High school girls basketball: Basketball MVPs found ways to contribute

It isn't just the points they score or the rebounds they grab that help their teams succeed. This year's Deseret News Most Valuable Players contribute in ways that are difficult to quantify on a stat sheet.

They bring their teammates together; they help them develop their own strengths; and most importantly, they set an example of just how far hard work and a positive attitude can take a person. For these reasons, these five players were honored as the state's most valuable girls basketball players for the 2009 season.

5A MVP Haley Holmstead, American Fork

Haley Holmstead has always had the ability to take over a game. What she learned in her senior season was just when she should.

"What changed this year was her understanding of when to take over," said Cavemen head coach Corey Clayton. "I think this year she just really matured as a player."

The senior guard was difficult for any team to stop, and sometimes even to slow, as she just seems to find a way to make those impossible shots fall.

"She is the best one-on-one player I've ever seen," Clayton said. "She's a great one-on-two player as well."

Holmstead led the Cavemen to a 5A state title averaging 21 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.6 steals and 2.7 assists per game.

"For us to win, we had to have her on both ends of the court," Clayton said. "She developed into one of our most consistent players on both ends."

No one who has seen Holmstead play could question her physical toughness, but this season she also proved she's up to any challenge mentally.

"She took better shots, grabbed more rebounds," said Clayton of her improved play. "She shot 54 percent from the field."

Her greatest attribute as a player, Clayton said, "is just her mental toughness, her confidence."

Holmstead is also willing to do whatever is asked of her.

"She's fun and she wants to please," he said. Holmstead will play for Salt Lake Community College next year and Clayton has no doubt she'll be a successful college player.

"When she makes her mind up to do something, I wouldn't want to get in her way," he said.

4A MVP Ashley Kroneberger, Springville

There are two things Springville head basketball coach Nancy Warner is sure of when coaching senior Ashley Kroneberger — she won't have to tell her to work harder and she will accept any assignment the coach asks.