ALL-VALLEY FIRST-TEAM THUMBNAIL SKETCHES : Versatile Players Pick Their Spots Among Region’s Best

It used to be as easy as 1-2-3.

Basketball players generally were expected to play a certain position: One spot (point guard), two spot (shooting guard), three spot (swing), four (power forward) or five (center).

With the advent of the motion offense and the like, players scurry across the floor like ants on a chocolate bar. The lack of oversized prospects has helped expand the versatility of the average high school player. Fewer giants, more ants.

Richard Dice of Alemany, a first-team member of the boys’ All-Valley team, played all five positions. When Alemany Coach Kurt Keller was asked to name Dice’s position, the typical response was: “Pick one and you’ll be right.”

Joe Wyatt was one of several Kennedy players who stood in the 6-foot range. Wyatt and his five teammates bolted around the floor in interchangeable roles.

Shawn Bankhead of Cleveland is considered a center-forward, but he often could be found with his toes on the three-point stripe, bombing away. Casey Sheahan of Taft, Robert Hill of North Hollywood and Rob Leff of Crespi all were used at point guard, off-guard and swingman. Marquis Burns of Reseda, the boys’ player of the year, did likewise.

Of the 10 players on the boys’ first team, three were used in old-school roles. Not surprisingly, two are big men. Brady Mertes of Chatsworth was the team’s starting center, and at 6-8 and 200 pounds, was ideally suited to the role. Hart’s Ali Peek, a 6-5, 250-pound senior, also was used to plug the paint.

First-team selection Dan Prince of Quartz Hill was used almost exclusively as a point guard, perhaps the most difficult position. Prince proves that nothing beats a good point guard, a fact that was underscored by the girls’ first-team selections. Of the 10 players on the team, five are point guards.

A look at the All-Valley players:

BOYS’ FIRST TEAM

Shawn Bankhead, Cleveland: A junior center-forward, Bankhead was selected co-MVP of the North Valley League, which is quite an achievement considering that two other North Valley players made the All-Valley first team. After being the fifth-leading scorer at Cleveland as a sophomore, Bankhead had a breakthrough season. He averaged 25.9 points and 10.8 rebounds, despite drawing double-team defenses for most of the season.

Richard Dice, Alemany: So Dice’s best sport is supposed to be football? Mission League basketball coaches--who elected Dice the MVP--would tend to disagree. Dice, a senior, is perhaps the best athlete in the area and also was a first-team selection on the All-Valley football team as a receiver. He averaged 21.8 points, 12.4 rebounds and played all five positions. He was a second-team All-Valley basketball selection last season.

Robert Hill, North Hollywood: The Huskies finished 26-2 and came within one game of returning to the City Section 3-A Division final for what would have been the fourth consecutive year. Hill, two-time co-MVP of the Mid-Valley League, has been the spark behind the team’s success. A three-year starter at guard, Hill averaged 14.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 3.4 steals this season.

Rob Leff, Crespi: It had been five years since Crespi won a league title, and Leff helped lead the Celts to the top of the Mission League hill. He averaged 20.6 points, 4.6 assists and was a first-team all-league selection. A senior known primarily for his perimeter shooting, Leff helped open up the inside for teammates Randy Coleman and Matt Carpenter. Leff, a transfer from Calabasas, made 74 of 161 shots (46%) from three-point range.

Brady Mertes, Chatsworth: A 6-8 junior center who used his bulk to outbattle other players, Mertes was easily the best post man in the West Valley League. In what was supposed to be a transition year under first-year Coach Sandy Greentree, Mertes averaged 19.8 points and led Chatsworth to a share of the West Valley title. Mertes averaged 14 rebounds to lead all area City Section players. Brady’s bunch advanced to the City 3-A semifinals.

Ali Peek, Hart: The Indians’ go-to guy in the middle all season, Peek, a 6-5, 250-pound senior forward, dominated defenders one on one and gave double- and triple-teams all they could handle. Peek, MVP of the Foothill League, averaged 24.2 points, 15 rebounds and 5.2 blocked shots. Peek’s strongest performance came in a league showdown with Schurr. With first place at stake, Peek scored a career-high 40 points and had a school-record 23 rebounds in a 79-66 victory.

Dan Prince, Quartz Hill: Prince, a senior point guard, was Quartz Hill’s playmaker, leading the Rebels to a 15-8 record and a share of their second consecutive Golden League title. Prince averaged 19.3 points and 3.4 assists to earn MVP honors. Moreover, Prince played the second half of the season with an inflamed chest muscle that at first was feared to be a heart attack. After experiencing chest pains in a game against Saugus, Prince was rushed to a hospital by ambulance. He was released that night and was back in the lineup three days later.

Casey Sheahan, Taft: A senior who signed early with Cal State Fullerton, Sheahan finished his three-year career with some of the best numbers in Taft history. An off-guard capable of torrid shooting stretches, Sheahan averaged 20.3 points, 3.4 assists, 3.7 steals and led the Toreadors to their first league title in 10 years. He finished second only to Kevin Franklin (1985-87) in scoring at Taft. Sheahan was a second-team All-Valley selection as a junior.

Joe Wyatt, Kennedy: The season started with a bang when Wyatt was selected to the Simi Valley all-tournament team and ended with the junior guard being selected co-MVP of the North Valley League along with Bankhead. An animated player who often entertained crowds with his less-than-fluid manner, Wyatt was one of the most consistently productive players in the region. He averaged 20.2 points and was selected to the All-City 4-A team.

GIRLS’ FIRST TEAM

Latisha Beam, Palmdale: The Falcons won their fourth consecutive Golden League title and advanced to the quarterfinals of the Southern Section Division I-AA playoffs with a 21-8 record. Beam led the team in rebounding (9.5) and was second in scoring (14.0). A two-time All-Valley pick, she also averaged three assists a game as a guard-forward.

Karen Berkowitz, Granada Hills: This record-breaking point guard provided the scoring punch to lift the Highlanders to a City Section 3-A Division title and a 14-7 record. Berkowitz, the City 3-A player of the year, averaged 22.7 points, 3.4 assists and 3.2 steals. But she was even more effective in the playoffs, scoring at a 26.4 clip. She set single-game school records for points (41) and three-point baskets (eight) in a City semifinal win over Garfield. Her season totals of 427 points and 62 three-point baskets were also school records.

Cicely Brewster, Van Nuys: The Wolves compiled a surprising 20-3 record this season and shared the Mid-Valley League title with North Hollywood. Brewster, an All-City 4-A selection, shot 50% from the field and averaged 14.2 points and 15.3 rebounds.

Maria Costa, Chaminade: Although only 5-1, she has played a big role at Chaminade. A two-time All-Valley selection, Costa led her team to an 18-10 record. She averaged 12.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists as the Eagles advanced to the quarterfinals of the Southern Section Division IV-AA playoffs.

Sarah Guziel, Alemany: For the second season in a row, the 6-2 center is one of two Alemany players on the All-Valley team. Guziel was an inside force for the Indians as they won the Mission League title and the Southern Section Division II-A championship. The senior led Alemany in scoring (14.3), rebounds (9.1) and blocked shots (4.2).

Shaneya Harris, Kennedy: A second-team All-Valley selection last season, Harris jumps to the first team this season. The junior forward averaged 23.7 points, 13 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 4.4 steals. She is a two-time All-City 4-A selection.

Lori Leon, Bell-Jeff: The San Fernando League MVP led the Guards to the league title and a 21-5 record. The senior forward averaged 18.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, and three assists.

Kim Schielke, Palmdale: The Falcons discovered how much they needed Schielke, a repeat All- Valley selection, when she sustained a sprained ankle early in the season. Without her, Palmdale lost seven early-season games. With Schielke, who averaged 14.5 points, eight rebounds and four assists, the team won 15 consecutive games, the Golden League title and advanced to the Southern Section I-AA quarterfinals.

Suzi Shimoyama, North Hollywood: This Cal-bound point guard led a young Husky team to an 18-5 record and a share of the Mid-Valley League title with Van Nuys. Shimoyama, an All-City 4-A selection, averaged 11.2 points, 5.7 steals and five rebounds. A second-team All-Valley pick as a sophomore and a first-team selection last year, Shimoyama set a school record for assists, averaging 7.7 per game.

1991-92 STATISTICAL LEADERS: C12

ALL-VALLEY SECOND TEAM: C12

ALL-VENTURA COUNTY TEAM: C12