GIRLS
DEBBY CAINE, San Clemente
Jr.
5-7
G
In 11 of San Clemente’s 17 games against ranked opponents, Caine scored in double figures (averaging 14.7 points). She had only one poor performance among them (with a bad wrist), but averaged 9.1 points, 5.6 assists and 2.5 steals this season.
*
LEAH COMBS, Esperanza
Sr.
6-2
C
Combs, who is headed for Arizona State, performed better as the stakes got higher, averaging 11 points in the preseason (despite having the flu), 17 in Sunset League, and 26 in the playoffs. Her 14.1 points and 7.2 rebounds helped rewrite the Aztecs’ record book.
*
LINDSEY DAVIDSON, Brea Olinda
Jr.
5-9
G
Perhaps the county’s preeminent all-around guard, Davidson excelled at the point. She shot 50% from the three-point arc and averaged 5.3 assists, but her real value, especially in top-ranked Brea’s drive to a sixth state title, came in her leadership and defense (3.7 steals).
*
ANNA LEMBKE, Ocean View
Sr.
6-3
F
Lembke, who will attend Pepperdine, led the county in shooting the last three seasons. Her 69.6% shooting percentage this season is notable because she played on the wing, not under the basket. The county’s second-leading scorer, she averaged 21.3 points and 12.9 rebounds.
*
MONIQUE MATHEWS, Capistrano Valley
Sr.
5-10
F
Mathews’ arrival from University put the Cougars over the top as one of the county’s elite teams. A dominant presence in the middle, she had great hands and knew how to finish under the basket, averaging 17.2 points. She averaged 13.5 rebounds.
*
GIULIANA MENDIOLA, El Toro
So.
5-9
G
Mendiola was the county’s leading scorer (22.8 points) for the second consecutive season. She shot 41.4% from the three-point line. Several times, it wasn’t her points that mattered so much as her improved defense and uncanny knack for hitting the big shot.
*
NATALIE NAKASE, Marina
Sr.
5-1
G
Though the county’s top playmaker is, at 5 feet 1, its smallest star, Nakase plays big-time; she is The Times player of the year. A two-time first-team selection who controls tempo, Nakase led third-ranked Marina to its first section title, averaging 13.9 points and 8.6 assists.
*
STEPHANIE PATTEN, El Dorado
Sr.
6-1
C
Patten, the Empire League MVP, was half of one of the county’s top inside tandems and made El Dorado one of the county’s top teams with her consistent offense and defense. She shot 51% from the field, 64.5% from the free-throw line and averaged 16.5 points and 8.1 rebounds.
*
CHELSEA TROTTER, Brea Olinda
So.
6-2
F
The missing component to a state championship, Trotter provided the domination inside that top-ranked Brea missed in its three previous state title drives. She averaged 16.4 points, shooting 62% from the field--second only to Anna Lembke. She averaged 8.9 rebounds.
*
COLLEEN TURNBULL, San Clemente
Jr.
5-10
F
The Tritons’ go-to player, no one played better than Turnbull in the season’s first month. Despite being undersized against most post players, Turnbull averaged 14.9 points and nine rebounds as she led San Clemente to its first league title and Division I-A finals appearance.
THE SECOND TEAM
* SARAH BELAVIC
Rosary
Guard, 5-6, Sr.
12.6 ppg, 8.3 apg
* MISSY BYNON
Villa Park
Guard, 5-6, Sr.
15.7 ppg, 9.0 apg
* NATASHA COMBS
Capistrano Valley
Guard, 5-11, Sr.
14.3 ppg, 5.3 apg
* HEIDI HARDEMAN
Troy
Guard, 6-1, Sr.
18.1 ppg, 7.1 rpg
* CATHY JOENS
Calvary Chapel
Guard, 5-10, Jr.
15.3 ppg, 5.1 apg
* CHANDA McLEOD
Marina
Center, 5-11, Jr.
13 ppg, 9.7 rpg
* KRISTIN MOORHOUSE
Aliso Niguel
Center, 6-0, Sr.
20.2 ppg, 13.0 rpg
* CINDY OPARAH
Brethren Christian
Guard, 5-10, Sr.
19.9 ppg, 11.7 rpg
* CHRISTINA PATTERSON
Edison
Guard, 5-9, Jr.
13.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg
* APRILE POWELL
Century
Center, 6-2, Jr.
20.5 ppg, 15.1 rpg