THE TIMES’ SAN DIEGO ALL-COUNTY BASKETBALL TEAMS : They Had a Big Impact in Their Teams’ Success

Players with an impact--not just those with high scoring and rebounding averages--make up The Times’ All-County boys’ and girls’ basketball teams this season.

For instance, Oceanside’s Junior Seau missed the first five games of the season and the Pirates started 0-5. But Seau’s leadership and his solid play transformed the Pirates into the 2-A San Diego Section champion, according to Oceanside Coach Don Montamble.

Players such as Rey Parson of Morse and Chris Bahr of San Dieguito were able to inspire their teams not only in games but in practice as well, their coaches said.

The girls’ team was dominated by juniors and sophomores, but one familiar name stands out--Terri Mann of Point Loma, who is making her fourth appearance on the team.

Here’s a look at The Times’ All-County basketball teams:

BOYS

Charley Applegate

ST. AUGUSTINE

Applegate averaged 26 points a game in the Saints’ final five games. He shot 65% from the floor and 80% from the line. Against Crawford, he sank a 35-footer at the buzzer to give the Saints the victory. “We like to get the ball to him because we know he’s going to score,” St. Augustine Coach Richard Hardick said.

Chris Bahr

SAN DIEGUITO

Bahr didn’t make the varsity team last season as a junior but was named the most valuable player for the Palomar League this season. He played nearly every minute of every game, averaging 14 points and 7.9 rebounds a game. He also made 77% from the line.

Vince Bucca

CASTLE PARK

Bucca scored 500 points this season, including 148 on free throws. He made 71.2% from the line and 61.5% from the floor. He had back-to-back 30-point performances early in the season. In one of the 30-point games, Bucca was 18 of 20 from the line. “He is a finesse player, not a power player,” said Forrest Partch, Castle Park’s coach.

Lee Cobb

EL CAMINO

Cobb provided the perfect diversion for Edmond Johnson’s outside shooting. Cobb, 6-feet 6-inches, dominated the key, averaging 12 rebounds a game. Against Newport Harbor during the Mitchell tournament, Cobb had 10 blocks. “If he got the ball inside, we knew he was going to score one way or another,” Coach Ray Johnson said.

Edmond Johnson

EL CAMINO

With his agility and steady ball handling, Johnson was a versatile scorer. He could drive or score from the top of the key with equal ease. He led the county in scoring, averaging 26.3 points a game. He also averaged 8.2 assists.

Rey Parson

MORSE

Parson’s quickness helped Morse dominate the county this season. He set a section record with 21 steals in one game. Parson averaged eight steals a game. His importance was never more evident than when, during his absence because of foul trouble, Monte Vista closed Morse’s lead to 29-28 in the 3-A title game, which the Tigers won, 59-51.

Anthony Rivera

Mount Miguel

Quickness, speed and confidence were the attributes of Rivera this season. As a junior, Rivera took charge of the team on the floor and off. “I know I can put him at any position on the floor, with any offense, and he can run it,” Mount Miguel Coach Art Edge said.

Randy Robinson

KEARNY

Last season, Robinson was a reserve on the junior varsity team. After growing 4 1/2 inches over the summer, Robinson improved enough to be named the Western League’s player of the year. “He’s amazing, watching him improve every single day,” Kearny Coach Bill Peterson said. Robinson averaged 14 points (17 in league) and 12 rebounds a game.

Junior Seau

OCEANSIDE

Seau, 6-4, 215 pounds, was a three-year starter for Oceanside. Going into the playoffs, where he averaged 23 points a game, Seau developed a cyst in his navel, yet insisted on playing. Seau has been named to The Times’ All-County basketball team for the second straight year and signed a letter of intent to play football (and possibly basketball) at USC.

Ken Thompson

LINCOLN

Lincoln benefited when Thompson moved into its district last summer. Thompson was a key player for Montgomery the past two seasons and became a leader at Lincoln. He was named the Central League’s player of the year. He led Lincoln in scoring and assists. “He could do everything, go to the hole, shoot from the outside,” Lincoln Coach Ron Loneski said.

GIRLS

Nicole Anderson

LA JOLLA

Although she was hampered by an ankle injury most of the season, Anderson never slowed. She was named the City Western League’s player of the year. She averaged 23.2 points, 9 rebounds and 6 steals a game. “She is definitely a team leader,” La Jolla Coach Lori Schwalbach said.

Liza Carrillo

POINT LOMA

Carrillo started for Point Loma since her sophomore season and has steadily improved. Averaging 18 points and 7.3 rebounds, she emerged from the shadow of teammate Terri Mann, forcing opponents to take notice. In Point Loma’s 56-45 victory over Huntington Beach Edison in the Southern Regional championship, Carrillo, who made 73% from the field (8 of 11), scored 17 points and had 8 rebounds.

Julie Doria

SAN PASQUAL

Doria played every minute of all but one game this season. She averaged five steals a game and blocked 41 shots this season. Coach Brad Merrill used Doria’s quickness and ball-handling ability to break opponents’ presses.

Leslie Ellis

SANTANA

Ellis, a 6-0 junior who played either center or forward, averaged 19.3 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists. Ellis developed a reputation as a strong inside player, but shot well from the outside, too. “When the pressure is on, we can really count on Leslie because she is the best player,” Santana Coach Wade Vicory said.

Chris Enger

VISTA

Enger, a sophomore, is 50 points shy of scoring 1,000 career points. Joe DeMaria, Vista’s coach, said Enger was the main reason the Panthers were 3-A runners-up. Enger averaged 11.5 rebounds and 6.3 blocked shots. In Palomar League play, she averaged 22.2 points a game. Enger had 117 steals.

Jennifer Jann

FALLBROOK

Although Jann averaged 14.5 points a game, her strength was passing. Jann averaged five steals and five assists a game with her quick moves. “She gets us a lot of quick turnovers and then converts them immediately,” said Gerry Port, Fallbrook coach. Jann controlled the Fallbrook offense.

Lynda Jones

MT. CARMEL

With her size (6-1) and quickness, Jones was nearly unstoppable, averaging 15 points and 10.2 rebounds. Mt. Carmel’s offense was built around Jones, Coach Peggy Brose said. “She has put a lot of time into becoming a complete player,” Brose said.

Terri Mann

POINT LOMA

The two-time All-American, considered by many to be the best girls’ basketball player in the nation, has led her team to three state titles in her first three seasons. The Pointers are playing for their fourth Saturday. Coach Lee Trepanier calls her a once-in-a-lifetime player. Mann averages 38 points and 27.2 steals a game. She set a national rebounding record this season, breaking Cheryl Miller’s mark.

Karla Salmi

CRAWFORD

She averaged 20 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists a game. Salmi has the ability to play every position and do well at each. She was named the City Central League’s co-player of the year. “She is one of the most competitive kids I’ve been around,” Crawford Coach Jeff Olivero said.

Kathy Weathers

MADISON

Weathers was a scoring threat from outside or inside. Her swift moves and ball-handling ability allowed her to move inside with ease. Weathers averaged 21 points and 10.3 rebounds a game.

BOYS’ ALL-COUNTY BASKETBALL TEAM

Charley Applegate St. Augustine Senior Forward 6-5 22.0 Chris Bahr San Dieguito Senior Center 6-3 14.0 Vince Bucca Castle Park Senior Forward 6-4 19.2 Lee Cobb El Camino Junior Center 6-6 20.2 Edmond Johnson El Camino Senior Guard 5-10 25.8 Rey Parson Morse Senior Guard 5-9 12.7 Anthony Rivera Mount Miguel Junior Guard 5-10 15.0 Randy Robinson Kearny Junior Forward 6-4 1/2 14.0 Junior Seau Oceanside Senior Forward 6-4 23.0 Ken Thompson Lincoln Senior Guard 6-5 15.5

GIRLS’ ALL-COUNTY BASKETBALL TEAM

Nicole Anderson La Jolla Sophomore Guard 5-3 23.2 Liza Carrillo Point Loma Senior Forward 6-2 18.0 Julie Doria San Pasqual Junior Guard 5-7 14.0 Leslie Ellis Santana Junior Center 6-0 19.3 Chris Enger Vista Sophomore Center 6-3 20.7 Jennifer Jann Fallbrook Senior Guard 5-4 14.5 Lynda Jones Mt. Carmel Junior Center 6-1 15.6 Terri Mann Point Loma Senior Forward 6-2 38.0 Karla Salmi Crawford Senior Forward 5-11 20.0 Kathy Weathers Madison Junior Forward 5-8 21.2