All-Area Girls Basketball: Hoggard's Tristan Shivers surprises in sophomore season

There wasn't supposed to be a breakout star on the Hoggard girls basketball team this winter.

That's because the Vikings, who had dominated area opponents en route to two straight Mideastern Conference titles over the previous two seasons, were expected to be in the rebuilding stages.

After graduating all of its starters from the 2022-23 season, Hoggard turned to players like sophomore Tristan Shivers, who had played in just the dying moments of blowout victories the season prior, to lead the Vikings to a respectable record this season.

Shivers and company tossed any notions of an ordinary season out the window, doubling down on Hoggard's past success by claiming a third straight conference title and booking a spot in the final four of the state playoffs for the first time since 2015.

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For Shivers, the success didn't come as a surprise.

"When we finalized our team (in the offseason), I looked at it, and I knew we were going to be good," Shivers said.

The 5-foot-5 point guard didn't waste a moment this winter, averaging 13.9 points per game and scoring a Mideastern Conference-best 444 points. She helped the Vikings to a regional championship appearance, the program's first in nearly a decade.

But before she had a chance to shine, Shivers considered ending her playing career before it started.

"I thought about quitting," she said of her freshman season at Hoggard. "Being on the bench got me down a little bit. I know how I play, but (Hoggard coach Boubacar Aw) hadn't quite seen how good I was yet. So the confidence level dropped a little bit."

Shivers would find her confidence quickly this winter as the face of a Vikings team that raced to a 10-0 record. Even then, a sense of proving their place was simmering within the team.

"We all wanted this season for each other," Shivers said. "This was our time to show that we are good, and we came together as a team and proved everyone wrong."

The Vikings defied even the most optimistic of odds by claiming a conference title, finishing the season 30-2 and earning a final-four appearance for the first time since 2015.

For Shivers, whether overcoming injuries or learning to wait for her moment, it's her grounded mentality that transcends far beyond the court.

"My biggest fear in life is that I won't accomplish anything that I've set for myself," she said. "I don't like feeling like a disappointment to anyone, including myself. If I have a goal set, I'm going to achieve that regardless of what's in my way."

2024 StarNews All-Area Girls Basketball Player of the Year

Tristan Shivers, Soph., Hoggard: Shivers led the area's best team to unexpected heights as Hoggard overcame inexperience and made a state regional championship appearance. The Vikings' guard averaged 13.9 points per game and an MEC-best 444 points and 251 assists.

2024 StarNews All-Area Girls Basketball First Team

Meryn Deutsch, Fr., South Brunswick: Deutsch started her high school career in style, leading all Cougars scorers as she averaged 12.5 ppg (Third best in the MEC).

Sarah Elgart, Sr., Hoggard: The Vikings senior grabbed an MEC-best 268 rebounds and logged nine double-doubles as she averaged 10.3 ppg.

Jamiah Johnson, Sr., Pender: Johnson continued to shine in her senior season, averaging 17 ppg and leading the Patriots with 32 assists.

Milly Kelley, Soph., Cape Fear Academy: Kelley averaged 16 points per game, leading the Hurricanes to a place finish in the Coastal Plains Independent Conference

Mackenzie Morton, Sr., Ashley: One of the area's top scorers, the senior averaged 11.1 ppg and led the Screaming Eagles to a playoff appearance.

Brianna Stanley, Soph., New Hanover: Stanley doubled down on an impressive freshman season by averaging an MEC-best 15.6 ppg, nailing the most 3-pointers (52), and posting seven 20+ point performances.

2024 StarNews All-Area Girls Basketball Second Team

Emmy Clark, Jr., Topsail: Clark's 9.5 ppg, 74 assists, and 113 steals led all Pirates scorers this winter.

Piper Conklin, Jr., Laney: The Bucs leader averaged 10.5 points per game and helped the team finish third in the MEC.

Bella Cook, Jr., Ashley: Cook logged eight double-doubles by grabbing an MEC-best nine rebounds per game and blocking 58 shots.

Jahyra Mastry, Jr., West Brunswick: Only four MEC players scored more than Mastry's 266 points, a mark that saw her lead the Trojans with 10.6 ppg this season.

Macey Stengle, Jr., Cape Fear Academy: Stengle averaged 13.5 points and eight rebounds per game this winter.

Tamorie Wilson, Sr., New Hanover: Wilson led the Wildcats in assists (68), averaging 8.2 ppg as New Hanover finished second in the MEC.

All Conference Selections

Mideastern Conference

Player of the Year: Tristan Shivers, Hoggard

Coach of the Year: Boubacar Aw, Hoggard

Team Sportsmanship: West Brunswick

First Team: Emerson Clark, Topsail; Meryn Deutsch, South Brunswick; Sarah Elgart, Hoggard; Mackenzie Morton, Ashley; Briana Stanley, New Hanover

Second Team: Lauren Bastable, Laney; Bella Cook, Ashley; Avery Fitzgerald, Hoggard; Jahyra Mastry, West Brunswick; Iyana Rogers, New Hanover

Third Team: Piper Conklin, Laney; Rhianna Garmendiz, Topsail; Aniece Lewis, Laney; Ayanna Meyers, North BrunswickCharlotte Moore, Topsail; Zhire Sellers, New Hanover.

Honorable Mention

Ashley: Anna Benfield, Jaeden Hudson; Hoggard: Aaronyanda Graham, Anna Kate Chance; New Hanover: London Daughty, Tamorie Wilson; South Brunswick: Teanna Perry; Topsail: Riley Trimble, Brianna Jones; West Brunswick: Hailey Woodard, Saniya Stanley, Brooklyn Coble

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: 2024 StarNews All-Area Girls basketball team led by Tristan Shivers