Prep Basketball -- O'neill, Johnson On All-State Teams -- Blaine's Ridnour Is State Player Of Year

SEATTLE - Luke Ridnour of Blaine High School and Emily Autrey of Kamiakin High School have been selected the Associated Press basketball players of the year for Washington state.

Joining Ridnour on the AP all-state high school basketball team for boys as players of the year for their respective classes are: Curtis Borchardt of Eastlake in Class 4A; Jamal Crawford of Rainier Beach in Class 3A; Casey Frandsen of Toutle Lake in Class 1A; and Clint Hull of Pateros in Class B.

In addition to Autrey, the players of the year for girls for their respective classes are: Kellie O'Neill of Meadowdale in Class 3A; Carey Sauer of Newport in Class 2A; Heather Ortiz of Warden in Class 1A; and Alyssa Erickson of Wilbur-Creston in Class B.

State sports writers and broadcasters made the all-state selections.

Ridnour, a junior, also was player of the year for his class in 1997-98. This year, the 6-foot-2 guard averaged 26.5 points per game, as well as 5.7 rebounds, eight assists and seven steals.

"He's got a great work ethic and a tremendous feel for the game," said his father and Blaine High School coach, Rob Ridnour.

"He makes everyone around him better. He can shoot, drive and pass. All of these qualities together make him stand out above the rest."

O'Neill, also a senior forward, will join Autrey at the University of Washington after breaking 16 Meadowdale records.

Teyo Johnson, who was voted most valuable player in the 3A state tournament, was named to the 3A boys all-state team.

AP all-state basketball teams

The 1998-99 Associated Press all-state basketball team for boys and girls, as determined by statewide balloting by sports writers and broadcasters:

BOYS

Player of the Year, All Classes - Luke Ridnour, Blaine.

Class 4A

Player of the Year - Curtis Borchardt, Eastlake.

Guard - David Adams, sr., Lincoln; Kyle Bankhead, sr., Walla Walla.

Center - Curtis Borchardt, sr., Eastlake.

Forward - Jon DeWolfe, sr., Walla Walla; Ryan McDade, sr., Enumclaw. Class 3A

Player of the Year - Jamal Crawford, Rainier Beach.

Guard - Jamal Crawford, sr., Rainier Beach; Josh Fisher, sr., Mercer Island.

Center - Marshaun Thompson, sr., Bremerton.

Forward - Tyler Besecker, sr., Mercer Island; Teyo Johnson, jr., Mariner.

Class 2A

Player of the Year - Luke Ridnour, Blaine.

Guard - Luke Ridnour, jr., Blaine; Jesse Tricola, sr., Woodland.

Center - Brent Cummings, sr., Pullman.

Forward - Calvin Ento, jr., Vashon; Jesse Newell, sr., Blaine.

Class 1A

Player of the Year - Casey Frandsen, Toutle Lake.

Guard - Grant Dykstra, soph., Lynden Christian; Casey Frandsen, jr., Toutle Lake.

Center - Justin Irion, jr., Zillah.

Forward - Robert Johnson, sr., Chelan; Nathan Zoerink, sr., Lynden Christian.

Class B

Player of the Year - Clint Hull, Pateros.

Guard - Zach Gormley, sr., Waterville; Clint Hull, jr., Pateros.

Center - Ryan Floch, sr., Odessa.

Forward - Chris Phelps, soph., Pe Ell; Michael Van Beek, sr., Sunnyside Christian.

GIRLS

Player of the Year, All Classes - Emily Autrey, Kamiakin.

Class 4A

Player of the Year - Emily Autrey, Kamiakin.

Guard - Michelle Demetruk, sr., Tahoma; Lindsey Wilson, sr., Roosevelt.

Center - Courtney Cushing, sr., Prairie.

Forward - Emily Autrey, sr., Kamiakin; Kristin Poe, sr., Enumclaw.

Class 3A

Player of the Year - Kellie O'Neill, Meadowdale.

Guard - Katie Borton, sr., West Valley (Yakima); Britt Themann, sr., Bainbridge.

Center - Natalie Jarrett, sr., Eastmont.

Forward - Maureen Lane, sr., Seattle Prep; Kellie O'Neill, sr., Meadowdale.

Class 2A

Player of the Year - Carey Sauer, Newport.

Guard - Stephanie O'Farrell, jr., Ephrata; Carey Sauer, sr., Newport.

Center - Sarah Gregory, sr., Orting.

Forward - Valerie Gustafson, jr., Black Hills; Megan Quarterman, sr., Granite Falls.

Class 1A

Player of the Year - Heather Ortiz, Warden.

Guard - Alana Erickson, sr., Onalaska; Melanie Simmons, jr., Dayton.

Center - Shana Studwell, sr., Ocosta.

Forward - Heather Ortiz, sr., Warden; Erin Torpey, sr., Liberty Bell.

Class B

Player of the Year - Alyssa Erickson, Wilbur-Creston.

Guard - Becka Beard, sr., King's West; Alyssa Erickson, sr., Wilbur-Creston.

Center - Anne Bickelhaupt, sr., Waitsburg.

Forward - Colleen De Groot, jr., Sunnyside Christian; Jennifer Wells, sr., Tacoma Baptist.