4 From Morningside, 1 From Palos Verdes Win Awards

Two players and two coaches from Morningside High School were recipients of three of four South Bay awards Sunday at The Times All-Star Basketball Brunch at the Anaheim Hilton.

Lisa Leslie was a repeat selection as girls Player of the Year, Tyrone Paul was named boys Player of the Year, and Co-Coaches Carl Franklin and Ron Randle were named boys Coaches of the Year.

Wendell Yoshida of Palos Verdes was named girls Coach of the Year.

The five award winners were honored along with the rest of the 20-player South Bay All-Star Team. In all, 12 teams representing different circulation areas were honored at the brunch.

Leslie, named the nation’s top schoolgirl player by Gatorade last week, averaged 26.9 points, 15 rebounds and 6.9 blocked shots as a senior to lead Morningside to a 32-3 record and its second straight State Division I title. The 6-foot-5 center capped her four-year varsity career at the state finals March 17 with 35 points, 12 rebounds and seven blocked shots in a 67-56 win over Berkeley despite suffering from chickenpox, strep throat and a fever.

Paul, the Southern Section Division III Co-Player of the Year, averaged 20.5 points, seven rebounds, four assists and four blocked shots a game to lead Morningside to the Ocean League title and a 24-4 mark. The 6-6 senior forward possesses a 46-inch vertical leap and had many dunks.

Franklin and Randle guided Morningside to the winningest season of any South Bay boys basketball team. The Monarchs were ranked No. 1 in the state among Division III schools most of the year and captured their sixth league title in the last seven years. They were surprised by Lompoc, 83-80, in the Southern Section 3-AA quarterfinals.

Yoshida led Palos Verdes’ girls team to a successful season despite the graduation of 6-5 twins Heidi and Heather Burge, who as freshmen helped the University of Virginia reach the NCAA Final Four. Palos Verdes won the Bay League title--extending its league-winning streak to 47 games--and reached the finals of the Southern Section 3-AA and Regional playoffs, losing both times to powerful Brea-Olinda. The Sea Kings finished 29-6.