maya Calfee, St. Francis
Malaya Carrillo, King City
Kassandra Arriola, NMC
Aveena Ducusin, Notre Dame
Aaliysah Gomez, St. Francis
Second team
Angelina Navarro, Gonzales
Giselle Quintero, Pajaro Valley
Emily Raich, St. Francis
Johana Alonzo, NMC
Xochitl Ramirez, NMC
Franki Rossi, Notre Dame
Richard Chamberlin Sportsmanship team
Maryanne Camarena, Gonzales
Eliana Moore, Pajaro Valley
Mikayla McLane, King City
Clarissa Medeiros, Notre Dame
Peyton Orradre, St. Francis
Addie Payne, Pacific Collegiate
Johana Alonzo, NMC
Elgie Bellizio Sportsmanship award
St. Francis
Gabilan Division
Co Most Valuable Players: Leslie Rodriguez, Alisal; Bailey Cotter, Hollister
Defensive Player of the Year: Dalilah Ruano, North Salinas
First team
Leslie Rodriguez, Alisal
Nayeli Gil-Silva, Alisal
Bailey Cotter, Hollister
Claire Gho, Hollister
Dalilah Ruano, North Salinas
Alice Uchida, Salinas
Second team
Yulissa Alvarez, Alisal
Madelyn Davis, Hollister
Jeanine Williams, Monterey
Savannah Hardy, Pacific Grove
Payton Edwards, Salinas
Isabella Love, Watsonville
Richard Chamberlin Sportsmanship team
Aileen Gonzalez, Alisal
Izabella Ibarra, Alvarez
Jeanine Williams, Monterey
Mileny Hernandez, North Salinas
Sofi Gambello, Pacific Grove
Jennifer Riviera, Salinas
Itzel Martinez, Watsonville
Elgie Bellizio Sportsmanship award
Pacific Grove
Mission Division
Most Valuable Player: Katherine Amaro, Soledad
Offensive Player of the Year: Latai Matelau, Greenfield
Defensive Player of the Year: Valeria Segura, Soledad
First team
Latai Matelau, Greenfield
Yasmin Avalos, Greenfield
Sophia Cortes, Monte Vista Christian
Kaimi Tulua, Seaside
Katherine Amaro, Soledad
Valeria Segura, Soledad
Second team
Savanna Radowicz, Carmel
Rhazelle Gonzales, Monte Vista Christian
Gia Herrera, Monte Vista Christian
Norma Tulua, Seaside
Kasandra Lopez, Soledad
Emma Hall, Stevenson
Richard Chamberlin Sportsmanship team
Lily Grundy, Carmel
Lesley Santiago, Greenfield
Kayla Rader, Monte Vista Christian
Marissa Garcia, Rancho San Juan
Dora Roberts, Seaside
Kayla Vasquez, Soledad
Grace Ishii, Stevenson
Elgie Bellizio Sportsmanship award
Carmel
Santa Lucia Division
Most Valuable Player: Zoe Allen, Santa Catalina
Offensive Player of the Year: Asya Wilson, York
Defensive Player of the Year: Sofia Luna, Santa Catalina
First team
Zoe Allen, Santa Catalina
Bianca Fritz, Santa Catalina
Sofia Luna, Santa Catalina
Isabel Alvarez, Anzar
Anahi Martinez, Anzar
Asya Wilson, York
Second team
Ellesia Corona, Santa Catalina
Skyler Smith, Santa Catalina
Piper Shankle, Anzar
Ava Kapadia, Anzar
Evera Moore, York
Gianna Garcia, Oakwood
Richard Chamberlin Sportsmanship Team
Lorenza Marquard Cerisola, Santa Catalina
Hailey Garcia, Anzar
Briel Ducusin, York
Arya Vaid, Oakwood
Evelyn Hernandez, Ceiba
Elgie Bellizio Sportsmanship award
Oakwood and Ceiba
