Foss, Teammates Have Nothing to Lose

Lindsay Foss wants to become a psychologist. She has a kind ear and a knack for dispensing advice.

“I like to listen to other people talk about their problems and I like to give advice,” she said. “I guess I’m just a good listener.”

What does she tell her North teammates when they’re about to face perhaps the best girls’ basketball team ever assembled in the 31-year history of the Costa Mesa Kiwanis Club’s Orange County all-star game?

“I think it will be fun because we’re the underdogs and the South team is stacked and they totally think they’re going to win,” she says. “We really have nothing to lose.

“I think once everyone gets over their intimidation, it will be pretty good competition.”

It is competition Foss has seen before as Esperanza’s leading scorer. In the dog-eat-dog world of Sunset League girls’ basketball, Foss knows there’s plenty of bite in Edison’s Marie Philman, Fountain Valley’s Jennifer Ludwicki and Nicole Strange, and Huntington Beach’s Renee Kimoto--not to mention the girl from that other league, Woodbridge’s Melanie Pearson.

“I’m sure there are some people on the North team who are intimidated by the South team because they’ve heard about how good they are,” Foss said. “I’ve been playing against that kind of competition all year. I’m not really intimidated. I just want to go out and play the way I would in any other game.

“It’s nothing new to me.”

Nor will it be new to Mater Dei’s Rhonda Gondringer and Allison Luckey or Brea Olinda’s Janelle Ralph, but most everyone else on the North team is in for some shock in the game that tips off 5 p.m. Saturday at Orange Coast College. The game features 12 of the county’s top seniors with no more than two from any team. The boys’ all-star game begins at 8 p.m.

“This is a kickback game compared to league or CIF [playoffs],” Foss said. “It will be fun to play with them when it’s not so serious.”

For Foss, it’s the reward for a four-year pursuit of Esperanza’s girls’ career scoring record, which she broke in the Aztecs’ final game, a second-round playoff loss to Lynwood, 60-49.

She finished with 1,198 points, 19 in her final game. Her baseline jumper with 10 seconds left in the first quarter put her ahead of Sharon Warmus (1,188, 1983-86). Her 644 rebounds were the school’s second-best total, and she was a four-time all-league selection.

She averaged 17.1 points and 6.8 rebounds this season and was a second-team All-Southern Section selection.

As a four-year starter, Foss never missed any of her team’s 102 games--or a practice.

“I don’t see why, unless you’re dying in bed, why you would miss practice anyway,” Foss said. “That just never seemed an option.”

She did miss a practice with the all-stars--she was on a family vacation over spring break. But she had no problem fitting in once she arrived.

“She’s only been to two practices,” Coach Brad Sand said this week. “The first day, she looked good, but it was amazing how, in one day’s time, you could see her blossom with the other players during that second practice.

“I’ll tell you, she’s got a great shot. Catching that ball, going up on the baseline--she really knows where the basket is. If we can find her, I’ve got a lot of faith that she can put it in.”

That baseline jumper from 12-15 feet out is Foss’ hallmark. It was the shot she sank for the record-breaker against Lynwood.

Foss, 18, says she improved her game with hard work in the off-season. She used a personal shooting coach, and increased her vertical jump by three inches by going to a trainer.

She is considering Chapman University, where she would continue playing basketball. It appears a perfect fit.

“I want a small school,” Foss said. “I like the campus, and it’s close to home. I can still live there but be 15 minutes from home.”

Why not just live at home?

“I’m ready to move on and grow up.”

Girls’ Rosters

The rosters for Saturday’s Orange County girls’ all-star basketball game at Orange Coast College:

North--Erin Allard (La Habra), F; Janea Butler (Troy), G; Heather Cunningham (El Dorado), C; Stephanie Durrett (Anaheim), C/F; Lindsay Foss (Esperanza), F; Rhonda Gondringer (Mater Dei), F; Allison Luckey (Mater Dei), G; Lauren Murphy (Rosary), G; Aiyana Nash (Sonora), G; Mary Jo Pennington (Villa Park), F; Andrea Picchi (Magnolia), F; Janelle Ralph (Brea Olinda), G. Coach: Brad Sand (Troy).

South--Sonya Bryant (Marina), F; Kirsten Cappel (Marina), C/F; Emily Ela (San Clemente), G; Becky Fraser (Ocean View), F; Tanzenika Holmes (Westminster), F; Renee Kimoto (Huntington Beach), G; Jennifer Ludwicki (Fountain Valley), F; Melanie Pearson (Woodbridge), F; Marie Philman (Edison), F; Nicole Strange (Fountain Valley), F; Jessica Waltz (Estancia), G; Tami Weaver (Woodbridge), G. Coach: Jeff Watts (Estancia).