1989 ALL-STARS : Lynwood Has 3, Lakewood Places 2 on South Coast Prep Girls All-Star Team

Lynwood High School, long known for its strong boys basketball teams, appears to be also developing a rich tradition in girls basketball.

The Knights, who were 28-3 and reached the CIF Southern Section finals this season only to lose to Morningside, have placed three players on The Times’ All-South Coast prep girls all-star team.

Among the three is Linda Watson, who was The Times’ Player of the Year in the South Coast area last season.

Maurice Roberson, coach of the Knights said: “The boys program is just beginning to do a little waking up. The girls program has always been dominant. Nine years in a row we have been the San Gabriel Valley League champs.”

The only team other than Lynwood to place more than one player on the all-star team was Lakewood, which placed two.

A look at the All-South Coast team:

Linda Watson, Lynwood--The 5-foot-10 Watson, who will play at USC, averaged 21 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists for the Knights. Last year’s Southeast Player of the Year, Watson has mastered the fundamentals of shooting, passing and rebounding.

Kim Barfield, Lynwood--A 5-10 junior, Barfield averaged 14 points and 11 rebounds. She learned how to score under the basket and how to block out a lot better. “She was the most outstanding rebounder I had,” Coach Roberson said. Barfield holds the school record in the 100- and 200-yard dashes.

Nicole Sanders, Lynwood--Hard work paid off for Sanders, who has signed with Cal Poly Pomona. Benefiting from Watson’s passes, the 5-4 Sanders averaged 14 points.

Melissa Gower, Lakewood--”She believes that every rebound should be hers,” Lakewood Coach Dow Lawson said of Gower, a 6-3 All-Moore League junior who averaged 15 rebounds. She also scored 20 points a game. A good student, she is already being heavily recruited.

Charon Johnson, Lakewood--A high jumper on the Lancers’ track team, the 6-1 Johnson can get her wrist over the rim. She averaged 18 points a game. She and Gower are best friends and want to go to the same college.

Nicky Hilbert, Millikan--”She can do everything, she is going to be one of the great players in Southern California,” Millikan Coach Lorene Morgan said of Hilbert, a 5-8 sophomore who averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Kathleen Hill, Compton--”Her personality makes her an all-around player,” Coach Carolyn Montgomery said of Hill, a 5-8 senior who averaged 18 points and 11 rebounds.

Nikki Grubbs, Poly--A 5-10 senior, Grubbs averaged 12 points and 8 rebounds a game and played every position. She is a very good shooter and a strong rebounder.

Crystal Fields, Centennial--A true power forward with great determination, the 5-10 Fields averaged 18 points and 15 rebounds for the Apaches. An unsigned senior, she has a better than 3.0 grade-point average.

LaTima Jones, St. Anthony--The 5-8 senior averaged 21 points and a CIF-leading 21.8 rebounds a game. “She is an all-around good athlete who can jump out of the gym,” Coach Candy Gomez said.

Times staff writer Mike Coil contributed to this story.

The South Coast 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 at the Anaheim Hilton for the annual Times High School Basketball Awards Brunch. All-star teams from 12 circulation areas will be honored. 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 were 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.

Girls Prep Team Name: Linda Watson School: Lynwood Year: Senior Height: 5-10 Average: 21.0 Name: Kim Barfield School: Lynwood Year: Junior Height: 5-10 Average: 14.0 Name: Nicole Sanders School: Lynwood Year: Senior Height: 5-4 Average: 14.0 Name: Melissa Gower School: Lakewood Year: Junior Height: 6-3 Average: 19.6 Name: Charon Johnson School: Lakewood Year: Junior Height: 6-1 Average: 18.0 Name: Nicky Hilbert School: Millikan Year: Sophomore Height: 5-8 Average: 17.0 Name: Kathleen Hill School: Compton Year: Senior Height: 5-8 Average: 18.0 Name: Nikki Grubbs School: Poly Year: Senior Height: 5-10 Average: 12.0 Name: Crystal Fields School: Centennial Year: Senior Height: 5-10 Average: 18.0 Name: LaTima Jones School: St. Anthony Year: Senior Height: 5-8 Average: 21.2