Southwest Wake Athletic Conference boys’ and girls’ basketball teams, 2016

Apex senior Ian Boyd and Holly Springs senior Brianna Tate were named Southwest Wake Athletic Conference boys’ and girls’ basketball players of the year by SWAC head coaches.

SWAC boys’ basketball champion Cary (31-2, 16-0), the 4A runner-up, was represented by coach of the year Allan Gustafson Jr., first-teamers Cory Gensler (17.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists per game) and Donte Tatum (18.7 points, 5.6 rebounds) and second-team Jay Hicks (9.7 points, 5.6 rebounds).

The Imps tied a school record for wins and Gensler ends his career with the most points in school history (1,956).

Apex (22-8, 13-3) landed Boyd, (24.9 points per game) and senior point guard Colin Molden (13.5) on the first team and junior forward Eric Fox (12.1) on the second team. The Cougars won the SWAC tournament and made it to the third round of the 4A playoffs.

Boyd ends his career as the all-time leading scorer in Apex history (2,128).

Middle Creek (16-11, 11-5) had forward Demetrius Bastian (14.4 points per game) on the first team and junior Shammond Hicks (11.2) on the second team. The Mustangs were ousted by Cary in the second round of the playoffs.

Green Hope (17-10, 9-7) junior Will Harkins (11.0 points per game) made the second team. The Falcons advanced to the second round of the NCHSAA playoffs.

Panther Creek (13-14, 9-7) point guard Juan Munoz (19.9 points per game) was a first-team player. The Catamounts were one of five SWAC teams to make the postseason.

Munoz ends his career with 1,704 points, which is also tops in school history.

Holly Springs (7-17, 5-11) seniors Ryan Blount (15.7 points per game) and Jordan Brown (12.3 points, 5.7 rebounds) made the second team. Brown finished sixth in school history in points and Blount was third.

Fuquay-Varina (8-17, 5-11), Athens Drive (9-16, 4-12) and Apex Friendship (0-20, 0-16) did not have any boys’ basketball all-conference players.

Blount, Brown and Tatum all made their second appearance on the all-conference team while Gensler, Boyd and Munoz made it all four years.

On the girls’ side, Tate was joined by her coach Peace Easton, who won coach of the year after leading the Golden Hawks to the SWAC regular-season title.

In addition to Tate (17.0 poits, 3.8 rebounds, 2.9 steals, 2.5 assists per game) on the first team, Holly Springs (21-5, 15-1) had Caila Spruill (8.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.7 steals) and Samantha Weaver (8.6 points, 6.0 rebounds) on the second team.

Green Hope (24-5, 14-2) junior Kelly Fitzgerald (14.1 points per game) and freshman Nia Washington (12.8) made the first team while senior Allie Winiecki (8.3) made the second team.

The Falcons won the SWAC tournament and made it to the third round of the playoffs.

Apex (14-14, 10-6) had first-team picks in Elle Hepburn, who led the league in scoring (20.2 points, 2.1 assists) and Samantha Michel (11.2 points, 7.6 rebounds).

Apex, like Holly Springs, made it to the second round of the 4A postseason.

Panther Creek (18-10, 10-6) point guard Shotomei Greaux (10.7 points per game) was on the first team while Jasmine McKoy (7.3) made the second team. The Catamounts set a new school record for wins but were ousted by Green Hope in the first round.

Robin Gallagher (15.9 points per game) of Athens Drive (7-17, 7-9) made the second team as did Ariana Smith (9.9 points, 2.1 assists) of Cary (5-20, 4-12).

Fuquay-Varina (10-15, 5-11), Middle Creek (10-15, 7-9) and Apex Friendship (0-19, 0-16) did not have a girls basketball all-conference pick.

McKoy, Hepburn and Fitzgerald are two-time all-conference selections. Tate and Spruill end their careers as three-time picks.

This story was originally published March 14, 2016 at 3:33 AM with the headline "Southwest Wake Athletic Conference boys’ and girls’ basketball teams, 2016."