Some Top Players Missing For Girls State All-Star Games

Nobody will be handing out scholarships at this weekend's girls high-school basketball all-star games.

Perhaps that's why some of the state's best female basketball players aren't knocking each other over to get to East Wenatchee. Of course, they already have their scholarships.

The Washington Girls' Basketball Coaches Association will stage its sixth State All-Star Series today and tomorrow at Eastmont High in East Wenatchee. No doubt, some sharp teams will play each other in the all-senior A/B series and the AA/AAA series.

But not all the best players are there.

Most notably absent is Rhonda Smith, probably the most coveted player in the state. Smith, a 6-foot-3 center from Franklin High, earned a full scholarship to play for at the University of Washington. She will probably be the Huskies' center of the future.

But Smith is not in East Wenatchee. Smith has busied herself with a summer season of AAU basketball with the under-18 Spokane Stars, perrenial national powers.

And what of Janel Benton, another Division I signee. The 5-11 forward from Kamiakin will play at Washington State next season. She too is with the Stars.

From June 11 to July 6, the Stars are occupied with the singular goal of winning the AAU national tournament in Johnson City, Tenn.

At least some of the Stars found time to commit to all-star weekend. Star teammates Jessica Schutt of Sunnyside, Alisa Indgjerd of Spokane's Mead High, and Amy Jo Silva of Ephrata are expected to play in the series.

Scheduling conflicts and summer teams sometimes prevent a player from accepting an invitation to play in the all-star series, a problem tournament organizers have become familiar with.

The series saw three drop-outs, Nicole Lewis of Spokane's Lewis and Clark, Val Borton of Yakima's West Valley, and Lisa Graber of Tacoma's Spanaway Lake. North Central's (Spokane) Robyn Schumacher and Enumclaw's Pam Brickner were late additions.

The most noticeable hole on the all-star roster comes from Whatcom County, home of the Class A state champion, Lynden Christian, and Class A state runner-up, Lynden.

No player from Whatcom County, including those from the state's seventh-place team, Nooksack Valley, are on the all-star team. By comparison, two players from Lynden (which won the boys Class A state title), Derric Croft and Brian Heppner, were invited to the boys' all-star series. (Croft turned down the invitation.)

Whatcom County's lack of all-star representation prompted the Bellingham Herald's sports editor, Jim Carberry, to write a column which questioned the credibility of the all-star series.

"They don't always have the best players," Carberry said. "Maybe it's part politics. Sometimes it just doesn't work out. But they rarely get all the best people."

Lynden Christian, whose girls basketball team has finished second, third, third, first and first, respectively, in the past five state tournaments, had four seniors in last season's starting lineup. None, including second-team all-state pick Shannon Pecarich, are in the all-star series.

Tonya Holleman, star of Lynden's second-place team and a three-time all-league selection, is also absent.

No players from the KingCo Conference were selected.

All-star weekend

What - Washington Girls Basketball Coaches Association all-star basketball series.

Where - Eastmont High School, East Wenatchee.

Tonight - Class A team vs. Class B team, 6 p.m.; AA/AAA City team vs. AA/AAA State team, 8 p.m.

Tomorrow - AA/AAA City team vs. AA/AAA State team, 6 p.m.; Class A team vs. Class B team, 8 p.m.

All-star roster

Class B team - Katie Crider, Teoka-Oakesdale; Kristi Wells, Bridgeport; Jennifer Riggan, Brewster; Kasey Burnham, St. John; Clancy Hunter, Reardan; Sarah Pearl, Neah Bay; Elizabeth Fenner, Waterville; Lisa Montgomery, Glenwood; Michelle Shea, St. George's; Melissa Allen, Morton. Coaches: Joe Bales (Glenwood), Don Koch (Waterville).

Class A team - Sandara Newark, Steilacoom; Dracy Church, Onalaska; Amy Jo Silva, Ephrata; Lori Napier, Medical Lake; Valerie Windborn, Cle Elum; Brooke Bounds, Zillah; Heidi Mortiz, Ephrata; Tina Parker, Foster; Holly Buechler, Zillah; Julie Lorack, Tolt. Coaches: Don King (Ephrata), Janis Kendrick (Cle Elum).

Class AA/AAA City team - Johanna Ballard, Elma; Amy Carter, Battle Ground; Adrianne Doyle, Elma; Elizabeth Ford, Anacortes; Tina Geis, Fort Vancouver; Jennifer Johnson, West Seattle; Marjean Rogers, Lake Stevens; Jessica Schutt, Sunnyside; Sherrie Smith, Kelso; Robyn Schumacher, North Central.

Class AA/AAA State team - Kerry Ailland, Port Angeles; Kireen Ellis, Rainier Beach; Shanelle Fields, Rainier Beach; Lisa Indgjerd, Mead; Angie Jorgensen, Auburn; Nikki Paul, Seattle Prep; Amy Wilkins, Walla Walla; Aretha Williams, Lincoln; Pam Brickner, Enumclaw.

Coaches (City and State) - Ray Berg (Kelso), Dave Hall (North Central), Len Kelly (Clarkston).