2013-14 GIRLS BASKETBALL ALL AREA PHOTO GALLERY

2013-14 TRIBUNE ALL-AREA GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: NIKKI WHEATLEY, BONITA, SENIOR
Bonita High School’s Nikki Wheatley will go down as one of the top girls basketball players in the area has ever produced.
There wasn’t a thing the senior, sans winning a CIF-Southern Section division championship, she didn’t accomplish.
Wheatley earned All-CIF-SS three of her four seasons and was first team All-Area four times, including being Player of the Year her final three seasons.

“As I progressed, I felt I became more of a leader on the team,” Wheatley said. “I was able to have a successful four years. Definitely, having success in the playoffs all four years, and my last year, having (teammate Kandyce Smith) come in was great.”
Wheatley was great, and the key factor in Bonita winning another Hacienda League title and advancing to the finals for the second time during the past four years.
“Nikki is a point guard who is a great floor leader and good court vision and really brings a lot to the position,” said Nevada-Las Vega coach Kathy Olivier, who signed Wheatley to play for the Rebels, beginning next season. “Having a player with her kind of winning background in our class is key.”
Wheatley ranked among the area leaders in scoring and assists and helped the Bearcats go 29-3 and advance to the finals, where they lost, 59-53, to Long Beach Millikan. But Wheatley prefers to look at the overall and what her team accomplished this season.
“I felt really good, even though we couldn’t finish it in the last game,” Wheatley said. “We had a really good season, beat a lot of good teams. We definitely proved ourselves, being in a tougher division. We did really good as a team and a lot of players stepped up, so overall, we had a very good season.”
Wheatley topped it off with an MVP effort in last week’s 11th Tribune/Star-News All-Star Classic, scoring a game-high 18 points to lead the Tribune All-Stars to an 85-60 victory over the Star-News.
Now she looks forward to her collegiate career, which takes Wheatley to Nevada-Las Vegas, where she will team with Smith as two of the Rebels prized recruits.
“Kandyce is going there too, so we’re really excited about that,” Wheatley said. “We’re going to have a really good team. I’m excited.”

COACH OF THE YEAR: CRISTINE BUTLER, EL MONTE
Butler has changed the culture at El Monte, turning the program into a player in the Mission Valley League, which over the past decade had been ruled by Rosemead and Arroyo.
Butler, in just her second year at El Monte, has gone 33-20 the past two seasons, with two trips to the CIF-SS playoffs and scoring the school’s first league title since 1991 this season.
The Lions went 17-8 this season.
“Coming into the season, winning league was our goal this year,” Butler said. “It was something we reminded ourselves every single practice, every single game. When we got some big wins early, we knew we had set ourselves up to accomplish that goal.
“It was something very exciting. I’m proud of these girls. They are going to be a very special group for us for a long time.”

FIRST TEAM

KANDYCE SMITH, BONITA, SENIOR, GUARD
Smith, a senior transfer from La Salle, was the difference maker for the Bearcats’ run to the Division 1AA finals this season. She provided the outside game to Wheatley’s drive and dish presence. Her best effort was a 22-point effort in a 56-49 victory over Great Oak in the semifinals. She was first team All-Division 1AA and All-Hacienda League. She will join Wheatley at UNLV.

ARIANA ABO, BONITA, SENIOR, GUARD
The senior was another key factor for the Bearcats drive to the divisional finals. She was a solid scoring option, preventing opponents from collapsing on Wheatley and Smith. She was first team All-Hacienda League.

PAULINA SANTANA, BISHOP AMAT, SENIOR, GUARD
Santana was a mark of consistency for the Lancers, who advanced to the Division 1AA quarterfinals. Shewas one of the better 3-point shooters in the area and ranked among the leaders in scoring. She was also strong without the basketball. The senior was one of three players to earn All-CIF-SS honors, getting a spot at Division IAA.

DAGMAR RAMIREZ, BISHOP AMAT, SENIOR, FORWARD
Ramirez has been a key player for Amat the past two seasons, and provided a scoring option on the inside and outside. She was one of the better scorers in the area. She was All-Del Rey League.

DOMINIQUE THEUS, COVINA, SENIOR, GUARD
Theus did a little of everything for the Colts. She was a key part of Covina going 19-10 overall and 12-0 in the Valle Vista League. She came up big in wins over Wilson, which clinched the league title. She was league MVP.

TIYANA WATKINS, EL MONTE, SENIOR, CENTER
Watkins was the top inside player in the area and keyed the Lions to a 17-8 record and their first Mission Valley League title since 1991. She averaged nearly 12 points a game and had 9. 1 rebounds per
contest to help the Lions go 9-1 in league play.

ALIZE WILLIAMS, WORKMAN, SOPHOMORE, FORWARD
Williams was one of the more versatile players in the area, comfortable on the outside and inside. She ranked among the area leaders in scoring and played a major role in Workman going 18-9 and winningA the Montview League title. She was Montview League MVP.

EMILEE DY, DIAMOND RANCH, SENIOR, GUARD
Dy was a key player for the Panthers, who went 21-7 and finished second in the Hacienda League to Bonita. The senior ranked among the leaders in scoring in the area, and provided both production inside and outside. She was first team All-Hacienda League.

KAELYN KAWAMOTO, WILSON, SENIOR, FORWARD
Kawamoto was one of the top shooters in the area. She led the Wildcats with a 15 points a game. The senior also averaged nearly six rebounds a game and 3.5 steals a contest. She keyed Wilson to an 18-10 record and a second-place finish in the Valle Vista League. She was first team All-Valle Vista League.

DOROTHY TUALA, SOUTH EL MONTE, SENIOR, CENTER
Tuala was one of the top scorers in the area, leading the Eagles with a 17 point a game average. She also averaged an area-best 19.7 rebounds a game. She was All-Mission Valley League.

SECOND TEAM
Guard: Erin Houston, Charter Oak, Sr.
Guard: Katie Taylor, Northview, Sr.
Forward: Olivia Habern, Glendora, Sr.
Guard: Janae Chamois, Bishop Amat, Sr.
Guard: Jessica Rosas, Gladstone,Sr.
Guard: Amanda Alvarado, Bishop Amat, Sr.
Guard: Alicia Aguirre, Workman, So.
Forward: Kathy Mckiernan, Duarte, Jr.
Guard: Norah Wu, Diamond Bar, Sr.
Forward: Tiana Eaton, Diamond Ranch, Fr.

HONORABLE MENTION
Bonita: Cassie Martinez, Jr.
Covina: Mariah Sierra, Fr.
Duarte: Mackenzie Barnes, So.
Glendora: Kelly Sera, Sr.
San Dimas: Dymond Mitchell, So.
South Hills: Brittany Wang; Joy Krupa
St. Lucy’s: Maryrose Wintroath; Mary Serafin
Walnut: Kim Mayekawa, Jr.; Katya Echavez, Jr.
West Covina: Adriana Ramirez, Jr.; Briana Ruelas, So.
Wilson: Elizabeth Lau, Sr.; Janae Yip, Jr.

FINAL TOP TEN
1 Bonita (29-3)
2. Bishop Amat (22-8)
3. Diamond Ranch (21-7)
4. South Hills (18-10)
5. Workman (18-9)
6. Covina (19-10)
7. El Monte (17-8)
8. Wilson (18-10)
9. Duarte (16-10)
10. Diamond Bar (13-14)

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS
Baseline: Etiwanda
Del Rey: Serra, Bishop Montgomery
Hacienda: Bonita
Mission Valley: El Monte
Montview: Workman
Sierra: Chino Hills
Valle Vista: Covina