All-Area Girls’ Basketball First Team
Cosette Balmy, Sophomore, Bellarmine-Jefferson
Lone underclassmen on this year’s first team, the quick and versatile sophomore made an instant impact on both ends of the floor after transferring to Bell-Jeff, helping the Guards advance to the CIF Division VI championship game and win two games in the state playoffs.
Amber Graves, Senior, La Cañada
Rio Hondo League Most Valuable Player and All-CIF Division III-A second-team selection was a key contributor inside for a squad that enjoyed program’s finest season, advancing to the CIF Division III-A title game. She averaged 11.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per contest.
Tala Ismail, Senior, Flintridge Prep
In leading the Rebels to their first Southern Section title, Prep League Most Valuable Player and All-CIF Division V-AA second-team pick averaged 10 points, 8.7 rebounds, four steals, 1.7 blocks and 1.9 assists per game despite missing 10 games with a knee injury.
Sarah Kurdoghlian, Senior, La Cañada
All-Rio Hondo League second-team selection and All-CIF Division III-A second-team pick averaged 9.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists and two steals per contest and helped the Spartans advance to the Southern California Regional finals of the state playoffs.
Jordan Meltzer, Senior, Burroughs
First-team All-CIF Division I-A pick and Pacific League co-Player of the Year led team in scoring with 12.3 points per game and contributed 2.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.7 steals for CIF semifinalists and league champions.
Jenna Tran, Senior, Flintridge Sacred Heart
All-Sunshine League first-team selection led team in scoring, averaging 15.9 points a game to go along with 5.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.8 steals for Tologs, who reached Division IV-AA quarterfinals.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Sarah Beattie, La Cañada
In just her first season as head coach, the La Canada alumna guided the Spartans to the most successful season in program history. La Cañada rolled to a Rio Hondo League championship before the Spartans advanced to the championship game for the first time ever, losing to Antelope Valley. La Cañada also enjoyed success in the state playoffs, advancing to the Division IV Southern California regional semifinals for the first time, ending the season with a 29-5 record.