1988 ALL-STARS : Los Angels Times : Kings and Queens of the Court : Morningside and Palos Verdes Dominate Girls’ Team as Both Step Into the Spotlight With Championship Seasons

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.

This will be remembered as the year South Bay girls basketball climbed to higher ground.

Morningside and Palos Verdes became the only South Bay teams to reach the pinnacle of prep basketball--the state championship game--since Carson won the boys Division I title in 1982.

“I think it brings a little more respect to the South Bay area,” said Palos Verdes Coach Wendell Yoshida. “Both teams have shown what can happen when you put time into girls basketball.”

Said Morningside Coach Frank Scott: “It has to be good for us. I think it will enhance our programs quite a bit.”

Although both teams lost in the state finals, the setbacks did not detract from excellent seasons that included Southern Section and regional titles.

Not surprisingly, the two most dominant teams in the area dominate The Times South Bay All-Star Basketball Team with five selections, three from Morningside and two from Palos Verdes.

Morningside, the Southern Section 4-A Division champion and state Division I runner-up, is represented by forward Shaunda Greene, center Lisa Leslie and guard Carla Gladden.

Palos Verdes, the Southern Section 3-A Division titlist and state Division II runner-up, had 6-4 twins Heather and Heidi Burge selected to the 10-player squad, which was chosen on the basis coaches’ ballots and the evaluations of Times sportswriters.

Other players named to the all-star team are Kim Bly of Hawthorne, Tammy Booker of St. Mary’s, Candice Burnett of Banning, Marlo Correa of Redondo and Jade Hiramoto of North Torrance.

Greene, Gladden, Heather Burge and Booker are all-star repeaters.

For most of the season, Morningside’s Lady Monarchs were considered the queens of girls basketball in California. They were ranked No. 1 in state by Cal-Hi Sports and No. 3 in the nation by USA Today until their 53-52 loss to Fremont of Oakland in the state finals at Oakland.

Scott, who guided Morningside to its first 4-A title in 1983, was caught off guard by his team’s 33-2 season.

“I felt we exceeded our expectations,” he said. “I had no idea we would get as far as we did this year. It was a big surprise.

“We didn’t win the state championship, but we won CIF. That’s what we were shooting for. I can’t complain. It’s the best season we’ve ever had.”

Greene, a 6-foot senior, deserves much of the credit for the Lady Monarchs’ banner season. She averaged 25.1 points, 10.8 rebounds and provided leadership in key games. A three-time all-Southern Section selection, she was chosen 4-A Division co-player of the year with Lynwood’s Trise Jackson.

Leslie and Gladden also played a big part in Morningside’s three titles--the Pioneer League crown, the CIF 4-A championship and the regional title.

Leslie, a 6-5 sophomore who is regarded as one of the top 10th-graders in the nation, was a major force near the basket. She averaged 21.3 points, 12.2 rebounds and 6.1 blocked shots, earning a spot on the all-CIF 4-A first team.

The 5-6 Gladden was a steadying influence at point guard. She averaged 14.5 points and 10 assists, ending her career as the Southern Section’s all-time assist leader with 340. The senior was named to the all-CIF 4-A second team.

After a 7-6 start, Palos Verdes won 20 of its last 22 games en route to its first Southern Section title. The Burge twins, who are expected to be among the most heavily recruited players in the area next year, were at the heart of what Coach Yoshida referred to as “the dream season.”

Heather averaged a team-leading 19 points, 12 rebounds and 4 blocks. The leader of a young team that will return all but one player next year, she was selected to the all-CIF 3-A first team.

Although Heidi missed several games because of injury and illness, she still had a big season. The forward averaged 14.8 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks, earning a spot on the 3-A first team.

Palos Verdes won the the Bay League championship behind the Burges, but it was runner-up North Torrance that boasted the league’s best player, based on the voting of Bay coaches.

Hiramoto, a 5-7 senior, was named the league’s most valuable player after displaying a variety of skills during North’s regular season. She played all three positions, averaging 19.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3 assists. She was named to the all-CIF 3-A first team.

“She was the best swing player in the Bay League,” said West Torrance Coach Kevin McManus. “She scores well, passes well and rebounds.”

St. Mary’s Booker put the finishing touches on an illustrious career by averaging 21.2 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists to help the Belles take second in the Camino Real League and reach the quarterfinals of the CIF 2-A playoffs, where they beat top-seeded La Quinta in the second round.

The 5-7 senior guard was a three-time all-CIF selection and was twice honored as the league’s most valuable player--as a sophomore and this season.

Hawthorne’s Bly averaged 14.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists to lead the Cougars to second place in the Ocean League and a 4-A playoff berth. The 5-7 senior was runner-up in the league’s MVP voting.

Bly gained a reputation for her tough defensive play. In Hawthorne’s 60-43 playoff loss to Buena of Ventura, she held Buena’s all-CIF guard, Mary Klemm, to 8 points while scoring 17 herself.

Burnett, a 5-7 junior, led Banning to a 16-7 record, the Marine League championship and the semifinals of the L.A. City 4-A playoffs. The crafty floor leader averaged 14 points and was named to the All-City team.

Correa helped Redondo to a second-place finish behind Morningside in the Pioneer League by averaging a team-high 18 points. The 5-9 guard’s outside shooting and defensive play were pivotal to the Sea Hawks reaching the second round of the CIF 4-A playoffs before losing to No. 2-seeded Santa Barbara.

Girls receiving honorable mention are Laura Collins, North Torrance; Laura Dox, Rolling Hills; Janeen Guinn, Redondo; Kawasci Jackson, Leuzinger; Maria Louros, San Pedro; Rosa Olloque, West Torrance; Laura Papadakis, Mary Star; Shasta Paris, Narbonne; Demetra Smith, St. Bernard; and Jo Jo Witherspoon of Morningside.

GIRL’S PREP TEAM Name: Kim Bly School: Hawthorne Year: Senior Height: 5-7 Average: 14.3 Name: Tammy Booker School: St. Mary’s Year: Senior Height: 5-5 Average: 21.2 Name: Heather Burge School: Palos Verde Year: Junior Height: 6-4 Average: 19.0 Name: Heidi Burge School: Palos Verde Year: Junior Height: 6-4 Average: 14.6 Name: Candice Burnett School: Banning Year: Junior Height: 5-5 Average: 14.0 Name: Marlo Correa School: Redondo Year: Senior Height: 5-8 Average: 18.0 Name: Carla Gladden School: Morningside Year: Senior Height: 5-6 Average: 14.5 Name: Shaunda Greene School: Morningside Year: Senior Height: 6-0 Average: 25.1 Name: Jade Hiramoto School: North Torrance Year: Senior Height: 5-7 Average: 19.8 Name: Lisa Leslie School: Morningside Year: Sophomore Height: 6-5 Average: 21.3