Postseason All-Star Selections Dominated by Senior Players

The 1991 high school basketball season was successful for virtually every boys’ and girls’ team in the Glendale area.

All the Southern Section teams received a postseason berth thanks to a new format that opened the playoffs to any team that wanted to participate, regardless of record or showing in their leagues.

Despite the free pass into postseason play, seven area teams won or shared league championships.

Several of the players that contributed to those championship runs are among the 20 boys and girls that were selected to the Times’ All-Glendale basketball teams.

The All-Glendale teams and the players and coaches of the year were selected by Times sportswriters based on ballots received from area coaches at the conclusion of the regular season.

Josh Willis, a junior from Crescenta Valley, was the only non-senior selected to the boys’ team. La Canada senior Jeff Lord, a three-year starter for the Spartans, was selected player of the year.

The girls’ team was also dominated by seniors. However, Jennifer Dalton, a junior, was selected player of the year. Sophomores Melissa Lord of La Canada and Tracy Young of Glendale also made the team.

The Ribet Academy boys’ team was the biggest winner in the area--and also one of the biggest in the state.

Jrmirol Duncan and Chris Maxwell were key players for the Fighting Frogs, who waltzed through the Heritage League, won their second consecutive Southern Section Division V championship and, last weekend in Oakland, won the school’s first Division V state title.

Of all the area schools, the La Canada boys’ team played the most challenging schedule.

The Spartans, led by Lord, Sean Whiting and 6-11 sophomore Richard Mandeville, won their fourth consecutive Rio Hondo League championship before losing in overtime to Santa Margarita in a playoff quarterfinal.

The Marshall boys’ team, behind center Jahmin Assa, won the Northwest League championship and advanced to the City Section 3-A Division semifinals, where it was eliminated by eventual champion Fremont.

In girls’ competition, Dalton led a team that did not have a senior in a starting role to its first Pacific League championship.

La Canada also had an historic season. The Spartans, behind Lord, won the Rio Hondo League championship and advanced to the semifinals of the Southern Section playoffs for the first time.

Kate Stoll led Ribet Academy to the Heritage League championship and Debbie Nilsen and Meghan Smith keyed Flintridge Sacred Heart’s run to San Fernando League title. Both teams fell in the quarterfinals of the Southern Section playoffs.

The Flintridge Prep girls did not win the Prep League, but Karen Pearson helped get the Rebels rolling in the playoffs and the team advanced to the Southern Section semifinals for the first time.

LOS ANGELES TIMES 1991 PREP BASKETBALL ALL-STARS

BOYS’ TEAM Name: Jahmin Assa School: Marshall Year: Senior Height: 6-5 Avg.: 16.5 Name: Kyle Barrett School: St. Francis Year: Senior Height: 6-2 Avg.: 24.1 Name: Jrmirol Duncan School: Ribet Academy Year: Senior Height: 5-8 Avg.: 20.0 Name: Jason Harper School: Glendale Year: Senior Height: 6-4 Avg.: 16.5 Name: Johnny Lam School: Eagle Rock Year: Senior Height: 5-9 Avg.: 17.0 Name: Chris Maxwell School: Ribet Academy Year: Senior Height: 6-3 Avg.: 20.0 Name: Dave Ulloa School: Hoover Year: Senior Height: 5-10 Avg.: 20.0 Name: Sean Whiting School: La Canada Year: Senior Height: 6-3 Avg.: 9.5 Name: Josh Willis School: Crescenta Valley Year: Junior Height: 6-5 Avg.: 14.0 COACH OF THE YEAR: Tom Hofman School: La Canada Record: 20-7 MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Jeff Lord School: La Canada Year: Senior Height: 6-3 Avg.: 16.0 GIRLS’ TEAM Name: Berlyn Cosman School: Crescenta Valley Year: Senior Height: 5-9 Avg.: 20.0 Name: Melissa Lord School: La Canada Year: Soph Height: 5-9 Avg.: 17.5 Name: Debbie Nilsen School: Flintridge Sacred Heart Year: Senior Height: 5-3 Avg.: 18.0 Name: Karen Pearson School: Flintridge Prep Year: Senior Height: 5-9 Avg.: 14.0 Name: Sonya Runkle School: Eagle Rock Year: Senior Height: 5-9 Avg.: 15.0 Name: Meghan Smith School: Flintridge Sacred Heart Year: Senior Height: 6-0 Avg.: 13.0 Name: Kate Stoll School: Ribet Academy Year: Senior Height: 5-9 Avg.: 21.0 Name: Tara Walker School: Marshall Year: Senior Height: 5-10 Avg.: 16.0 Name: Tracy Young School: Glendale Year: Soph Height: 5-9 Avg.: 16.0 COACH OF THE YEAR: Paul Broneer School: Glendale Record: 19-6 MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Jennifer Dalton School: Glendale Height: 5-8 Avg.: 22.0