1995 PREP BASKETBALL ALL-STARS : Feats of Clay Have Simply Become Routine at Inglewood

At Inglewood, much of the attention this season centered around its boys’ basketball team and All-America forward Paul Pierce.

But Pierce was not the only basketball player from Inglewood to receive national attention.

The Sentinels also showcased forward Yanick Clay, one of the most heralded girls’ basketball players in Southern California.

Clay, who signed a national letter of intent with NCAA Division I power North Carolina in November and enjoyed a brilliant senior season, leads the selections to The Times’ 1995 South Bay all-star team.

Peninsula, Bishop Montgomery and Redondo each placed two players on the team. Peninsula placed Allison Fortner and Mo-nique Langston, Bishop Montgomery landed Tiffany Washington and Tashara Carter, and Redondo was represented by Andrea Miller and Leah Santa.

Completing the team are Devyn Johnson of Morningside, Kawai Matthews of Narbonne and Jenille Ramos of Banning.

Clay, Miller and Ramos are repeat selections from the 1994 team. The squad includes three sophomores--Carter, Langston and Matthews--and a junior--Washington.

Selections were based on ballots cast by area coaches, all of whom were asked to participate, and a poll of Times sportswriters.

Players named to the first team, 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 winners of the South Bay player and coach of the year awards will be announced at the breakfast.

Here is a look at The Times’ 1995 All-South Bay team:

Tashara Carter (Bishop Montgomery)--On a team that does not have a senior on its roster, the best days may be yet to come for the 5-foot-11 Carter and the Knights. Carter was outstanding as a sophomore, averaging 13 points, nine rebounds and four assists to help the Knights to the Southern Section Division III-AA final. She was also named to the Division III first team.

Yanick Clay (Inglewood)--Although she was a four-year starter at Inglewood, there is no doubt that the 6-1 forward saved her best for last. She averaged 21.6 points, 12.3 rebounds, five assists, four blocked shots and 3.8 steals to lead her team in each category. She also earned All-Division II and Bay League most valuable player honors for the second consecutive season and was named to the all-state third team by Cal-Hi Sports.

Allison Fortner (Peninsula)--As the only senior in a youthful starting lineup, the leadership of the 5-10 guard was essential as the Panthers advanced to the Division I-AA final. She led her team in scoring with a 12.2-point average and broke the school career record for three-point baskets with 128. She was named to the Division I first team.

Devyn Johnson (Morningside)--The 5-10 senior guard played an integral role for an inexperienced team that advanced to the Division III-A final. She averaged 11 points, five rebounds and four assists and was named to the Division III and Ocean League first teams.

Mo-nique Langston (Peninsula)--Another factor in Peninsula’s success was the development of Langston, a 5-11 forward who averaged 11.6 points and a team-leading 7.7 rebounds. A Division I second team and All-Bay League selection, she is already receiving attention from NCAA powers such as Georgia, Virginia, Iowa and Auburn.

Kawai Matthews (Narbonne)--It was a remarkable season for Narbonne, which won its first City Section title with a victory over Chatsworth in the 3-A Division final. Matthews, a 5-10 sophomore, averaged a team-leading 17 points and 12 rebounds. She was also named 3-A player of the year and made the Cal-Hi Sports all-state sophomore team.

Andrea Miller (Redondo)--After being named most outstanding player in the Ocean League as a junior, the 5-8 guard received the league’s MVP award this season. She averaged 11.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.1 assists and was among the leaders in most categories for a Redondo squad that advanced to the Division III-AA semifinals. The four-year starter also made the Division II team.

Jenille Ramos (Banning)--The 5-6 guard has been one of the premier players in the City Section the past two seasons. She was named 3-A Division player of the year as a junior and made the 4-A first team this season. Ramos averaged a team-leading 16.4 points in addition to 3.8 assists and 2.7 rebounds. She helped the Pilots advance to the 4-A quarterfinals.

Leah Santa (Redondo)--The 5-11 forward enjoyed a memorable senior season, averaging a team-high of 12.8 points and seven rebounds. She led the Sea Hawks in free-throw percentage and set a school record with 38 three-point baskets. She also made the Division III first team in helping Redondo to a school-record 23 wins.

Tiffany Washington (Bishop Montgomery)--The 6-2 center is perhaps the most talented underclass player on the squad. She averaged 15.2 points and 11.3 rebounds as a junior. A dominant force inside, she was named to the Division III first team and all-state junior team by Cal-Hi Sports. Among NCAA schools recruiting her are UCLA, USC, Oregon and Nevada Las Vegas.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

All-South Bay Girls

Name: Tashara Carter School: Bishop Montgomery Year: Sophomore Points: 13.0 Name: Yanick Clay School: Inglewood Year: Senior Points: 21.6 Name: Allison Fortner School: Peninsula Year: Senior Points: 12.2 Name: Devyn Johnson School: Morningside Year: Senior Points: 11.0 Name: Monique Langston School: Peninsula Year: Sophomore Points: 11.6 Name: Kawai Matthews School: Narbonne Year: Sophomore Points: 17.6 Name: Andrea Miller School: Redondo Year: Senior Points: 11.9 Name: Jenille Ramos School: Banning Year: Senior Points: 16.4 Name: Leah Santa School: Redondo Year: Senior Points: 12.8 Name: Tiffany Washington School: Bishop Montgomery Year: Junior Points: 15.2

Name: Bobby Terrell School: Carson Year: Senior Points: 16.1

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

South Bay Girls’ Second Team

Player School Yr. Ht. Avg. Diane Bell Carson Sr. 6-1 15.0 Danielle Graham Bishop Montgomery Soph. 5-9 10.0 Robin Hayes Narbonne Jr. 6-4 11.0 Jamilah Jones Bishop Montgomery Jr. 5-6 8.0 Nicole Legaux St. Mary’s Jr. 5-6 25.6 Chanel Neal Morningside Jr. 5-11 9.0 Eden Palacio Peninsula Jr. 5-9 9.6 Erin Ratner Peninsula Jr. 5-9 9.6 Monique Taplin Inglewood Sr. 5-6 9.0 Antoinette Thompson Morningside Jr. 6-0 8.0