1993-94 TIMES ALL-VENTURA COUNTY GIRLS’ BASKETBALL TEAM : PLAYER OF THE YEAR : Buena’s Giordano Leaves a Champion

Michelle Giordano remembers how it felt to be a freshman playing on the tradition-rich Buena High varsity.

“The whole year, I was really nervous,” she said. “You don’t really know what to expect, so you just try to play it off.”

If that’s true, then she fooled everyone, because even as a freshman reserve it was obvious Giordano was a special player.

“I thought she was mature beyond her years, not only physically but mentally and emotionally,” Coach Joe Vaughan said.

Back then, though, Giordano had no grand plan for a storybook career. She, along with teammate Laura Dahl, simply dealt with being the first freshmen to play for the school’s varsity.

“I was just happy to be playing varsity basketball and contributing,” she said. “I didn’t think it was going to end up anything like the career I ended up having.”

Perhaps she could have guessed, because from the first day to the final game of her senior season, Giordano made a career of making Buena history.

The Times’ Ventura County player of the year, Giordano finished as the school’s all-time scoring and rebounding leader with 1,615 points and 815 rebounds.

The Bulldogs advanced to the Southern Section Division I-A championship all four years she was on the team, and Giordano led Buena to section titles in her final two seasons.

In the 1993 championship game, she made two free throws with no time remaining to give the Bulldogs a one-point victory over Thousand Oaks.

And the 6-foot center scored 18 points in this season’s championship game against Bishop Amat, which marked the first time in Vaughan’s successful 19 years as coach that the Bulldogs won consecutive section titles.

Giordano has been the Channel League’s most valuable player the past three years and an All-State Division I selection the past two.

She averaged 14.7 points and 7.4 rebounds during her career, outstanding statistics considering Buena’s team-oriented style.

She suffered a strained medial collateral ligament in her right knee midway through the season and missed five games but returned to lead the Bulldogs to the section title.

Next season she will play for Arizona, and her thoughts are turned there, but she savors her four years at Buena.

“I never dreamed I’d get my name in all the record books,” she said. “It gives people a way of remembering me, because there’s always going to be someone better who comes along.

“I’m happy that they’ll get to remember me in some way.”

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL TEAM

Ember Brown / G

Junior / Ventura

Brown is a repeater on The Times’ All-Ventura County team and led the Cougars to the Division II-A semifinals. An excellent long-range shooter, the 5-8 Brown averaged 14.8 points and six rebounds, and was named to the all-state junior team.

Eboni Conley / G

Sophomore / Buena

Conley has been the Bulldogs’ point guard for the past two Southern Section Division I-A championship seasons. The athletic 5-foot-8 floor leader averaged 10.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and 5.2 assists. She was an all-state sophomore team selection.

Tawnee Cooper / F

Sophomore / Royal

This first-year varsity player made a stunning debut by leading the county with a 19-point scoring average. She also averaged 9.1 rebounds to lead the Highlanders to a 14-9 record--their first winning season in seven years--and a playoff appearance.

Michelle Giordano / C

Senior / Buena

Giordano is by consensus one of the top players in Buena’s basketball illustrious history. The three-time Channel League player of the year is a three-time All-County selection by The Times. She led Buena to consecutive Division I-A championships.

Shawanda Hotchkiss / G

Senior / Channel Islands

Hotchkiss, who entered the season with a reputation as an overemotional, undisciplined player, enjoyed a breakthrough, trouble-free campaign. She averaged 14.9 points, was named Marmonte League co-player of the year and led the Raiders to the league title.

Rachel McSorley / C

Senior / Nordhoff

The two-time Frontier League player of the year is a repeat All-County selection by The Times. She led the Rangers to consecutive league titles and a 16-0 league record the past two seasons. McSorley averaged 17.6 points and nine rebounds.

Summer Peterson / C

Senior / Rio Mesa

Peterson, a Times All-County repeat selection, averaged 11.7 points and 9.3 rebounds for the Spartans. The 6-2 post player led Rio Mesa to the Division II-AA quarterfinals, where the Spartans nearly upset eventual state finalist Irvine Woodbridge.

Shanon Sincock / F

Senior / Westlake

The four-year starter averaged 12.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists and was the Warriors’ top defensive player. Opposing coaches liked Sincock’s outside shooting ability and work ethic. Sincock also excelled on Westlake’s volleyball team.

Dolores Tuimoloau / C

Senior / Channel Islands

The 6-foot-0 Tuimoloau was a physical presence for the Raiders (23-4), defending and scoring on the inside. She averaged 14 points and was an All-Marmonte League selection. She also is this season’s state leader in the shot put with a throw of 47 feet 1/4 inch.

Julie Wastell / G

Junior / Newbury Park

Wastell, a repeat Times All-County selection, was the co-most valuable player in the Marmonte League. She averaged 11.2 points and 4.2 assists for the Panthers (23-5), who advanced to the Division III-AA semifinals and set a school record for victories.

Times All-Star Basketball Rosters All-Ventura Girls

FIRST TEAM

P Player School Yr G Ember Brown Ventura Jr. G Eboni Conley Buena So. F Tawnee Cooper Royal So. C Michelle Giordano Buena Sr. G Shawanda Hotchkiss Channel Islands Sr. F Rachel McSorley Nordhoff Sr. C Summer Peterson Rio Mesa Sr. F Shanon Sincock Westlake Sr. C Dolores Tuimoloau Channel Islands Sr. G Julie Wastell Newbury Park Jr.

Coach of the Year: Nori Parvin, Newbury Park

SECOND TEAM

P Player School Yr G Alissa Corey Thousand Oaks Sr. G Alisa Doran St. Bonaventure So. F Sara Griffin Simi Valley Sr. F Karli Jungwirth Camarillo Sr. F Brianna Kanongata’a Rio Mesa Jr. F Melissa Krolik Calabasas Jr. F Kara McKeown Newbury Park Jr. G Kori Sebek Buena So. F Jann Thorpe Newbury Park Jr. G Gretchen Wachter Nordhoff Sr.

All-Valley Girls

FIRST TEAM

P Player School Yr G Anna Celaya N.Hollywood Jr. C Carly Funicello Alemany So. G Sarah Hagman Crescenta Vly. Sr. F Lindy James Vllg. Christian So. C Jackie Johnson Quartz Hill Fr. F Nadra Manley Sylmar Jr. G Kelly McKay Alemany Jr. F Samantha Rigley Alemany Jr. F Brandee Sayles Antelope Valley Sr. G Christina Ticsay Bell-Jeff Sr.

Coach of the Year: Melissa Hearlihy, Alemany

SECOND TEAM

P Player School Yr G Jeanne Beauchamp Vllg. Christian Sr. G La Cresha Clark Hart Jr. G Maggie Dixon Notre Dame Jr. F Cathy Flores Bell-Jeff Sr. F Dimara Haymond Monroe Sr. F Darvena Merritt N.Hollywood Sr. F Tinika McThomas El Camino Real Sr. F Zevette Mitchell Alemany Sr. F Jamie Vahoviak Burroughs Jr. C Rachel Martinez Taft Jr.