1993 PREP BASKETBALL LOS ANGELES TIMES ALL-STARS : Lynwood, Gahr, Poly Each Place 2 Players on South Coast Girls Team

Coach Ellis Barfield sat with a perplexed look in his tiny office at Lynwood High the other day as he tried to decide who to nominate for The Times’ 1993 South Coast Girls High School All-Star Basketball Team.

It was difficult for Barfield to choose because his state Division I champions were so strong on talent during the first undefeated season (31-0) in school history.

It was a close call with other coaches as well, but two Lynwood players--junior guard/forward Timicha Kirby and senior guard Elana Adams--rated a slight edge in balloting for the 10-member team.

Kirby, expected to be one of the top players in the CIF Southern Section next season, averaged 18.5 points and 13 rebounds and shared the most valuable player award in the San Gabriel Valley League. Adams, a 5-8 senior, was a deadly shooter who averaged 19.5 points a game.

The area’s leading scorer, Paramount’s Shanika Porter, is the only player to repeat from last year. The USC-bound forward, who averaged 28 points, is one of five seniors chosen. She shared the San Gabriel Valley League MVP award with Kirby.

The youngest player is Poly’s K.K. Johns, a sophomore who has earned back-to-back all-Moore League honors.

The all-star team will be honored during a breakfast at 9 a.m. Sunday at the Sheraton Hotel in Long Beach. The team, from schools in Long Beach, Lakewood, Lynwood, Compton and portions of Bellflower, Cerritos and Paramount, was chosen primarily on the basis of ballots cast by area coaches.

The South Coast team:

SHANIKA PORTER, Paramount--The only player to repeat on the team, she was voted the co-MVP of the San Gabriel Valley League. A 5-11 senior post player, she led the area in scoring at 28 points a game. She also averaged 15 rebounds, 8 blocked shots and 4 assists. She was an early signee with USC. “An outstanding student-athlete,” Coach Barfield said.

SHANNON PERRY, Cerritos--She earned the respect of other players on the South Coast team, including Michelle Wineke of Gahr, who said, “She knows how to use her height to her advantage.” Perry, a 6-1 center, averaged 18.2 points and 13.5 rebounds on her way to all-San Gabriel Valley League and first-team Division II honors. Defensively, “she challenged me a lot,” said Porter.

TIMICHA KIRBY, Lynwood--A junior who is expected to be one of the top recruits in Southern California next year, the 5-11 guard/forward helped the Knights to their first state title by averaging 18.5 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocked shots and 3 steals.

ELANA ADAMS, Lynwood--An overlooked 5-8 senior guard who directed the Knights, she averaged 19.5 points and 4 assists. Although she had a hamstring injury, she scored 19 points in the state final against Capistrano Valley. She is being recruited by six colleges.

SHANNON GALE, Gahr--A hard-nosed 5-9 junior forward, she led Gahr in scoring and rebounding with averages of 15 and 8, respectively. She was voted to the all-San Gabriel Valley League team and to the first team in Division II. “She plays really hard,” Gladiator Coach Thomas Pryor said.

MICHELLE WINEKE, Gahr--Although she missed 10 games with an injury to her left knee, the 5-9 guard/forward came back to help the Gladiators reach the Southern Section II-AA title game. A senior, she averaged 10 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists to earn second-team honors in Division II.

AMY HEATON, Lakewood--The 6-1 junior represents the second generation of family members to play sports for Lakewood. Strong in the post, Heaton averaged 17.8 points and 14 rebounds to earn all-Moore League honors. “She never gives up. She works very hard,” said Porter of Paramount.

TIFFANY MAXWELL, Millikan--Opponents may have thought they were seeing double when playing Millikan because Tiffany’s twin sister, Taffany, also started for the Rams. Tiffany, a quick and explosive 5-6 senior guard, scored 14 points a game. “She has excellent speed,” said Poly Coach Ed Gaffney, who ranked her among the top four players in the Moore League.

K.K. JOHNS, Poly--A sophomore, she was voted to the all-Moore League team for the second consecutive year. The 5-6 guard averaged 13.5 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists.

MICHELE SMITH, Poly--The Moore League’s most valuable player averaged 14.6 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. She led the league in scoring and was a top vote-getter among coaches. The 5-8 senior guard has exceptional quickness and court awareness.

Girls Name: Shannon Perry School: Cerritos Year: Junior Height: 6-1 Avg.: 18.2 *Name: Shanika Porter School: Paramount Year: Senior Height: 5-11 Avg.: 28.0 *Name: Timicha Kirby School: Lynwood Year: Junior Height: 5-11 Avg.: 18.5 *Name: Elana Adams School: Lynwood Year: Junior Height: 5-11 Avg.: 19.5 *Name: Michelle Wineke School: Gahr Year: Senior Height: 5-9 Avg.: 10.0 *Name: Shannon Gale School: Gahr Year: Junior Height: 5.9 Avg.: 15.0 *Name: Amy Heaton School: Lakewood Year: Junior Height: 6-1 Avg.: 17.8 *Name: Tiffany Maxwell School: Millikan Year: Senior Height: 5-6 Avg.: 14.0 *Name: K.K. Johns School: Poly Year: Sophomore Height: 5-6 Avg.: 13.5 *Name: Michele Smith School: Poly Year: Senior Height: 14.6 Avg.: