Dean repeats as girls hoops player of year

By Larry Tucker
editor@wood.cm
Posted 4/29/20

For the second year in a row Mineola’s Sabria Dean earned the title of All-East Texas Player of the Year honors named by the Tyler Morning Telegraph. The Lamar University-bound graduate led the Lady ‘Jackets to two consecutive region tournaments at Prosper. 

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Dean repeats as girls hoops player of year

Posted

For the second year in a row Mineola’s Sabria Dean earned the title of All-East Texas Player of the Year honors named by the Tyler Morning Telegraph. The Lamar University-bound graduate led the Lady ‘Jackets to two consecutive region tournaments at Prosper. 

In 2019 the Lady Jackets were ousted by the eventual state champion Chapel Hill Lady Red Devils and this season by cross-county rival Winnsboro which won the region and made the Final Four in San Antonio.

Although it is not unprecedented, it is rare for a player to win back-to-back awards of this nature. In her junior season under Coach Tony Riley, Dean averaged 20 points, six rebounds, three assists and four steals per game. 

The talented Dean moved into her senior year with a new coach, Brad Gibson, who came to Mineola after a year at Lone Oak. Under Gibson’s tutelage, all Dean did was improve on all her stats. She averaged 22 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and five steals per game. 

Named to the Honorable Mention All-East Texas team were three of Dean’s teammates, Cyndi Butler, Meghan Brewington and Tahjae Black.

Sensational 6-1 Winnsboro freshman Faith Acker was named all-East Texas Newcomer of the Year. Playing for the Region II champion Lady Raiders, Acker averaged 20.1 points per game, 13.2 rebounds and 3.2 blocked shots. Teammates Rachel Pinnell and Laiken Allen were named Honorable Mention.