FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ashley Ginascol (312-729-3622)
CHICAGO (March 8, 2012) — In its 27th year of honoring the nation's best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with ESPNHS, today announced
Sierra Moore of
Delone Catholic (McSherrystown, Pa.) as its 2011-12 Gatorade Pennsylvania Girls Basketball Player of the Year. Moore is the first Gatorade Pennsylvania Girls Basketball Player of the Year to be chosen from Delone Catholic High School.
The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the court, distinguishes Moore as Pennsylvania's best high school girls basketball player. Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year award announced in March, Moore joins an elite alumni association of past state girls basketball award-winners, including Candace Parker (2003-04, 2002-03, & 2001-02, Naperville Central HS, Ill.), Diana Taurasi (1998-99 & 1999-00, Don Antonio Lugo HS, Calif.), Maya Moore (2005-06 Collins Hill HS, Ga.), Rashanda McCants (2004-05, Asheville HS, N.C.), Shyra Ely (1999-00, Ben Davis HS, Ind.) and Lisa Leslie (1988-89, Morningside HS, Calif.).
The 5-foot-11 senior guard has led the Squirettes to a 21-5 record and a berth in the Class AA playoffs against South Williamsport, scheduled for March 9. Moore averaged 24.5 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.6 steals through 26 games. A two-time All-State honoree, Moore was also selected for the McDonald's All-American Game.
Moore has maintained a 3.38 GPA in the classroom. She has volunteered locally on behalf of youth basketball programs.
"Sierra Moore has all the basketball skills, combined with tremendous athletic ability," said Bob Heiser, head coach at Eastern York High. "She's smart, quick, a good rebounder, can shoot the ball and she can jump out of the building."
Moore has signed a National Letter of Intent to play basketball on an athletic scholarship at Duke University this fall.
The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by ESPNHS and the Gatorade high school sports leadership team, which work with top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of accomplished, veteran prep sports journalists to determine the state winners in each sport.
Moore joins recent Gatorade Pennsylvania Girls Basketball Players of the Year Madison Cable (2010-11, Mt. Lebanon High School), Kayla McBride (2009-10, Villa Maria Academy), Stephanie Holzer (2008-09, Cardinal O'Hara), Markel Walker (2007-08, Schenley), Jence Rhoads (2006 – 07, Slippery Rock Area), Laura Harper (2003-04, Cheltenham), and Jennifer Harris (2002-03, Central Dauphin) among the state's list of former award winners.
To keep up to date on the latest happenings, become a fan of Gatorade Player of the Year on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. For more on the Gatorade Player of the Year program, including nomination information, a complete list of past winners, and the announcement of the Gatorade National Player of the Year, visit playeroftheyear.gatorade.com.
