Zillah’s Joel Yellow Owl, who guided the Leopards to their first state championship, was named the VarsityWA Washington girls basketball Coach of the Year.

Yellow Owl took Zillah’s reins after the August passing of popular coach and legendary Leopards athlete Brandie Valadez, who had battled cancer for nearly a decade.

Zillah (24-2) won its last 13 games, including a 63-51 victory against top-seeded King’s in the Class 1A state championship game in the Yakima Valley SunDome.

SCAC MVP Makenna Klitzke was named to the 1A team after leading the conference in scoring.

She was joined on the team by Royal’s Graycie Kast, who helped the Knights earn third place in the 1A tourney, their first state tournament trophy in 30 years.

Class 4A champion Davis placed two-time CBBN Player of the Year Cheyenne Hull and sharp-shooting guard Isa Garcia on the first-team all-state squad and the 4A squad.

Hull also has won the MaxPreps Washington Player of the Year for the second straight year after earning the 4A state tournament MVP in helping the Pirates repeat as state champs.

Garcia averaged 19.3 points per game in Davis’ three contests at the state tournament in the Tacoma Dome.

Prosser junior Herbie Wright, the two-time CWAC scoring champ and conference MVP, was named to the 2A team and all-classification’s third team.

Wright led the Mustangs to second place in the 2A tournament, their best finish since winning the championship in 2011.

• The complete VarsityWA girls-all-state team is here.