Quinn Mighty Impressive for Bishop Montgomery

As defining moments go, the final game of Noelle Quinn’s high school career is a good place to begin.

Two starters in foul trouble 10 minutes into the game and Torrance Bishop Montgomery trailing by seven points. A fourth consecutive girls’ state championship at stake. An opponent capable of winning, and teammates whose confidence was shaken.

Quinn’s response: 27 points, 15 rebounds, six assists and a 49-43 victory over San Francisco Sacred Heart Cathedral for the Division III title.

“That’s just my role as a leader,” the ever-humble Quinn said. “I have to step up in big games.”

It isn’t a single game, however, or even her statistics that make Quinn The Times’ girls’ basketball player of the year for a second consecutive season, but a legacy.

Her team -- it was hers from the moment she arrived as a point guard her freshman year -- went 114-21. Bishop Montgomery was 4-4 without Quinn, who sat out early-season games while finishing her commitment to volleyball. Her volleyball teams reached the state final three times and won championships her freshman and senior years.

Quinn, the only senior on Bishop Montgomery’s team, averaged 22.9 points, 10.1 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 3.9 steals and two blocks in her final season. She begins a career at UCLA in the fall.

A player-of-the-year argument can also be made for Sade Wiley-Gatewood, who led Lynwood to a second consecutive state title in Division I and a 32-1 record against the toughest schedule in the country. But the real argument is whether Quinn is the best player to ever come out of Southern California.

Cheryl Miller, Lisa Leslie and Diana Taurasi have all been part of that debate.

“She’s better than Taurasi; she does more,” said Rich Schaaf, the Santa Margarita coach whose team lost to Bishop Montgomery in the Southern California Regional semifinals, 54-48.

In that game, Quinn guarded 6-foot-3 Whitney Hollison when she started to control the offense in the first half. When point guard Julia Pederson took over in the third quarter, Quinn shut down Pederson in the fourth.

“Whatever it takes to win,” said Redondo Coach Marcelo Enriquez. “Taurasi was a pure scorer. Noelle can pass, rebound, knows where every single player is on the court, she can defend the best post player or the best perimeter play. Her savvy for the game is incredible.”

At 6-0, Quinn didn’t have the physical advantage of Miller, who was 6-4 when she led Riverside Poly to four section titles ending in 1982 and the state title her senior season.

Leslie was 6-5 when she led Inglewood Morningside to three consecutive section titles and state championships in 1989 and 1990. Like Miller, her success depended on teammates getting her the ball.

Taurasi, a 6-0 guard, was the Naismith national prep player of the year in 2000 and Naismith college player of the year this season. She has been key to Connecticut’s success, including a 70-game winning streak and an NCAA title in 2002, but she never led Chino Don Lugo to a section championship.

“The surrounding talent of Quinn and Taurasi was pretty much identical [in high school], but Quinn got more out of it,” said Chino Hills Ayala Coach Mel Sims, who has seen all four players compete. “Quinn did what Taurasi could never do, which is lead her team four times to the championship. Both tried to make their teammates better, but it looks like Quinn did a better job of it.

“You can make an argument that Quinn is the best of the group and not have anyone think you’re crazy. That’s a heck of a compliment.”