By ALEX SPONSELLER The Cranston Youth Girls Basketball Association recently handed out its awards for last basketball season in lieu of a typical banquet which was cancelled due to the ongoing pandemic.

The CYGBA handed out multiple awards to recognize some of its top performers from last year and to highlight some of its volunteers as well.

“They’re very appreciative, we’ve received too many emails and text messages to count. We always are thinking about the kids, our league is balanced and offers a level for every basketball player. If they just want to have fun recreationally, we have that, we have a travel program, 3 v 3 basketball. The response with the trophies matched everything else, we’re just trying to find ways to keep hope alive because it is difficult for the kids to understand why this is all happening,” said CYGBA Director PJ Thibodeau.

Although things are put on hold for the club’s recreational program, it is planning on tipping off its travel season sometime in January. As the community continues to work its way back to normal, Thibodeau and the CYGBA is excited to give the players something to smile about.

“We don’t hand out awards to every kid in the league so this will give them something to be proud of. The award trophies should be earned. We hand out t-shirts to everyone that played so they can take pride in the league they play in. It’s been hard, but for now, we are going to focus on our travel team and we’re happy to be able to hand these out in the meantime,” Thibodeau said.

Video of the presentation is on the CYGBA website as well as its Facebook page.

Here is the list of award recipients from the CYGBA: Players of the Year: Madison Desmarais, Ella Lamarre (Futures); Tayah Colleran (Junior); Jessica Naiefeh (Senior); Olivia Tedeschi-Moran (3v3)

Defensive Players of the Year: Miley Cournoyer (Junior); Samantha Rosenfield (Senior)

Playoff MVPs: Tayah Colleran (Junior); Julia Dusseault (Senior)

All-League Teams:*

Brooklyn Carreiro, Tayah Colleran, Nisa Jarvis, Emma Leone, Emma Regine (Junior); Julia Dusseault, Darien Kiernan, Hannah O'Hanian, Jessica Naiefeh, Tia Sanzaro, Arianna Shackelford (Senior)

All-Defensive Teams: Brooklyn Carreiro, Mackenzie Carter, Miley Cournoyer,

Sophia Rosario-Lombardi, Emma Regine (Junior); Madison Gallo, Madeline Flinn, Jessica Naiefeh, Samantha Rosenfield, Ava Thurber, Leilai Voupawoe (Senior)

Most Improved Teams: Bree Bedard, Jordyn Renaud, Nayliana Rodriguez, Maggie

Sjovall, Talya Walker (Junior); Ella Adams, Sofie Maccarone, Talia Petit, Angelina

Rivera, Mia Scavitto, Zuleika Van Renselaar (Senior)

Spirit Award: Giuliana Briggs

Coach Of The Year: Nunzio Riccio

"The Rosie Award" (Volunteers of the Year): The Robinson Family