2013 All-Area Girls Basketball Team: Siera…
2013 All-Area Girls Basketball Team: Siera Thompson tops Daily Breeze picks
By Tony Ciniglio |
SBAC ALL AREA LUNCHEON: The South Bay Athletic Club honored the 22 Daily Breeze All-Area boys and girls selections at a luncheon at the Torrance Doubletree (formerly the Torrance Hilton) at 21233 Hawthorne Blvd. The speaker was ex-Inglewood High star and current Peppperdine assistant Jason Hart. Tickets were available to the public, but all the players and coaches were guests of the SBAC.
Photo gallery: Daily Breeze 2013 All-Area Girls Basketball Team
Player of the Year: SIERA THOMPSON, Serra, G, Sr.
Queen of the rings.
That is how Serra girls basketball coach McKinsey Hadley describes his senior sharpshooter Siera Thompson.
It does have a nice ring to it.
After all, Thompson won back-to-back CIF Southern Section titles in her sophomore and junior years at Serra. Now this season, Thompson has powered Serra to its first CIF state crown.
"She does not know what it's like not to win," Hadley said. "She elevated our program to a whole other level."
The University of Michigan-bound Thompson was a sort of silent assassin, averaging 18.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.2 steals per game.
Thompson was deadly behind the 3-point arc, nailing a school-record 86 3-pointers.
But Thompson distinguished herself in big games. She scored 24 points in a Southern California Regional Division IV final victory over Del Rey League rival St. Bernard (including 9 of 9 from the free-throw line) and capped off the season with a banner 26-point effort in the CIF State final against Salesian/Richmond (including 11 of 12 from the line).
It reminded Hadley of Thompson's back-to-back 28-point performances against Diamond Ranch and St. Joseph/Santa Maria as a sophomore.
"I just try to come through for my team," Thompson said. "I've always been a calm person. When the game is close, I don't get shaken up. I have faith in my teammates, and I know what we're capable of doing."
It was a season of adjustment for Thompson, whose sister Simone graduated last year and is now at Lane Community College in Oregon.
But Thompson adjusted and quickly found her niche with Deandrea Toler, Caila Hailey and Tatiana Howard.
"Simone and I have been playing together since we were babies," Thompson said. "But I grew more comfortable. I knew Drea, Caila or Tati would come through, so I adjusted pretty quickly."
Thompson was tenacious with her preparation. She and her father Michael Thompson went to the gym and finetuned her game for 2-3 hours each day.
"I lived at the gym," she said, laughing.
Thompson said there was no greater feeling than celebrating the state title.
"We were really happy and were jumping all around," Thompson said. "It was surreal. We had just made history."
Coach of the Year: VICTORIA SANDERS, Narbonne
With just one returning starter and a team awashed in youth, Sanders might have done her best work. Building a contender from nearly scratch after the graduations of Kim Pickett, Tori Breshers, Alexsis McGowan and Nailah Long, Sanders somehow navigated her way to a co-Marine League title and its second straight L.A. City Section Division I crown. It began to come together when Narbonne beat several top City programs en route to the Fairfax Tournament title in January. Then Narbonne beat Fairfax 65-60 in the City final and even tacked on a 45-43 Regional win over Ventura.
CHYANNE BUTLER, ST. BERNARD, G, Jr.
She showed plenty of heart. Overcoming a painful sprained ankle in the playoffs, Butler sparked St. Bernard to the CIF Southern Section Division IV-AA semifinals and to the Southern California Regional Division IV final. The 5-foot-6 Butler averaged 20.5 points, 5.3 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 4.8 steals to earn first-team All-Del Rey League honors and first-team All-CIF Division IV-AA honors for the Del Rey League co-champions.
MICHELLE CURRY, ST. BERNARD, G/F, Jr.
Playing well above her 5-foot-9 frame, Curry provided St. Bernard with another intimidating inside presence. She averaged 9.9 points, 10.6 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 1.9 assists while holding her own against much taller players. Curry was instrumental in helping St. Bernard capture a share of the Del Rey League title, advance to the CIF Southern Section Division IV-AA semifinals and the Southern California Regional Division IV final.
CHRISTINE DELAPINA, B. MONTY, G, Soph.
Bishop Montgomery's young gun did a little bit of everything for the youthful Knights. The first-team All-Del Rey League pick averaged 9.2 points, 4.3 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game in leading Bishop Montgomery to the CIF Southern Section Division IV-AA quarterfinals and the Southern California Regionals. She also had a 26-point game against Redondo. She was also a team captain in just her sophomore season.
CAILA HAILEY, SERRA, G/F, Jr.
Taking a blue-collar approach, the 5-foot-9 Hailey provided a major lift in Serra's run to its first CIF state title. In addition to averaging 11.9 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.2 steals, Hailey was a lockdown defender and a tenacious defender who earned first-team All-Del Rey League and first-team All-CIF honors. She helped co-Del Rey League champ Serra make its fifth straight CIF finals appearance in the rugged Division IV-AA.
TATIANA HOWARD, SERRA, F, Sr.
The 6-foot-3 Howard stepped up and filled the massive void left by the graduation of 2012 Daily Breeze Player of the Year Rejane Verin. Howard established herself as a premier post player with 5.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game. The Seattle University recruit helped Serra carve out a share of the Del Rey League title, advance to its fifth straight CIF final and capture its first CIF state finals crown.
CAMILLE MILLS, MIRA COSTA, G, Jr.
The Bay League's Co-Most Valuable Player powered Mira Costa to a share of the Bay League crown with West Torrance. The 5-foot-7 Mills averaged 11.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.9 steals, 1.7 assists and 1.1 blocks per game on the season and helped Mira Costa advance to the second round of the CIF Southern Section Division III-AA playoffs with a victory over San Gabriel before losing a tough matchup at Bonita.
INARA NYINGIFA, REDONDO, F, Sr.
The Bay League's Most Outstanding Player and the CIF Southern Section Division II-A Co-Player of the Year established herself as a commanding force for Redondo. She averaged 18.8 points, 11.2 rebounds and 2.3 steals to help Redondo advance to the CIF Southern Section Division II-A semifinals before a heartbreaking overtime loss at Murrieta Valley. Nyingifa finished her season with a 17-point, 7-rebound performance against Ridgeview/Bakersfield in the Regionals.
CHENELLE PELLE, ST. BERNARD, F, Jr.
With ACL injuries to Lajahna Drummer and Emoni Jackson decimating the frontcourt, Pelle elevated her performance. She averaged 11.3 points, 11.1 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game to earn first-team All-Del Rey League honors. She had 19 points and 18 rebounds in a quarterfinal win at Oaks Christian, helping co-Del Rey League champ St. Bernard advance to the CIF Division IV-AA semifinals and to the Southern California Regional Division IV final.
LA'TECIA SMITH, NARBONNE, G, Soph.
The Marine League MVP put the young Gauchos on her back and carried them to a second straight L.A. City Section Division I crown. The 5-foot-8 dynamo averaged 17.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 5.7 steals per game and scored in double-digits in every game she played in this season. She also earned Fairfax Tournament MVP honors and first-team All-L.A. City Section accolades and helped Narbonne win a Regional game.
DEANDREA TOLER, SERRA, G, Sr.
Fast and dynamic, Toler gave Serra a completely different dimension. The flee-footed University of Oregon recruit pushed the tempo, averaging 14.0 points, 3.7 assists, 4.2 rebounds adn 5.3 steals per game. She earned first-team All-Del Rey League honors and first-team All-CIF Southern Section Division IV-AA honors, pushing co-Del Rey League champion Serra to its fifth straight CIF final and its first CIF state crown.
IHANA AIONO, TORRANCE, F, Sr.
The first-team All-Pioneer League pick powered Torrance to the CIF Southern Section Division III-AA quarterfinals by beating Colony and Rio Mesa.
KAYLA BRADY, NARBONNE, G, Soph.
The first-team All-Marine Leagueand second-team All-L.A. City Section pick averaged 9,8 points, 3.1 assists and 2.6 steals, complementing the play of star La'Tecia Smith.
DESTINEE BROWN, WESTCHESTER, G, Sr.
She overcame an ankle injury to average 13.1 points, 7,8 rebounds, 5.9 steals and 3.9 assists, keying Westchester to the L.A. City Section Division II final.
SYDNEY CHASE, WEST TORRANCE, G, Sr.
The first-team All-Bay League selection was a perimeter threat with 83 3-pointers. She averaged 10.3 points and 3.5 rebounds for the Bay League co-champions.
RACHELLE OWENS, CARSON, G, Sr.
The first-team All-Marine League pick averaged 10.9 points, 1.4 assists and 1.5 steals per game, helping the co-league champion Colts reach the L.A. City Section semifinals.
WHITNEY PIEPER, PALOS VERDES, F, Fr.
Making an immediate impact in her freshman campaign, the first-team All-Bay League selection averaged 14.6 points, 11.3 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game.
FINEONE PRESCOTT, HAWTHORNE, G/F, Sr.
The Ocean League's Most Outstanding Player powered Hawthorne to a second-place finish, its highest finish ever. She averaged 13.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.5 steals.
ERIN SATO, PENINSULA, G, Sr.
The first-team All-Bay League selection was a stabilizing force for Peninsula. She averaged 6.5 points, 3.4 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game.
KAYLA SATO, WEST TORRANCE, G, Soph.
The Bay League Co-Most Valuable Player powered West to a share of the Bay League crown, averaging a steady 6.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.2 assists.
SOPHIA SONG, B. MONTGOMERY, G/F, Fr.
Bursting onto the scene, Song established herself in the rugged Del Rey League, averaging 12.7 points and 4.5 rebounds for the CIF Division IV-AA quarterfinalists.
DEMORIA WHITE, ST. BERNARD, G. Jr.
The first-team All-Del Rey League pick averaged 11.6 points, 2.8 assists and 1.4 steals as St. Bernard advanced to Southern California Regional Division IV final.
Tony Ciniglio | Correspondent / Southern California News Group