UC Merced’s Courtney Danna named Cal Pac MVP for basketball

Courtney Danna didn’t realize something was missing until it was returned to her.

She has solidly produced as a shooting guard since stepping onto the UC Merced campus three years ago. But a return to point guard for the 2015-16 basketball season helped Danna take her game to a higher level.

Some players prefer life away from the ball, slashing to the basket or finding open space around the perimeter. Others, like Danna, have their creativity shine with the ball in their hands. Danna thrived with the position change, averaging 12.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 3.2 steals.

Danna didn’t lead the league in any category, and led the Bobcats only in assists, but it was her body of work that led to her being named the California Pacific Conference MVP. She was one of three UC Merced players from the men’s and women’s teams to win a major award, with Jecenia Trinidad being named Defensive Player of the Year and Aaron Laflin earning Freshman of the Year.

“I was happy to play wherever the team needed me, but I did feel much more comfortable going back to point guard,” Danna said. “I felt like it allowed me to be much more creative. I could score if that’s what my team needed, or I could set other people up and help get them going.

“Winning MVP wasn’t really a goal going into the season, but as the year went on and we went undefeated in conference, I felt like maybe it could be a possibility.”

First-year coach Sarah Hopkins-Chery said Danna’s handling of the point was a big part of the team’s success, particularly early in the season as the Bobcats fought through a string of injuries.

“We asked a lot of her, and she did a great job,” Hopkins-Chery said. “One of the most important parts of the system I run is having a scoring point guard. Courtney’s ability to adapt to what the game gave her was huge. Some nights she’d score 30. Other nights she’d have eight or 10 but also have 10 assists.

“She’s a natural leader out there and plays with a toughness that her teammates respond to.”

Danna wasn’t the only player bringing toughness to the Bobcats. Trinidad set a school season record with 73 steals. She had a team-best 150 rebounds (5.8 per game). The senior is UCM’s first Defensive POY in women’s basketball.

Shelby Howard joined the two on the Cal Pac first team. Merced’s all-time leading scorer paced the Bobcats with 14.4 points per game. She finished her four-year career with 1,433 points.

Freshman center Mia Shannon earned a second-team nod, and sophomore guard Allison Wisdom was honorable mention.

On the men’s side, Laflin averaged almost a double double as a power forward. He was second on the Bobcats with 9.2 points and led the team with 8.1 rebounds. He shot a team-best 46 percent from the floor and showed his versatility by shooting 40 percent on three-point attempts.

Aaron’s twin brother, Matt, was named to the Cal Pac second team, and senior guard Reggie Nelson earned honorable mention.

Central Valley Conference – Allen Huddleston is starting to reap the benefits of his former players taking up the coaching mantle.

Two former players have taken up residence as high school coaches in his back yard, including Elizabeth Tolleson at Patterson. She helped filter two of her former players to Merced College, and the program enjoyed a nice bounce-back season with the tandem of Mele Tupouata and Jovannah Arrington leading the way.

A season after going 5-19, the Lady Devils went 16-13 and qualified for the NorCal Regional tournament. Tupouata and Arrington were each named to the CVC first team. Tupouata was a double double machine in the post, averaging a team-high 12.9 points and 9.8 rebounds. Arrington provided a nice perimeter complement, averaging 11 points.

Tajaheray McMahan was named to the CVC second team.

The Merced College men had four players earn awards, led by the freshman duo of Anthony Nolen and Jose Gonzalez. Each received honorable mention and were named to the all-freshman team after combining to average 35 points.

Paul Clark Jr. and Lee McNeill were named to the CVC all-defensive team.

This story was originally published March 16, 2016 at 6:38 PM with the headline "UC Merced’s Courtney Danna named Cal Pac MVP for basketball."