1993 PREP BASKETBALL / LOS ANGELES TIMES ALL-STARS : Morningside, Peninsula Players Earn Top Billing on Girls’ Team : South Bay: Monarchs’ Thompson and Walker, and Panthers’ McKinney and Kennedy lead the selections.

It was a return to normalcy for the Morningside High girls’ basketball team this season.

After finishing second in the Southern Section Division III-AA in 1991-92, the Monarchs won their fifth Southern Section title in six seasons with a 71-60 victory over Alemany on March 6 at Loyola Marymount.

The Monarchs advanced to the State Division III Southern Regional final, but lost to Costa Mesa, 49-46.

“I know everyone was disappointed that we didn’t get to the state final,” Coach Rod Tatum said. “But we had a good year and 28-3 is nothing to sneeze at.”

The Monarchs (28-3) placed forwards Tina Thompson and Cha-Ron Walker on The Times’ 1993 South Bay All-Star first team. Peninsula was the only other school to place two players on the first team.

“For both Tina and Cha-Ron it’s especially nice because they went out with a (Southern Section) title,” Tatum said.

Peninsula, which lost to eventual state champion Lynwood in the second round of the Southern Section Division I-AA playoffs after winning the state title last season, placed guards Mimi McKinney and Jill Kennedy on the first team.

McKinney was one of only three juniors to make the first team. The others are Narbonne guard Valarie Ogawa and forward Stephanie Pfau of South Torrance.

The remaining selections are seniors: guards Natalie Graham of Bishop Montgomery, Laurie Shimizu of West Torrance and Leslie Mukogawa of North Torrance, and forward Tiffany Williams of Redondo.

Thompson and McKinney are the only repeat selections. Kennedy, Pfau and Shimizu were second-team selections last season.

The 10-player team was selected based upon ballots received from area coaches and the opinions of scouts and sportswriters.

Players selected to the first team will be honored at a breakfast April 18 at the Guest Quarters Hotel in Santa Monica. The area player and coach of the year will also be announced at the breakfast.

Here is a player-by-player look at the team:

Natalie Graham, Bishop Montgomery

Although the Knights were only 12-9 and were eliminated in the first round of the Division III-AA playoffs, Graham finished her career by being named to the All-Mission League and All-Division III first teams. Graham, a forward, averaged 17.1 points and led the Knights in rebounding with a 14.2 average. “She just did so much for us and she had to play out of position the whole year,” Coach Cedric Hurt said.

Jill Kennedy, Peninsula

Kennedy, who has signed a letter of intent to play at Pepperdine in the fall, broke her leg five games into the season and missed nine games. But she regained her form to help Peninsula (17-9) win the Bay League title. Kennedy, who was a reserve on Peninsula’s state championship squad in 1991-92, was the second-leading scorer for the Panthers with a 10.1 average. She was also named Bay League most valuable player.

Mimi McKinney, Peninsula

McKinney has been named an All-American by Street and Smith magazine, USA Today and Parade magazine and is being recruited by several Division I programs. “She’s outstanding right now,” Coach Wendell Yoshida said. “She is probably ready for the next level right now. It’s just a case of her getting stronger and refining her skills.” McKinney, who was named the Bay League’s most outstanding player, led the Panthers with averages of 20.3 points and nine rebounds.

Leslie Mukogawa, North Torrance

Mukogawa helped lead North to a 19-7 record and the second round of the II-A playoffs. She was the team’s leading scorer with at 20.5 and averaged 5.1 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 4.1 steals. She made 52% of her shots from the field and made 33% of her three-point shots. Mukogawa was a first-team Pioneer League selection.

Valarie Ogawa, Narbonne

Ogawa helped the Gauchos advance to the City 3-A Division championship game, where they lost to Jefferson, 60-53. Ogawa averaged 15 points, 6.2 assists, five steals and 3.4 rebounds. An All-City 3-A selection, Ogawa was also named most valuable player of the Pacific League.

Stephanie Pfau, South Torrance

Pfau earned All-Southern Section Division III first-team honors after being a second-team selection in 1991-92. She helped the Spartans (14-11) advance to the Division III-AA quarterfinals and led the team with averages of 14.7 points and 7.8 rebounds. She also made the All-Pioneer League first team.

Laurie Shimizu, West Torrance

The 5-foot-4 Shimizu averaged a team-leading 17.7 points and ranked among West’s leaders in assists and three-point baskets. Her play helped West to a 21-6 record, the Pioneer League title and a berth in the second round of the II-A playoffs. Shimizu was named the league’s most valuable player.

Tina Thompson, Morningside

Thompson often dominated play inside in helping the Monarchs reach the III-AA championship game. Not only did Thompson lead Morningside with averages of 18.8 points and 13.2 rebounds, she was also the squad’s emotional leader. “When she said something, everyone took it to heart,” Tatum said. Thompson earned All-Southern Section Division III honors for the second consecutive season and was the most valuable player of the Ocean League. She has signed a letter of intent to play at USC in the fall.

Cha-Ron Walker, Morningside

Walker averaged 12.3 points and 10.1 rebounds. Her play inside helped take the pressure off Thompson. “I thought she really complemented Tina well,” he said. “It prevented people from just concentrating on Tina.” Walker, who played for Reseda of the City Section as a junior, made the All-Division III and All-Ocean League first teams. She is being recruited by several Division I schools.

Tiffany Williams, Redondo

Williams, a senior, averaged 19.5 points and 14.5 rebounds to rank among South Bay leaders. A three-time All-Ocean League selection, she was voted the league’s most outstanding player and made three all-tournament teams. She is being recruited by Washington State, Cal State Dominguez Hills and UC Riverside.

Girls’ Second Team

Player School Yr. Ht. Avg. Kesha Andrews Carson Sr. 5-8 14.6 Yanick Clay Inglewood Soph. 5-11 12.9 Shelley Dungo Bishop Montgomery Jr. 5-6 23.4 Tracy Holman West Torrance Jr. 5-8 15.0 Lameshia Pittman Banning Sr. 5-11 14.0 Kamiesha Prewitt Morningside Sr. 5-3 10.7 Stevena Richards Inglewood Sr. 5-10 12.3 Denise Takamoto Narbonne Sr. 5-5 15.0 Jennifer Tojo North Torrance Sr. 5-7 17.0 Joanna Whitley Peninsula Sr. 5-9 6.5

GIRLS Name: Natalie Graham School: Bishop Montgomery Year: Senior Height: 5-7 Avg.: 17.1 Name: Jill Kennedy School: Peninsula Year: Senior Height: 5-6 Avg.: 10.1 Name: Mimi McKinney School: Peninsula Year: Junior Height: 5-9 Avg.: 20.3 Name: Leslie Mukogawa School: North Torrance Year: Senior Height: 5-7 Avg.: 20.0 Name: Valerie Ogawa School: Narbonne Year: Junior Height: 5-5 Avg.: 15.0 Name: Stephanie Pfau School: South Torrance Year: Junior Height: 5-11 Avg.: 14.7 Name: Laurie Shimizu School: West Torrance Year: Senior Height: 5-4 Avg.: 17.7 Name: Tina Thompson School: Morningside Year: Senior Height: 6-2 Avg.: 18.8 Name: Cha-Ron Walker School: Morningside Year: Senior Height: 5-11 Avg.: 12.3 Name: Tiffany Williams School: Redondo Year: Senior Height: 5-9 Avg.: 19.5