Sports Briefs      Area basketball players all-district (JDN, Thursday 3/10/16 - not on website) 

   Northside junior guard Kayla Stephens was named the N.C. Basketball Coaches Association District 2 girls’ player of the year while a number of other area players made all-district as voted on by coaches across the state.

   Stephens averaged 21.2 points and 5.1 assists per game to lead the Monarchs to a share of the East Central 2-A Conference regular-season title, the league’s tournament crown and a second consecutive trip to the NCHSAA East Regional semifinal.

   She was joined on the first-team all-district team by Jacksonville freshman center Nya Mitchels and Lejeune junior guard Denijah Johnson. Jacksonville sophomore guard Kiani Gravely and Northside junior forward Timia Grant made the third team.

   Jacksonville’s Monique Gidrey, who shared coaching responsibilities with James Jordan, was named the district’s coach of the year.

   In boys, Northside junior guard Zach Hobbs, senior teammate and guard Robert Colon and Dixon forward/ center Matt Elmore all made the first team. Jacksonville senior guards Bobby Grubbs and Tavion Cooley made the second team, and Northside sophomore guard Kenny Dye was on the third team.

   Northside’s Tony Marshburn was the boys’ coach of the year.