Plan on checking out this week's VHSCA all-star girls basketball game (Tuesday, 6 p.m. at Hampton Coliseum) but concerned you might not know who's who on court? You certainly can't count on the game's program for help. Sure, it's as thick as a phonebook, but 99 percent of its pages contain ads and/or well-wishes for the various players. What good is that?
That's where we come in. The following is a primer on the players scheduled to take part in the all-star festivities, complete with their uniform number and college of choice.
But first, a couple of disclaimers:
- Note the phrase "scheduled to take part". Many a year I've been disappointed to learn upon arrival that one or more of the players I've come to see has pulled out for some such reason. Not saying this will definitely happen on Tuesday. Just don't be surprised.
- As best we can determine, Lacey Harris is attending Old Dominion and Kayla Osborne will enroll at Virginia Tech. What we're not sure of is whether they're going to these schools by invitation, to try and walk on or simply because these are such outstanding universities. Hopefully, someone - preferably Lacey or Kayla themselves - will drop us a note and clear things up.
Now, on to the list....
EAST GIRLS BASKETBALL ROSTER
10 - Lacey Harris, 5-6 G, Millbrook
- Helped the Pioneers to an undefeated season (22-0) and the Group AA, Division 3 title. Will attend Old Dominion University.
12 - Holly Morgan, 5-6 G, Buffalo Gap
- Shenandoah Valley District Player of the Year helped the Bison win back-to-back Group A, Division 1 state titles in 2008 and 2009. Will play at Bridgewater College. "She's capable of playing the 1, 2 or 3 for us," Bridgewater assistant coach Cyndi Justice said.
13 - Chantal Thomas, 5-6, George Mason
- Defensive ace, floor general and a first-team Group A all-state selection (AP) who led Mason to back-to-back Group A, Division 2 state titles. Will play for Christopher Newport.
14 - Kirastin Cole, 5-6 G, James Monroe
- Averaged 6.7 rebounds and 4.8 steals and an area-best 24.4 points despite facing junk defenses designed to shut her down. A first-team All-Region I pick for James Monroe, which fell to Bruton 50-43 in the Region I Division 3 quarterfinals.Will play for Patrick Henry Community College.
15 - Andrea White, 6-0 F, Lancaster
- Averaged 29 points, 14.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 5.6 steals and 2.9 blocks to lead Lancaster (20-2) to the Group A, Division 2 state final. Posted 29 points, 22 rebounds, five assists, seven blocks and seven steals in a 62-53 double-overtime win over Lee in the state semis. Signed with Georgetown.
20 - Kendra Holmes, 5-9 F, Loudoun County
- Second team Group AA all-state pick (AP) and the VHSL coaches' Division 3 Player of the Year in 2009. Holds school records for single-game blocks (9) and rebounds (31) and single-season rebounds (373, 12.4 rpg). Cracked the 1,000 career-point barrier (1,004) in her final game. Will play for Lincoln Memorial University, a Division II school in Harrogate, Tenn. which plans to move up to D-I in 2011.
22 - Alissa Kain, 5-9 G, Loudoun County
- Averaged 13.4 ppg and tended to play her best in the biggest games. Had 23 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists in a 63-47 victory over Turner Ashby in the 2009 Group AA Division 4 title game. Scored more than 1,000 points in her career. Has signed with Navy; will spend her first year at the Naval Academy Prep School.
24 - Dashera Boone, 5-9 G/F, Menchville
- Averaged a team-leading 14.9 ppg for the Monarchs and earned first-team All-Peninsula District honors. Will attend Elizabeth City State.
25 - Debbie Smith, 5-10 G, Hampton
- Led the Peninsula District in scoring (21.2 ppg) and was named the Peninsula District and the Daily Press Girls Basketball Player of the Year. A second-team Group AAA all-state pick (AP). Has signed with James Madison.
30 - Cassandra Morgan, 6-0 F, Menchville
- Averaged 11.6 ppg and helped the Monarchs win a share of the Peninsula District regular-season title. A second-team All-District pick.
32 - Jessica Escorza, 5-11 G/F, Freedom
- Returned to Freedom as a senior after playing her sophomore year at Notre Dame Academy and her junior year at Paul VI Catholic. Helped the Eagles capture a second straight Group AA Division 4 state title. Has signed with Wofford.
40 - Gabby Tyler, 6-2 C, Greensville
- Southside District and Region I (Division 3) Player of the Year averaged 18 points and 17 rebounds in leading Greensville to a 27-0 record before falling to also-unbeaten Millbrook in the Division 3 state title game. Has signed with Charlotte.
42 - Kelsey Buchanan, 6-3 C, Freedom
- Group AA state player of the year (AP) averaged 19 points, 14 rebounds and 5 blocks in leading the Eagles to a second straight state title. Posted a triple-double (11 points, 21 rebounds, 10 blocks) in the 2009 state title game and had 25, 16 and 9 in the 2010 championship game. Has signed with Delaware.
East coaches: Maze Toomer, Surry County; LaBryan Thomas, George Mason; Debbie Sanders, Millbrook; Jason Eldredge, Freedom; Saundra Sawyer, Lake Taylor
WEST GIRLS BASKETBALL ROSTER
10 - Sheniqua Woods, 5-2 G, John Burton
- Speedy defensive standout averaged nearly 5 assists per game and helped the Raiders go 28-0 before suffering a 3-point loss to Surry County in the Group A Division 1 state title game. Will play for Emory and Henry.
11 - Carter Williams, 5-5 G, Spotswood
- Averaged 13.6 ppg and led the Trailblazers to the Group AA Division 4 state title game. Has signed with High Point.
12 - Ti'Asia McGeorge, 5-4 G, William Fleming
- Western Valley District Player of the Year averaged 12.2 points and 6.3 assists for the Colonels. Has signed with American.
12 - Julia Scales, 5-6 F, Bassett
- Focal point of a Bengals team that advanced to the Group AA Division 4 quarterfinals. Honorable mention VHSCA all-state pick. Will attend Lynchburg College.
14 - Kayla Goins, 5-6 G, Carroll County
- Led the Cavaliers with 15.9 ppg and 9.6 rpg while setting a single-season school record for steals (122). Scored a game-high 23 points in the Cavaliers' 62-46 loss to Spotswood in the Group A Division 4 state quarterfinals. Will play at Ferrum.
15 - Kyana Jacobs, 5-6 G, Potomac
- A four-time team MVP, Jacobs earned Washington Post All-Metropolitan Honorable Mention honors as a senior, capping her career by earning All-Cardinal District Player of the Year honors, All-Northwest Region First Team honors and News & Messenger All-Area Second Team honors. Has signed with USC Upstate.
20 - Krystal Patton, 5-6 G, Chilhowie
- Led the Warriors to the Group A Division 2 state semifinals, then scored 26 of her team's 42 points in a loss to George Mason. "She gave us fits. We tried double-teaming her. At one point, we even triple-teamed her. She took all our focus defensive-wise," Mason coach LaBryan Thomas said. Also a Group A all-state first teamer in volleyball. Will play for Lenoir-Rhyne.
22 - Lauren Burford, 6-1 G/F, Fairfax
- Averaged 20.2 ppg, 10.8 rebounds, 7.6 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.3 blocks. A second-team Group AAA all-state pick (AP). Has signed with Villanova.
24 - Melissa Gallo, 5-10 G/F, W.T.Woodson
- A three-time first-team All-Liberty District honoree. Averaged 13.7 ppg as a senior. Has signed with Boston University. "Melissa has very good skills at the guard position. She knows how to score, and I think her game is perfect for our up-tempo style of play," BU assistant coach Michael Leflar said.
25 - Kayla Osborne, 5-6 G, Hidden Valley
- Scored a team-high 24 points in a two-point Region IV semifinal loss to Carroll County than denied the Titans a fifth straight trip to the state tournament. River Ridge District Player of the Year. Will attend Virginia Tech.
40 - Salesse Stovall, 6-1 C, William Fleming
- Second-team All-Northwest Region pick led Fleming and scoring and rebounding. Has signed with Marshall.
42 - Kirby Burkholder, 5-11 F, Turner Ashby
- Averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds and leaves Turner Ashby as the school's all-time leading scorer. Older sister Jordan, a junior at Bridgewater College, finished third in the ODAC in scoring at 16.8 ppg. Kirby has signed with James Madison.
West coaches: Michael Goforth, John Burton; Mark Halsey, Chilhowie; Jeremy Hartman, Robert E. Lee; Chris Dodson, Spotswood; Fred Priester, Oakton.
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