Los Angeles Times 1988 ALL-STARS : Kings and Queens of the Court : Pasadena Places Pair On Senior-Dominated Girls’ Team; Three Valley Stars Honored for the Second Year in a Row

The all-star boys and girls teams, each consisting of 10 members, their coaches and parents will be guests of the Times at 9 a.m. Sunday, May 1, at the annual Times High School Basketball Awards Brunch where all-star teams from 12 circulation areas will be honored at the Anaheim Hilton. The featured Speaker will be Loyola Coach Paul Westhead. The players and coaches of the year from each area will be announced.

The teams were chosen on the basis of a poll of area coaches, who are asked to fill out ballots nominating their own players and opponents, plus the observations of college scouts and sportswriters. Each player will receive the traditional Times golden basketball plaque and award certificate.

Pasadena High School, which reached the 20-win plateau for the second straight season with a 20-6 record, is the only team to land two players on the Los Angeles Times All-San Gabriel Valley girls high school all-star basketball team.

The Bulldogs, who earned two positions on the team for the second-straight year, placed forwards Anitra Wilkins (5-7) and Marilyn Robinson (5-8). It is the second year in a row that Wilkins has made the team.

Other repeaters from last year’s team are forward Tasha Bradley (6-3) of Muir and guard Julie Garcia (5-8) of Rowland.

The rest of the team consists of center Kim Hansen (6-0) of Edgewood, forward Regina Newton (5-11) of Garey, forward Susan Peters (5-11) of Los Altos, center Lori Thompson (6-1) of Monrovia, forward Cara Vergo (5-9) of Temple City and guard Danielle Zampiello (5-3) of St. Lucy’s.

It is a senior-dominated team with Peters the only junior.

Not only is Bradley the tallest player on the all-star squad, she also may be the most highly regarded college prospect on the squad. She is certainly one of the most honored, having been named to the preseason Street & Smith’s All-American third team.

Recruited by many of the top NCAA Division I programs in the nation, Bradley has signed a letter of intent to attend Nevada-Las Vegas.

A two-time Pacific League most valuable player and an All-CIF 4-A selection, Bradley averaged 17.5 points, 11.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists as the Mustangs reached the playoffs and finished with a 17-6 record.

It was a good year for Rowland, which reached the 3-A quarterfinals and finished at 21-4, and Garcia played an important role in her team’s success.

A two-time All-Sierra League selection, Garcia is one of the top all-around players in the valley. She averaged 14.6 points, 8.5 rebounds, 5.4 assists and about 4 steals. She has signed a letter of intent to attend Chapman College.

Perhaps the most improved team in the valley was Edgewood, which was 24-1 and reached the second round of the 2-A playoffs after finishing 11-11 last season. The Trojans were led by Hansen, who averaged 17 points and 11 rebounds.

Selected to the All-CIF 2-A team, Hansen was also voted the most valuable player of the Valle Vista League and made the all-league first team for the second year in a row. A strong inside player, Hansen has signed to attend Cal State Fullerton.

Another impressive all-around player was Newton, who averaged 24.7 points and 13.5 rebounds to rank among the valley leaders in both categories. She also averaged 6.3 assists and about 3 steals.

That was enough to earn Newton a position on the All-CIF 2-A team and her league’s most valuable player award, which is impressive considering that she competes in the talent-rich Hacienda League.

Peters may be the only junior on the squad but that should not diminish her accomplishments for Los Altos. An outstanding shooter and a solid inside player, Peters led the Conquerors to a 21-5 record and their first-ever berth in the 3-A finals and state Division II playoffs.

Among the leading scorers and rebounders in the valley, Peters averaged 25.4 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3 steals and 2.7 assists. Selected the most valuable player in the Sierra League, Peters is receiving heavy interest from Colorado, Fresno State, Utah, Idaho State and Idaho.

Robinson will not go down as one of the biggest front-line players in the valley but more than made up for it with quickness and leaping. An All-Pacific League selection, she averaged 16.9 points and 7 rebounds.

Pasadena Coach Dudley Stewart called Robinson his “zone buster” and, considering that she was among the valley leaders with 52 three-point shots, the designation is deserved.

With the graduation of all-valley players Lisa Crosskey and Eular Carlyle, Thompson was expected to carry the offensive burden for Monrovia and came through in spectacular fashion. The valley leader in both scoring and rebounding, Thompson averaged 27.4 points and 22 rebounds to earn All-CIF 2-A and All-Rio Hondo League honors.

Thanks to the strong senior season, Thompson became her school’s all-time rebounding leader and second-leading scorer and established single-season records in scoring and rebounding. She has been recruited by Pepperdine, Cal State Los Angeles and Point Loma Nazarene.

Another all-valley player from the Rio Hondo League is Vergo, who led Temple City to an 18-4 record and the league title. She was among the valley scoring leaders at 17.9 a game and averaged 11 rebounds, 3.5 steals and 3 assists.

A first-team all-league selection and second-team All-CIF 2-A selection, Vergo has been recruited by Cal State Northridge and Cal State Los Angeles.

Like her Pasadena teammate Robinson, Wilkins is not the tallest front-line player but has succeeded with quickness, leaping and shooting.

Described as a superior player by an opposing coach, Wilkins averaged 16.7 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists to earn All-Pacific League recognition for the second straight year.

Zampiello may be the shortest member of the all-star team but you could not tell by the way she played. She had a key role in the success of St. Lucy’s, which won the Baseline League title and finished at 20-4.

An excellent three-point shooter, Zampiello led her team on offense, averaging 17.2 points along with 4.9 steals, 3.3 assists and 2.4 rebounds. The point guard was also selected her league’s most valuable player.

Players receiving honorable mention are Stephanie Bennett of Pasadena, Lisa Salsman of Muir, Tami Delva and Candy Konop of Charter Oak, Bits Sirchia of Diamond Bar, Lisa Cote of St. Lucy’s, Betty Lee of Keppel, Tanya Stevens of Covina, Deondra Naulls of Pomona, Judy Gilliam of Glendora, Julene Ostergard of Rio Hondo Prep, Jackie Moses of San Dimas, Susan Soussev of Los Altos, Camille Iverson of Walnut and Caryn Cranston of San Marino.

GIRLS PREP TEAM Name: Tasha Bradley School: Muir Year: Senior Height: 6-3 Average: 17.5 Name: Julie Garcia School: Rowland Year: Senior Height: 5-8 Average: 14.0 Name: Kim Hansen School: Edgewood Year: Senior Height: 6-0 Average: 17.0 Name: Regina Newton School: Garey Year: Senior Height: 5-11 Average: 24.7 Name: Susan Peters School: Los Altos Year: Junior Height: 5-11 Average: 25.4 Name: Marilyn Robinson School: Pasadena Year: Senior Height: 5-8 Average: 16.9 Name: Lori Thompson School: Monrovia Year: Senior Height: 6-1 Average: 27.4 Name: Cara Vergo School: Temple City Year: Senior Height: 5-9 Average: 17.9 Name: Anitra Wilkins School: Pasadena Year: Senior Height: 5-7 Average: 16.7 Name: Danielle Zampiello School: St. Lucy’s Year: Senior Height: 5.3 Average: 17.2