Bilquis Abdul-Quaadir of New Leadership and Katie Zenevitch of Central Catholic were named as Co-Players of the Year for the 2009 MaxPreps Massachusetts All-State Girls' Basketball Squads in an elite group of 40 players selected from teams competing in Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association competition.
Co-Players of the Year
Bilquis Abdul-Quaadir, New Leadership; Katie Zenevith, Central Catholic.
It's rare a Division 3 player such as Bilquis Abdul-Qaaadir of New Leadership in Springfield can command headlines over top-flight talent from higher divisions. But this galvanizing 5-3 senior guard did so by averaging 41.8 points per game despite blanket coverage on her way to breaking Rebecca Lobo's former state record and ending her career with 3,070 points, a new standard for boys and girls. These lofty accomplishments resulted in a NCAA Division 1 scholarship to the University of Memphis.
Katie Zenevitch, a foot taller than her western Mass. counterpart, displayed how dominant a post player she was for the Division 1 first-time state champion Raiders, especially after consecutive playoff games of 31 points and 21 rebounds vs. Brockton in the EMass finals and 28 points and 25 rebounds in the state title game against Shepherd Hill. Averaging 19 points, 15 rebounds, 3.5 assists and three steals a game, she has already made a verbal commitement to accept a Division 1 scholarship to Boston College.
First Team (Super Five)
Bilquis Abdul-Qaadir, 5-5 sr. guard, New Leadership. (See above.)
Katie Zenevitch, 6-3 jr. forward, Central Catholic. (See above.)
Mary Nwachukwu, 6-2 sr. forward, Dighton-Rehoboth. There were few peers for this multi-talented Falcon who averaged 22 points, 16 rebounds and five blocked shots a game and ended her career as the school's all-time leading scorer with 1,570 points. Nwachukwu will attend Boston College on a basketball scholarship.
Amber Smith, Ipswich. The University of Maine will defintely welcome this assertive 5-9 forward who averaged 22 points and 13 rebounds this season for the Tigers Also one of the best rebounders for her size, she ended her standout career with 1,819 points and 1,099 rebounds.
Alannah Driscoll-Sbar, 5-10 sr. forward, Northampton. This exceptional all-around player and athlete had a near quadruple-double-- 33 points, 15 rebounds, 12 steals and 8 assists-- in January in a 72-55 victory over West Springfield, while eclipsing the 1,000-point career mark. Driscoll-Sbar earned a scholarship to play at scholarship at Division 1 Fairleigh Dickinson University next season.
Second Team
Jeanette Anderson, 6-0 sr. forward. Anderson hoisted the Bulldogs on her shoulders to spearhead her squad to the Northeastern Conference Large title, an MVP selection and Division 1 North semifinals. Few, if any inside players in recent years, could match her double-double dominance during a career in which she averaged averagng 16.9 points and 18.8 rebounds.
Jaclyn Lyons, 5-6 sr. guard, Reading. The Middlesex League MVP was the foundation of a squad that captured ts first league title in 30 years and went to the sectional finals two consecutive years. Averaging 19 points and six assists a game, she will attend the University of New Hampshire on a Division 1 scholarship.
Allie Bealieu, 5-10 sr. guard, Swampscott. The co-MVP of the Northeastern Conference was a whirlwind in the state finals when she scored 27 points to help end halt Quaboag's 25-game win streak, 72-38. Bealieu almost averaged a triple-double --17 points, nine assists and eight rebounds a game- and will attend Bates College.
Courtney Finn, 5-8 sr. guard, Winthrop. Ending her career as the school's all-time leading scorer in boys or girls basketball (1747 points), the four-time Northeastern Conference all-star averaged 21 points a game and will attend Bentley College.
Natalie Gomez-Martinez, 5-7 soph. guard, Andover This talented underclassmen burst into prominence this season by averaging 17 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds and five steals, and in combination with freshman guard Nicole Boudreau paved the way for two wins over eventual state champion Central Catholic.
Third Team
Valerie Driscoll, 6-3 jr. center, Archbishop Williams; Jenna Roncaretti, 5-10 sr. forward, Bishop Feehan; Lauren Battista 6-0 jr. forward, Oliver Ames; Emily Trapp, 6-1 sr. forward, Whitman-Hanson; Brianna Wilson, 6-2 sr. center, Lowell.
Fourth Team
Erica Batchelder, 5-8 sr. guard, Stoughton; Kelsey Roberson, 5-6 sr. guard, Arlington Catholic; Rashidat Agboola, 6-1 jr. center, Methuen; Megan Boutillette, 5-9 jr. forward, Shepherd Hill; Tara Nimkar, 5-9 sr. forward, Swampscott.
Honorable Mention: Beatrice Atkinson, 5-5 sr. guard, Brockton; Nicole Beresford, 6-0 soph. forward, Marshfield; Nicole Boudreau, 5-8 fr. guard, Andover; Jacqui Brugliera, 5-11 jr. forward, Wachusett; Cailin Bullett, 5-6 sr. guard, Millbury; Siobahn Carnell, sr. guard, North Quincy; Sarah Collins, 6-1 sr. center, Weymouth; Bridget Crowley, 6-0 sr. center, Minnechaug; Kirsten Daamen, 6-3 sr. center, Pentucket; Mary Louise Dixon, 5-5 jr. guard, Wellesley; Asia Ewing, 5-10 jr. forward; Westford Academy; Krista Ferrentino, 6-0 sr. forward, E. Longmeadow; Lauren Fiola, 6-0 jr. forward, Durfee; Elisha Homich, 5-11 sr. forward, Ludlow; Katy Howard, 5-10 sr. guard, Medway; Theresa Logan, 5-11 jr. forward, Northborough; Brie Malone, 5-10 sr. guard, Central; Tiaunna Nieves, 5-8 sr. guard, Commerce; Taylor Masaschi, 6-1 sr. center, Chatham; Meaghan O'Keefe, 6-1 sr. center, Quaboag.
