And the list of exceptional athletes continues to grow with Brookings Les Schwab’s choice of Avana Pettus as ‘Star Student Athlete’.
Avana started her BHHS school sports career on the soccer field for the 3 time champion Lady Bruin soccer team. Her ball control skills were a big part of her game, putting her in position to use her speed as a scoring threat at any time.
“Avana was the player who could always control the energy of the game,” said BHHS Lady Bruin soccer coach Kyla Siri said. “Having her athleticism and speed is something that made her lethal to other teams.”
Her accuracy around the net combined with her work to get the open shot earned her 1st Team All-League 3A/2A/1A-SD4 Special District 4 honors at striker after putting the ball in the back of the net a league leading 13 times and recording 3 assists on the year.
“She plays so well with her feet, but you can tell she plays with her heart.” coach Siri said.
Avana then transitioned from the soccer pitch, to the basketball court playing for Coach Chris Schofield’s 3A/2A/1A-SD4 champion Lady Bruin Basketball team.
Talking with Coach Schofield, he told the Wild Coast Compass that “She is one of the fastest athletes I’ve ever coached, and lot of things she did were unconventional, but she was so determined, and so athletic, that she just made good things happen for us.” he said.
Against St. Mary’s this year she had 9 assists, 3rd most in a game in school history. She followed that up with 7 assists versus South Umpqua this year putting her 7th most in school history on the list also. Her 91 steals this season is #8 all time, her 189 assists in her career is #4 all time, and her 167 steals in her career is #9 all time in BHHS Lady Bruin history.
“She has had a career-full of great moments,” Coach Schofield said, “but it was her her overtime performance against Salem Academy this year that will remain my favorite. With a little more than 2:00 minutes in the game, Avana just decided we weren’t going to lose. With sheer determination and hustle and a series of defensive and offensive plays,
she had completely taken over the game and put us in the driver’s seat to send us back to the state tournament.”
Avana has committed to play soccer at Lane Community College next season and we wish her great success. Congratulations.
