1994 PREP BASKETBALL ALL-STARS : GIRLS’ ALL-STARS : Selection of Peninsula’s McKinney Marks the End of an Era

An era passed last month without much notice.

When Peninsula High lost to Clovis West, 67-65, in the semifinals of the Southern California girls’ basketball regionals March 10, it marked the final high school game for Mimi McKinney, the last link to Peninsula’s 33-0 national championship team in 1991-92.

McKinney was a sophomore that season and part of an otherwise all-senior lineup. The other Panther starters--Kristen Mulligan, Monique Morehouse, Jeffra Gausepohl and Raquel Alotis--all earned scholarships to Division I colleges.

After their departure, McKinney was left to carry the torch for Peninsula as the program rebuilt. She came through the past two seasons by leading the Panthers to two Bay League titles, two playoff berths and a 42-14 record.

This marks the third consecutive season that McKinney has been chosen to The Times’ South Bay All-Star team, an accomplishment that places her in the select company of such former standouts as Lisa Leslie of Morningside and Heather Burge of Palos Verdes.

South Torrance forward Stephanie Pfau and McKinney are the only repeat selections. Rounding out the all-star team are centers Ieesha Donadelle of Torrance and Brandie Gray of Carson, forwards Yanick Clay of Inglewood, Cheryl Dickson of Morningside, Tracy Holman of West Torrance and Andrea Miller of Redondo, and guards Shelley Dungo of Bishop Montgomery and Jenille Ramos of Banning.

The players, along with their parents and coaches, will be guests of The Times at an awards breakfast at 9 a.m. Sunday at the Guest Quarters Hotel in Santa Monica. The South Bay player and coach of the year awards will be announced at the breakfast.

A closer look at the all-stars:

Yanick Clay (Inglewood)--The talented junior could be the area’s most highly recruited player next season. She has attracted attention from several colleges, Inglewood Coach Arnold Blalark said. Clay led her team to second place behind Peninsula in the Bay League, averaging 15.6 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists and two steals. She was named league most valuable player and was selected to the Southern Section Division II second team. Third-seeded Inglewood lost to Gahr in the first round of the Division II-AA playoffs.

Cheryl Dickson (Morningside)--Named most valuable player of the Ocean League, Dickson led the Monarchs to the league title and a Division III playoff berth. Second-seeded Morningside was beaten in the first round by Newbury Park, but the loss didn’t detract from a stellar senior season for Dickson. The forward averaged 10.2 points and 9.5 rebounds. She was named to the Division III second team.

Ieesha Donadelle (Torrance)--Although her team failed to reach the playoffs from the Pioneer League, Donadelle was recognized as the league’s most valuable player by the coaches. The center averaged 23 points (25 in league play), 15 rebounds and two blocks. She is being recruited by several four-year colleges, including San Jose State and Hawaii. She scored a game-high 13 points to lead the Blue team to a 69-44 victory in the South Bay all-star game March 25.

Shelley Dungo (Bishop Montgomery)--A three-year varsity starter, Dungo made the transition from shooting guard to point guard last season and led the Knights to a 23-8 record and two playoff victories. Bishop Montgomery lost in the Division III-AA semifinals to eventual state champion Brea-Olinda. Dungo averaged 13.6 points and 3.2 assists and was named to the Division III first team. She was MVP of the Anaheim Western tournament.

Brandie Gray (Carson)--The 6-foot-3 center was a force inside for the Colts, averaging 16 points and 12.3 rebounds. Gray was also one of the area’s leading shot blockers. She helped Carson finish in a three-way tie for the Pacific League title with Crenshaw and Washington. Carson (22-5) lost to eventual champion Crenshaw in the City Section 4-A Division semifinals.

Tracy Holman (West Torrance)--A straight-A student as well as an all-around athlete, Holman helped the Warriors secure a Division II-A playoff berth by leading the team in virtually every statistical category. She averaged 19.8 points, eight rebounds and five assists. West took third behind co-champions South Torrance and North Torrance in the Pioneer League. Holman will attend Loyola Marymount on a volleyball scholarship.

Mimi McKinney (Peninsula)--A two-time All-American, McKinney has been a highly regarded player since her freshman season at Palos Verdes. Her senior season was marred because of injuries, but she managed to lead Peninsula with averages of 22.2 points, 11.2 rebounds, four assists, four steals and 1.4 blocks. Peninsula (25-5) lost in the Division I-AA final to Lynwood. McKinney, who played on two state champions during her four years as a varsity starter, was the only area player named to the 10-player Southern Section team. She played in the inaugural National High School Coaches Assn. East-West all-star game Saturday in Atlanta.

Andrea Miller (Redondo)--Named most outstanding player in the Ocean League, Miller led the Sea Hawks to second place behind Morningside and to the second round of the Division II-A playoffs. The junior, who played guard and forward, averaged 15.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists in her third season as a varsity starter. Miller was named all-tournament at South Torrance and Pacific Shores.

Stephanie Pfau (South Torrance)--One of the area’s most versatile athletes, Pfau is a two-time Southern Section selection in basketball and volleyball. She helped the Spartans tie North for the Pioneer League title by averaging 12.4 points and 7.4 rebounds in league play. Her overall averages were 9.3 and 6.1. Pfau was a four-year varsity starter and was chosen to play in the South Bay all-star game. South lost in the first round of the Division III-AA playoffs to Bishop Montgomery.

Jenille Ramos (Banning)--The catalyst behind Banning’s City Section 3-A Division title, Ramos emerged as a leader in her junior season. She averaged 14.5 points and 4.5 assists and was the Pilots’ top three-point shooter for the second season in a row. Ramos was named 3-A Division player of the year after sharing Southern League most valuable player honors with Gardena’s Tomika Cantley. With its top eight players returning, Banning should be a force again next season.

GIRLS’ ALL STAR TEAM

Name: Yanick Clay School: Inglewood Year: Junior Points: 15.6

Name: Cheryl Dickson School: Morningside Year: Senior Points: 10.2

Name: Ieesha Donadelle School: Torrance Year: Senior Points: 23.0

Name: Shelley Dungo School: Bishop Montgomery Year: Senior Points: 13.6

Name: Brandie Gray School: Carson Year: Senior Points: 16.0

Name: Tracy Holman School: West Torrance Year: Senior Points: 19.8

Name: Mimi McKinney School: Peninsula Year: Senior Points: 22.2

Name: Andrea Miller School: Redondo Year: Junior Points: 15.2

Name: Stephanie Pfau School: South Torrance Year: Senior Points: 9.3

Name: Jenille Ramos School: Banning Year: Junior Points: 14.5

South Bay Girls’ Second Team

Player School Yr. Ht. Avg. Yesenia Aguilar San Pedro Jr. 5-5 25.0 Tanisha Bass Carson Sr. 5-11 9.1 Tomika Cantley Gardena Sr. 6-2 13.6 Nubia Doumerc South Torrance Soph. 5-2 6.7 Allison Fortner Peninsula Jr. 5-9 11.2 Katharine Foster-Keddie Peninsula Jr. 6-0 8.8 Kelli Knapp Narbonne Sr. 5-11 17.0 Nikki L’Heureux Mira Costa Sr. 5-2 15.0 Staeci Morita North Torrance Soph. 5-3 9.2 Tracy Washington Bishop Montgomery Soph. 6-1 5.4