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WATERBURY — It was a no-brainer. Two no-brainers actually.
Picking the Hoop Zone players of the year each season is an impossibly difficult task, but the selection process for 2016 could not have been much more stress-free.
Among the boys, we honored Sacred Heart’s Mustapha Heron, and among the girls Holy Cross’ RaShana Siders.
It does not get any more open and shut than that.
First, Siders had a sensational senior season when coach Frank Lombardo moved her into the shooting guard slot. She scored 498 points as a senior, even though she sat out many a fourth quarter, and 1,193 for her career.
Holy Cross’ RaShana Siders holds the Hoop Zone Player of the Year award and the Richard L. Genua Sr. Award as top senior girl in the city. (Joe Palladino RA)
Siders has earned an athletic scholarship to American International College in Springfield, Mass.
“We needed her to score more,” Lombardo said, “which was a new role for her. She was very unselfish in her first two years with us. The team came first. This year, we asked her to be more selfish, and she came through perfectly. We pushed her hard in practice, and her effort in the game showed that she was willing to take it.”
Siders called her time at Holy Cross “an amazing journey for me,” after she transferred in from Crosby during her freshman year. “We got really far every year,” Siders said of the state tournament runs to the semis, “and even though we didn’t win, we have had a great bond, like a family.
“My coaches have really helped me get ready for the next level, so I am pretty confident.”
For Heron, seriously, what is left to be said. The numbers are crazy. In his senior season, Heron scored 827 points. That is in mind-boggling strata. His career point total is 2,056, amassed in only three seasons. Next stop is Auburn University.
“It was a lot of fun,” said Sacred Heart coach Jon Carroll of the job he had to coach Heron for the past three seasons, which brought the Hearts two Naugatuck Valley League titles and three state championships.
And Carroll made sure to point out that Heron was about far more than point totals and victories.
“It is important to balance the attributes the kid has,” said the coach. “You try to coach him and make him a better player, but at the same time you have to step back and watch what you are seeing because you don’t see it very often.”
Sacred Heart’s Mustapha Heron holds the Hoop Zone Player of the Year award. (Joe Palladino RA)
Heron can rebound, play the point, shoot (of course), dunk (of course), and play defense. But also, there is the court savvy to understand what a game needs at any time and the skill to deliver it.
Even Heron admitted that, when he looks back, he has had a few “wow” moments in his Sacred Heart career, especially during the 2015-16 season.
“This past year, I don’t think I hit a point in the season where I was mentally tired,” he said. “I was able to go through the season and am blessed to say I didn’t receive any major injuries. I made it through my high school career and accomplished some great things with some great people.”
And the next stop is Auburn University.
“I am very exited and ready to get down there and start working with the team,” Heron said, “and being around the guys.”
Siders and Heron earned the hardware as Hoop Zone players of the year. It’s only right since they brought a few trophies back to Holy Cross and Sacred Heart in their time.
Send comments to jpalladino@rep-am.com and follow on Twitter @RAOffTheRecord.
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