MID VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS TOP 20
By Andy Villanueva
Tough decision for the Mid Valley News to pick a consensus #1. But after pain staking consideration, the final Mid Valley Girls Basketball Top 20 is official.
Also we named the 12 player Mid Valley Team, because five isn’t enough and ten would have left two deserving players out.
1. MUIR (22-4) LW: 1 – Mustangs appeared to be running the table, then Inglewood not only spoiled the party, but scored 48 against a team that didn’t allow 40 for 16 straight games.
2. DIAMOND RANCH (23-5) LW: 3 – Panthers rolled through the Miramonte League and appeared headed to a CIF championship until Woodbridge had other thoughts.
3. MONROVIA (19-8) LW: 4 – Ladycats have much to look forward to. Gina Henderson emerged as one of the up and coming young players in the Mid Valley.
4. NORTHVIEW (18-10) LW: 6 – Vikings knocked Covina off their Valle Vista League perch and have all but one player returning for next season.
5. LA CANADA (22-7) LW: 6 – Lady Spartans can take solace in knowing they lose three players and return Courtney McCutchan and Tia Chen.
6. BISHOP AMAT (22-6) LW: 9 – Arielle Wideman returns for one more season and team is now ready for the next step as Lancers were close to getting by Summit in quarters.
7. WALNUT (18-9) LW: 10 – Mustangs won another San Antonio title and can look forward to another good season with three players graduating.
8. SOUTH HILLS (18-8) LW: 11 – Huskies wanted to take steps in building the program. A win at the end of the season against Walnut was huge, as was first round win against Los Altos.
9. LA SALLE (17-11) LW: 15 – Lancers went farther than anyone could have predicted with loss to Sonora in quarterfinals. Prior to that they rattled off 13 of 14 wins.
10. CRESCENTA VALLEY (20-9) LW: 14- Falcons lived by the three all season long. But take heart C.V fans. Cassie Pappas and her 17 points a game return.
11. KEPPEL (18-11) LW: 17 – Aztecs started the season 3-10, then rolled off 15 straight wins. Gave Bishop Amat fits in 2nd round of CIF tournament.
12. BONITA (18-10) LW: 13 – Ran into a rested Monrovia team in the second round and were eliminated from CIF playoffs. Look for a young team to be one year wiser.
13. WEST COVINA (16-11) LW: 12 – Bulldogs biggest problem was consistency. Big win against Bonita in early January and then losses to Walnut and South Hills hurt their seed.
14. WHITTIER (23-5) LW: 2 – Cardinals were upended in the first round of the playoffs after cruising through the Del Rio League.
15. SIERRA VISTA (21-4) LW: 3 – Montview League champs were upset in the first round after looking like the real deal by running the table in league.
16. COVINA (16-10) LW: 7 – If this were pre-season they would be ranked near the top. Chelsea Chemla and Jackie Ford return next season, which means half of the scoring output is back.
17. SOUTH PASADENA (16-10) LW: 16 – Tigers lose Nicole Biesek and her 16 points. Being sent to Citrus Hill was no reward for South Pasadena.
18. SAN DIMAS (14-12) LW: 18 – Defeated Covina at the end of the season to secure a 2nd place seeding. Saints will lose both Arnwine sisters and will have to re-stock.
19. BURBANK (15-13) LW: 19 – Wow! Bulldogs picked the worst time to go into a tailspin at the end of the season. Lost six of last seven including first round CIF playoff game.
20. DIAMOND BAR (12-14) LW: 20 – After being given a top 20 look, Brahmas ended up losing last five to end the season.
MID VALLEY TEAM:
Brittany Henderson (Muir) – Has all the skills to play in college.
Eliza Pierre (Muir) – Tough defensive point guard.
Courtney McCutchan (La Canada) – Can shoot the three and take you to the hoop.
Jasmin Gordon (Monrovia) – Dominating inside presence.
Mayrum Jenkins (Monrovia) – Leader in every aspect.
Arielle Wideman (Bishop Amat) – She was the heart and soul of a good team.
Jackie Ford (Covina) – Might be the most physical player in the Mid Valley.
Chelsea Chemla (Covina) – Outside shot is deadly.
Erika Williams (Diamond Ranch) – She is quick and runs the break better than most point guards.
Tia Chen (La Canada) – Can pick your pocket faster than you can dribble.
Melinda Gomez (South Hills) – Plays taller than she is. Can out rebound most players.
Cassie Pappas (Crescenta Valley) – Deadly from outside.
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