GALT, CA (MPG) - Not only did the Liberty Ranch girls' basketball team win League without sharing the title for the first time in school history, but they also earned the League MVP, and head coach Josh Williams was voted Coach of the Year by his peers.

It was Williams’ eighth year coaching, but his first year coaching the Hawk basketball ladies. “We set some goals and worked towards them,” said Williams. “Overall, we had a good season and were able to get the first solo championship for the school. I look forward to advancing the program and taking it to new heights.”

Senior Sophia Felix broke the single-game record for 3-pointers when she sank eight against Bear Creek on Dec. 29, 2023.

Sophomore phenom Haley Smith was voted Co-League MVP along with Union Mine’s Alana Schneider.

According to assistant coach John Williams, Smith set the single-season scoring record with 573 points. She surpassed Selina Moore’s 529 points from 2012-2013.

Smith also set the season rebound record, pulling in 284. Smith also broke the free throws made in a season, scoring 145 of them. That sets the highest free-throw percentage for a season at 81.4%.

Smith is a team player and set the most assists in a game record with nine against Rosemont on Feb. 6, 2024.

As a sophomore with two seasons playing varsity basketball and two to go, Smith is now the leader in career rebounds with 538 and already hit the 1,000-point career mark.  Smith, a 4.0 student, has already been offered a scholarship to play at Fresno State, and it will be exciting to see which other universities seek her out.

As the SVC League Champion coach, Williams was allowed to name four athletes as all-league. Haley Smith, Sophia Felix, Summer McCoy and Madisyn Robbins were given their patches.  

Galt High basketball named Akayla-Joy Gunter to all-league. H