– Mandy Cunningham, Bridgeport Red Hill, 5-7, senior, guard. Led state in scoring two of the last three seasons. Four-year starter for Class A school will attend Illinois. ”She`s an extremely good shooter with very good floor instincts,” says Red Hill coach Steve Cunningham, her father. ”Mandy is a very dedicated player who works her tail off every day. She has the best awareness and natural instincts of anyone I`ve seen in this part of the country.”
– E.C. Hill, Whitney Young, 5-8, senior, guard. All-everything and considered the nation`s top prospect, averaged 25.7 ppg. The gifted ballhandler picked Northern Illinois. Says Young coach Arthur Penny: ”You don`t find many players like E.C. I`ve had a lot of good players. I don`t like to say one is better than the other, but E.C. is definitely the most complete player I`ve ever had.”
– Courtney Porter, Hume-Shiloh, 5-8, senior, forward. Four-year all-conference, Class A team was 119-6 during her tenure. Broke state finals`
points record with 241 in four years. ”Has floor sense, ability to make things happen,” says coach Stan White of the Illinois State-bound player.
”She`s the best basketball player around. In college, she`ll pick up where she left off.”
– Melinda Spearman, West Aurora, 5-9, senior, forward. Honorable mention Street & Smith All-America. Team finished second in Class AA finals.
”Basketball sense and overall court knowledge is excellent,” said Blackhawks coach Mark Proctor. ”Knows when to pass and shoot, dribbles well and can shoot in traffic. Melinda Spearman really knows the game. She sees things the average player doesn`t. She`s a real leader on the court.”
– Vicki Klingler, Teutopolis, 6-0, senior, center. Integral part of three-time Class A champs. Four-year scholarship to Illinois. ”Probably the best all-around player I`ve had here,” said T-Town coach Dennis Koester.
SECOND TEAM
– Moira Kennelly, Maine West, 5-7, senior, guard. Ranked 25th by Street & Smith. Sparkplug of Warriors` team. Will join talented sister, Nancy, at Northwestern. Says Maine West coach Derril Kipp: ”The best pressure player I`ve ever seen.”
– Kenya Pittman, Marshall, 5-9, senior, guard. One of the mainstays of Class AA powerhouse`s second-straight title. ”She`s played every position except center and could easily move into any role at any time,” said Marshall coach Dorothy Gaters. Marshall Tournament MVP.
– Joan Finley, Proviso West, 5-9, senior, forward. Will attend Wyoming. Averaged 18 points and 12 rebounds to lead Panthers to West Suburban Silver crown. ”Has the uncanny ability to always be at the maximum height of her extension relative to the ball,” said Proviso West coach Tom Sible.
– Megan Lucid, Mother McAuley, 5-9, junior, forward. Voted top player in GCAC South. Team`s leading scorer. ”Deadly outside, but just as good inside,”
said Mighty Macs coach Diane Darrah. ”An excellent player, very difficult to stop.”
– Shelly Zalas, Immaculate Heart of Mary, 6-2, senior, center. All-conference pick, will attend Loyola. Averaged 15 ppg and 13 rebounds. ”The most dominating post player offensively and defensively I`ve seen this year,” said Tigers coach Dave Power.
THIRD TEAM
– Miko Alsup, Peoria Manual, 5-11, senior, guard. Four-year varsity player. Point guard who averaged 14 ppg and shot 44 percent from the field. Says coach Dennis Brown: ”One of the best all-around players I`ve ever had. Sees the floor very well.”
– Chris Francke, Streamwood, 5-8, senior, guard. Three-sport star, volleyball and softball her other games. Led team in scoring (28.8). Will attend De Paul. ”The best overall girl athlete Streamwood has ever had,” said coach George Rosner. ”Constantly double-teamed and still did a good job.”
– Kina Brown, Washington, 5-11, junior, forward. Considered among nation`s top 50 juniors. Averaged 20.1 ppg. Three-year varsity starter. ”Right now, she`s the best inside player in the state,” said coach Willie Byrd. ”No doubt she is in the city.”
– Raquel Ransom, East St. Louis Lincoln, 6-0, junior, forward. Another top underclassman. ”Rocky” led Tigerettes to state finals with 20.7 ppg. Leading scorer in all but two of team`s 26 games.
– Erin Ingwersen, Hoffman Estates, 6-1, junior, center. Honorable mention Midwest All-America by Street & Smith. Straight-A student. Can also play guard or forward. ”A very good post player,” said coach Tom Kendall. ”Very versatile shooter from outside.”
ALL-AREA TEAM
– Centers-Erin Ingwersen, 6-1, junior, Hoffman Estates; Heidi Neral, 6-1, junior, Luther North; Jackie Williams, 5-10, junior, Joliet West; Shelly Zalas, 6-2, senior, Immaculate Heart of Mary.
– Forwards-Lisa Bluege, 6-0, senior, Conant; Kina Brown, 5-11, junior, Washington; Joan Finley, 5-9, senior, Proviso West; Megan Lucid, 5-9, junior, Mother McAuley; Cristy Nelson, 5-11, senior, Maine West; Melinda Spearman, 5-9, senior, West Aurora; Candace Ward, 5-8, junior, Immaculate Heart of Mary; Kim Williams, 5-7, freshman, Marshall.
– Guards-Alison Arnoldi, 5-7, senior, Joliet West; Chris Francke, 5-8, senior, Streamwood; E.C. Hill, 5-8, senior, Whitney Young; Moira Kennelly, 5-7, senior, Maine West; Kenya Pittman, 5-9, senior, Marshall; Robbyn Preacely, 5-4, sophomore, Morgan Park; Michele Ratay, 5-10, sophomore, Buffalo Grove; Maria Siambekos, 5-7, senior, Lyons Township.
