ALL-COUNTY TEAM: The selections for the All-County first team are, from left to right, Kristen Riley of San Clemente, Melissa Zornig of Santa Margarita, Magnolia coach Michael Anderson, Christina Marinacci of Foothill, Amanda Sims of Troy and Pernilla Hanson of Magnolia. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER |
All-County girls first-team capsules
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Foothill's Christina Marinacci and Magnolia's P.J. Hanson among the first-team picks.
Player of the year:
Kristen Riley
San Clemente
Senior, Forward, 6-foot-2
32 games, 483 points
324 rebounds, 98 assists
Click here to read the story about Riley.
Christina Marinacci
Foothill, Junior, Forward, 6-1
Season highlights: Every team Foothill played this season created game plans with the sole purpose of stopping Marinacci. They failed miserably. She has the size of a post, the quickness and reflexes of a point guard and she can knock down shots from outside. She helped the Knights win the Sea View League title and reach the Division I-A quarterfinals.
Notable: This is the third time Marinacci has made the All-County team and the second time she has made the first team. She is a two-time Sea View League MVP.
Quotable: “We played them twice and she is definitely one of the hardest players to stop in the county. She had an amazing game against Magnolia. Her size makes her so difficult to match up against on the perimeter. She has great touch on her shot. She is a real competitor, a classy competitor.”
29 games, 623 points,
338 rebounds, 72 assists
Melissa Zornig
Santa Margarita, Sophomore, Guard, 5-8
Season highlights: Zornig went from being a 3-point sniper as a freshman to a complete player as a sophomore. Zornig's relentless offseason work helped her develop a mid-range jumper to go along with her 3-point shot. She also was able to attack the basket, dish out assists, grab rebounds and she became a very tough defender. She helped the Eagles win a share of the Trinity League title and reach the Division I-AA quarterfinals.
Notable: She made third team All-County as a freshman and moves up to first team this season. She was the co-MVP of Trinity League.
Quotable: “She just does a great job helping her team in whatever area is needed. When we played them we completely focused on stopping her. So she would do other things and be a decoy, but in the fourth quarter she became a clutch player when her team needed her. She's always there for her team.” – San Clemente coach Mary Mulligan.
28 games, 556 points,
122 rebounds, 68 assists
Amanda Sims
Troy, Senior, Guard, 5-11
Season highlights: Sims broke into the Warriors' starting lineup as a sophomore and she has been a clutch performer ever since. She has one of the sweetest 3-point shots and she is fearless when she attacks the basket. Her ability to play through injuries made her one of the toughest leaders in the county. She performed at her best against the top teams.
Notable: She was named the Freeway League's Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. She has signed with Texas Christian.
Quotable: “Amanda is a tremendous player. Inside and outside she can do it all. She's a tremendous leader, just plays her tail off every second she's on the floor. In our second-round game against them, she gets hurt, splits her chin open, comes back plays with it all taped up. She is a true warrior.” – Santa Margarita coach Scott Bricker.
28 games, 509 points,
163 rebounds, 44 assists
P.J. Hanson
Magnolia, Senior, Forward, 5-9
Season highlights: It's impossible to quantify Hanson's importance to the Sentinels with one glance at a stat sheet. Her stats aren't overwhelming, but she left an imprint on every game she participated in whether it was a back-breaking 3-pointer in the fourth quarter, a crucial steal or a game-changing blocked shot. Her unselfish play and ability to perform under pressure helped the Sentinels make a run to the Division III state championship game.
Notable: She was the Orange League's MVP this season and she was the league's co-MVP as a sophomore. She was selected the co-Player of the Year in Division III-AA this season. She signed with Point Loma.
Quotable: “She has the ability to guard the other team's best player whether it's a guard, wing or post. She's been our best rebounder. We can stick the ball in her hands and she can get it and go. She's started for us for four years. She's never missed a game, never missed a practice. She has been our rock.” – Magnolia coach Michael Anderson.
32 games, 290 points,
143 rebounds, 59 assists
Contact the writer: carias@ocregister.com
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