Compiled by Kevin Askeland, Mitch Stephens
MaxPreps.com
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jasmine Dixon (Long Beach Poly)
The 6-foot McDonald’s All-American didn’t wow anyone with huge numbers – she averaged 14.1 points and 10.4 rebounds per game – but she was unquestionably the Jackrabbits’ go-to girl in every big game and is the main reason they went 32-3, finished second in the MaxPreps’ national rankings and won their third straight CIF State Division I crown. The Rutgers-bound standout finished off her illustrious career with game-high scoring-rebounding totals in her last four games: 21-12, 25-15, 23-19 and 17-11 as Poly defeated San Clemente, Miller, Narbonne and Berkeley, respectively.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Brian Harrigan (Sacred Heart Cathedral, San Francisco)
Following three straight victories over three defending state champions on three consecutive nights at the Nike Northwest Invitational in Oregon, Sacred Heart Cathedral moved to the top of every national poll in middle December. The fact that the Irish went through the rest of the season unscathed en route to 33 straight wins and a third straight CIF state title is one thing. The fact they did so while enduring personal tragedy and a season-ending injury to a Division I player is an even greater credit to Harrigan, who finished his 18th season with a fourth state crown and ninth consecutive Central Coast Section title. Sacred Heart has now won 56 games in a row. Few thought they could stay perfect following the shooting death of Terrell Rogers, father of star junior Tierra Rogers at halftime of a league game with Mitty in Jan. just outside the school’s gym. Tierra Rogers returned a couple weeks later, but in the league playoff finals two weeks later defensive stopper, team leader and Pepperdine-bound Lauren Bell went down with an ACL tear. Harrigan, a stickler for detail and unselfish play, dealt with the adversity, steadied the ship and led the Irish to their first-ever national championship. He was awarded the national Naismith Coach of the Year by the Atlanta Tip-off Club last month and has a career record of 568-172.
FIRST TEAM
G – Nikki Speed, Marlborough, 5-9, Sr. – Speed culminated an outstanding four-year varsity career by being named the co-most valuable player in the McDonald’s All-American game in late March. Speed scored nine points in the game and had two steals and four assists in leading the West team to victory. Speed, who is bound for Rutgers next year, also earned Southern Section Division 3A most valuable player honors and made the LA Times All-Southland Team. She averaged 17.8 points and 10.5 assists for Marlborough, leading the Mustangs to a state championship her junior season. Marlborough won four section titles with Speed as the team’s point guard.
G – Alex Cowling, St. Patrick/St. Vincent, 5-10, Sr. – Cowling led St. Patrick’s/St. Vincent’s to back-to-back Division 4 state championship game appearances, winning it all in 2008 with a come-from-behind 67-65 win over La Jolla County Day. Cowling is the all-time leading scorer at SPSV and was the league’s co-most valuable player. She is headed to play at Loyola-Marymount next year.
C - Mika Maly-Karros, Mira Costa, 6-1, Sr. – The all-time leading rebounder in the Southern Section with 1,815 boards, Maly-Karros came up big in the playoffs in wins over Ayala and Redondo (48 rebounds in two games) while leading Mira Costa to the Division 2 state championship game. She earned Torrance Daily Breeze MVP honors over Redondo’s Atonye Nyingifa, who was a two-time winner of the award. She was also named to the All-Southland team by the Los Angeles Times. Headed to Loyola Marymount last year after averaging 18.1 points and 15.9 rebounds her senior year.
F – Jasmine Dixon, Long Beach Poly, 6-1, Sr. – MaxPreps State Player of the Year
F – Jazmine Jackson, Sacred Heart Cathedral, 5-9, Sr. – Jackson is a three-time San Francisco Player of the Year by the San Francisco Examiner and the Fighting Irish went 126-8 in her four years on the varsity. Jackson led Sacred Heart Cathedral to a 33-0 record and a No. 1 National Ranking in 2008, defeating Magnolia of Anaheim in the state finals. An outstanding defensive player, Jackson has signed to play at Pepperdine.
SECOND TEAM
G – Rebekah Gardner, Ayala, 6-0, Sr. – Gardner scored over 2,500 points in her career, including 2,301 in her final three seasons on the Ayala varsity. Headed to UCLA next year, Gardner was a three-time MVP by the Inland Daily Bulletin and was selected the Southern Section 2A Player of the Year after averaging 19.7 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.9 steals and 3.1 assists per game her senior season.
G – Chloe Wells, AB Miller, 5-7, Soph. – Already one of the top players in the state despite only being a sophomore, Wells averaged 17.5 points, 5.7 assists and 4.8 steals per game in leading AB Miller to a Southern Section 2AA championship and the Southern California finals. She was named the Southern Section 2AA player of the year.
C – Kristen Riley, San Clemente, 6-2, Sr. – Riley earned Orange County player of the year honors from the Orange County Register after leading San Clemente to the Division 1-A semifinals and a berth in the Southern California playoffs. She averaged 15.1 points and 10.1 rebounds per game and is headed to Brigham Young next year.
F – Atonye Nyingifa, Redondo, 5-11, Sr. – The UCLA-bound guard helped lead Redondo to the Division 1A title and was selected as the Southern Section 1A Player of the Year. According to the Los Angeles Times, Nyingifa averaged 21.2 points and 12.2 rebounds in 2008 and scored 2,192 career points.
F – Janae Fulcher, La Jolla Country Day, 6-3, Sr. – After leading her team to its fourth straight San Diego Section title, Fulcher earned San Diego Section MVP honors from the Union Tribune. She averaged 17.9 points and 9.9 rebounds per game in leading the Torreys to the Division 4 state championship game. She will play at Arizona State next year.
THIRD TEAM
G – Reiko Thomas, Narbonne, 5-9, Sr. – Thomas, who is headed to University of Arizona, led Narbonne to the Los Angeles City Section championship and earned All-LA City Section honors while averaging 16.1 points and 5.9 rebounds per game.
G – Chelsea Gray, St. Mary’s, 5-11, Soph. – Gray led St. Mary’s to an undefeated season until the Rams fell to Sacred Heart Cathedral in the NorCal finals. The Stockton Area MVP is one of the top sophomore guards in the country after averaging 18 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists for the Rams.
C - DeNesha Stallworth, Pinole Valley, 6-3, Jr. – Considered one of the top junior centers in the country, Stallworth dominated East Bay competition by averaging 22 points and 10.5 rebounds per game while also blocking 2.3 shots per game. She was named the Alameda Contra Costa League MVP and also earned All-Bay Area honors.
F - Courtney Clements, Millikan, 6-1, Sr. – Clements shared Moore League MVP honors with Dixon after Millikan upset Poly during league play. Clements averaged 17.7 points and 12.2 rebounds per game in leading her team to the Division 1AA finals. Headed for Arizona, Clements was All-Southern Section 1AA first team and also earned All-Southland honors by the Los Angeles Times.
F - Christina Marinacci, Foothill, 6-1, Jr. – One of the top underclassmen in the country, Marinacci was named the Sea View League MVP and earned All-Southern Section honors as well as All-Southland honors from the Los Angeles Times. She averaged 21.5 points and 11.7 rebounds during the season. Marinacci already has scored 1,839 career points.
HONORABLE MENTION
Afure Jemerigbe, St. Mary’s, 6-0, G, Soph. – Named to All-Stockton Area first team.
Monique Oliver, Long Beach Poly, 6-3, C, Jr. – Selected to All-Southern Section 1AA.
Kimberly Brandon, Chatsworth, 6-1, F, Sr. – Named All-LA City Section; Averaged 13 points per game.
April Cook, Long Beach Poly, 5-7, G, Sr. – Named to All-Southern Section 1AA team.
Gennifer Brandon, Chatsworth, 6-3, C, Jr. – Named All-LA City Section; Averaged 13.5 points per game, 11.4 rebounds.
Ki-Ki Moore, Sacred Heart Cathedral, 5-8, G, Jr. – Named All-Bay Area by San Francisco Chronicle and Examiner.
Katie Batlin, Miramonte, 5-11, G, Sr. – Named All-Bay Area first team by San Francisco Chronicle.
Layshia Clarendon, Cajon, 5-9, G, Jr. – Selected Southern Section 2A player of the year; averaged 20.7 points per game.
Cherrish Wallace, Muir, 5-4, G, Sr. – Selected Pasadena Sun Star MVP.
Brittany Woodard, Christian Brothers, 6-0, F, Sr. – Named the Sacramento Bee’s All-Metro MVP; Averaged 18.1 points per game.
Rachel Bilney, Branson, 6-0, F, Sr. – Named League MVP and All-Bay Area by San Francisco Chronicle; Averaged 17.5 points per game.
Amani Butler, Colony, G, Sr. – Chosen the Southern Section 3A Co-MVP; Averaged 19.2 points per game.
Pernilla Hanson, Magnolia, 5-9, F, Sr. – Named the Southern Section 3A Co-MVP.
Megan Richardson, Mira Costa, 5-11, G, Sr. – Named All-Southern Section 1A first team.
Tierra Rogers, Sacred Heart Cathedral, 5-10, Jr. – One of the top juniors in the country, Rogers was named to the San Francisco All-Metro second team.
Division 1
G – Chloe Wells, Miller
G – Layshia Clarendon, Cajon
C – Kristen Riley, San Clemente
F – Jasmine Dixon, Poly
F – Courtney Clements, Millikan
Division 2
G – Rebekah Gardner, Ayala
G – Amani Butler, Colony
C – Denesha Stallworth, Pinole
F – Mika Maly-Karros, Mira Costa
F – Atonye Nyingifa, Redondo
Division 3
G – Afure Jemerigbe, St. Mary’s
G – Chelsey Gray, St. Mary’s
F – Tierra Rogers, Sacred Heart Cathedral
F – Jazmine Jackson, Sacred Heart Cathedral
F – Pernilla Hanson, Magnolia
Division 4
G – Nikki Speed, Marlborough
G – Casey Morris, Piedmont, 5-9, Sr.
C – Janae Fulcher, La Jolla Country Day
F – Alex Cowling, St. Patrick’s
F – Brittany Woodard, Christian Brothers
Division 5
G – Lauren Polansky, Branson, 5-9, Jr.
G – Natasha Pruitt, View Park, 5-5, Jr.
C – Rachel Bilney, Branson
F – Kimberly Crandell, Liberty, 6-1, Sr.
F – Samantha Bunch, Eastside Prep, 6-1, Sr.