It was a night four years in the making for Westwood High School student-athlete and Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community member Angie Montoya. As the varsity girls basketball season winds down to an end, Westwood hosted their yearly Senior Night celebration on January 30 for their last home game of the season, against Red Mountain.
Unfortunately, Montoya has been rehabilitating a torn ACL injury she suffered six months ago. However, she was able to walk with her parents, brother, grandma, great-grandma and cousin to center court, where she was honored and celebrated for the four years she spent as a member of the varsity Westwood Lady Warriors basketball team.
Overcome with emotion, Montoya received a bouquet of flowers, a Westwood Senior 2024 sash and plenty of hugs from her teammates and family. As she was celebrated, her Senior Night speech played through the gym’s sound system.
“These past six months [rehabilitating] have been a journey but will soon come to an end this summer. With that being said, I have decided to play basketball at the next level while pursuing my degree in sports psychology,” said Montoya in her speech, which was delivered by varsity teammate Aubrianna Herring.
Following her Senior Night spotlight at center court, Montoya and the five other Westwood seniors posed for photos at the free-throw line.
“Angie came into our program and immediately started to make an impact as a freshman,” said Ron Campton, Westwood varsity girls basketball head coach. As he watched Montoya grow into a proven leader on and off the court, Campton had only positive remarks about the time he’s spent coaching, mentoring and supporting Montoya for the last four years.
Red Mountain’s defenders, a testament to her legendary tenure at Westwood.
“In the following two seasons [as a sophomore and junior], she emerged as one of the best and most consistent outside shooting threats in the state, knocking down 95 [3-pointers] and stretching defenses when she touched the ball,” he stated proudly.
As a testament to Montoya’s legacy at Westwood, when the Senior Night game began, she was given the opportunity to score Westwood’s first basket of the game completely unopposed by Red Mountain. As the ball swished through the net, Campton called a timeout to substitute Montoya out of the game. As she made her way to the bench, the entire gymnasium erupted with cheers and applause as Montoya and Campton hugged one another.
“Last night was very tough for her, but we were glad she could get a couple buckets in a season that hasn’t gone at all how any of us would’ve liked for her,” stated Campton. Though Westwood would go on to lose their Senior Night game 60-41, the future of the program remains bright, as many JV athletes will make the leap to varsity next season.
Montoya is gearing up for graduation this May, after which she will continue her ascension by beginning her college career later this year with the goal of returning to the basketball court as well.
“She is an incredibly hard worker, a passionate basketball player and an amazing young woman who I’ve been lucky to coach the last four years,” said Campton.
