ALL-AREA PHOTO GALLERY
By Stephen Ramirez
It was getting to look like the St. Paul High School girls basketball would never win a CIF Southern Section girls basketball title.But junior Na’lon Smith made the Swordsmen’s sixth trip to the division finals the charm. She had her best games when it counted most to lead St. Paul to the Division 4AA title. For her efforts, Smith is the 2016 Whittier Daily News Girls Basketball Player of the Year.“It was a great feeling to know that after all our accomplishments to finally come and win (the championship),” Smith said. “We were able to go all through the playoffs with so much hard work. Our coaches were pushing us to go our hardest and it paid off.”

ALL-AREA GIRLS BASKETBALL
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Na’lon Smith, St. Paul, Jr.
Coach of the Year: Robert Miller, St. Paul
FIRST TEAM
Valeria Lizarraga, Cantwell, Guard Jr.
Lilly Perkins, Cantwell, Forward, Jr.
Adriana Gonzalez, St. Paul, Guard, Sr.
Amy Navarro, El Rancho, Forward, Jr.
Emma Zener, La Habra,Guard, Jr.
Marissa Dunn, Sonora, Guard, Sr.
Lainie James, Sonora, Guard, So.
Meghann Henderson, Sonora, Guard, Jr.
Amanda Cuervo, La Habra, Forward, Sr.
Brittany Corona, El Rancho, Guard, Jr.
SECOND TEAM
Valerie Godinez, St. Paul, Forward, So.
Tia Banks, St. Paul, Guard, Jr.
Emily Guerena, Cantwell, Center, Jr.
Kathy Pinnock, Cantwell, Guard, Sr.
Ashleigh Bessler, La Habra, Center, Sr.
Elizabeth Yoshitake, Sonora, Guard, Fr.
Christa Evans, Whittier, Chr., Center, Jr.
Susana Regaldo, El Rancho, Forward, So.
Alyssa Lomeli, Whittier, Forward, Jr.
Alicia Aguirre, Schurr, Guard, Sr.
FINAL TOP TEN
1. St. Paul (22-14)
2. Sonora (28-5)
3. Cantwell (26-8)
4. El Rancho (24-6)
5. La Habra (18-10)
6, Whittier (17-11)
7. Whittier Christian (15-12)
8. Schurr (13-14)
9. La Serna (11-16)
10. Montebello (15-12)