DigitalSports
2007-08 ALL-BALTIMORE
COUNTY GIRLS' BASKETBALL TEAM
Fitzkee, Mohler Co-Coach of Year
Parker, Williams Co-Player of Year
COACH OF THE YEAR
One
coach led his team to being tops in the County; the other led hers from the lower
tier to the upper tier. Despite differing degrees of success, both maximized
the talent on their respective teams. Mike Mohler and Ellen Fitzkee share Coach
of the Year honors.
Ellen Fitzkee, Randallstown:
She
still remembers how to coach high school, even though she did it last in 1984.
From there, Fitzkee went on to coach 17 years at Division 1, 13 of those at Towson University.
Two years ago, she took over a Randallstown
team that had gone 7-9 the year before her arrival. In 2006-07, she led the
Rams to a record of 14-5, and continued the rapid turnaround this season, going
15-7. That’s progress.
It
didn’t look promising early on, as Randallstown
began this season 1-4. But her team went 14-3 the rest of the way. Despite
facing a tough schedule, including a newly added Christmas tournament, Fitzkee
inserted two freshmen into the starting line-up. After losing to New Town in
their first meeting by eight (53-45), Randallstown
won the second meeting between the two by nine (44-35). The Rams only lost one
game in 2A all season, winning 10 straight at one point and giving them the
chance to play at Catonsville in the County championship
game, where they lost to the Comets (65-49) despite holding the lead twice in
the final half. In the region state playoffs, they defeated Lansdowne (59-52) and
then lost to Poly (54-43) in the semi-finals.
As
far as improvement in numbers, Fitzkee’s team cut their turnovers by half and
doubled their assists from the year before. Defensively, they held opponents to
35 points per game for most of the season, until the final few games. County
teams such as Catonsville, New Town, Dulaney
and Milford Mill are used to being in the upper echelon of the league. If Randallstown hasn’t joined that group yet off of this
year’s success, it likely will next year as Fitzkee returns five starters,
including a core of three seniors. This year’s success is rewarded with
Co-Coach of Year honors.
Mike Mohler, Catonsville:
Mohler started the season
with question marks and ended with a county championship. The long-time Catonsville coach lost two potential starters prior to
the season and had little depth waiting in the wings. But with strong guards
and an up-tempo style of play, he molded his team into the county’s best. Catonsville began the season as “others considered” in
the DigitalSports Top 20 Poll, but ended at No. 9.
Mohler’s squad only tasted
defeat three times all season, going 21-3. The first was to Bethlehem Catholic
by three points (54-51) in a Christmas tournament, in a game where the Comets
had a good lead but let it slip away in the second half. The next loss was to
City (61-51) in the Mayor’s Academy. Catonsville
bounced back the next day in the same tournament and upset Western by the same
61-51 score. That victory vaulted Catonsville into the Top 10, where it would remain for
the rest of the season. Western later returned the favor, ending Catonsville’s season in the Region finals.
Mohler’s team also had two
other big wins. They beat Dulaney (51-47) in the marquee county match-up of the
season and also defeated Randallstown (65-49) for the Baltimore County
championship. Mohler always seems to get the most out of his players, and
certainly did so this year, earning Co-Coach of the Year honors.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Tough
to pick between these two talented players. When their teams met head-to-head
during the season, in a game between the County’s two highest ranked teams,
they each scored 25 points in a game that was decided by just four points. Call
it a draw, as Co-Player of the Year honors to Dulaney’s Danielle Parker and Catonsville’s Shamika Williams.
Danielle Parker, Dulaney,
SR, forward:
The Delaware-bound forward was one of the top players in the
Metro area. She led Dulaney (19-4) to the state Final Four for the first time
since 1988, where it lost to Arundel in the semi-finals (67-29). Dulaney was
40-5 overall in her two seasons. She could score, rebound and handle the ball,
and could play inside or outside, depending on the game and the opponent. The
6-2 senior averaged 16 points and 13 rebounds per game. She had 25 points (to
match Williams below) and 13 rebounds in the 51-47 loss to Catonsville.
She really stepped up in the playoffs, scoring 24 points in a win over North
Carroll (50-26), another 24 versus Perry Hall (70-52) and then 17 in the region
finals win over C. Milton Wright (40-28). Parker was named MVP for the County
in the City/County All-Star game, scoring a game-high 19 points. She showed her versatilty and talent in one sequence: Parker scored on an offensive rebound inside; on the next trip she hit a three-pointer; the next trip she grabbed a rebound and threw a perfect half-court outlet pass to Catonsville's Nonn for a lay-up.
Shamika Williams, Catonsville, JR, guard:
Williams came off of a fine sophomore season to have an even better junior
season. The Comets (21-3) would not have achieved the success they did without
her. The 5-8 junior scored 16.0 points per game and made sure teammates scored
as well, with 5.6 assists per game, and also had 8.2 rebounds. She handled the
ball, played tough defense on opposing guards and keyed the press and
fast-break. She led the upset win over Western with an impressive 15/10/6
performance. In a meeting of ranked county teams, she scored 25 points (to
match Parker above) in the big 51-47 win over Dulaney and then put up 27 points
in the Baltimore County title win (65-49) over Randallstown.
FIRST TEAM
Cassie Anderson, Eastern Tech, JR, guard:
Junior
guard put up consistent numbers for the Mavericks (13-7), averaging 16 points,
13 rebounds, four assists and four steals. Was right on her average with 16 in Region
playoff loss to City.
Arielle Eldridge, Lansdowne,
SR, guard/forward:
One of top scorers in County at 22.3 ppg. Could play inside or outside, and
showed it by grabbing 11.3 rebounds per game for a season double-double for the
Vikings (7-15). The North
County transfer had four
games of 30-plus points.
Jessica Nonn, Catonsville, SR, guard:
Was non-stop on offense and defense
every second on the court for Catonsville. Averaged
15.8 points per game with a high-game of 32 points and also scored 24 in the
upset win over Western. Also averaged five steals per game with quick reflexes and great anticipation.
Danielle Parker, Dulaney, SR, forward:
Co-Player of the Year, see above.
Kelsie Singleton, Randallstown, JR, guard:
Played point for Randallstown and averaged 17
points and four rebounds. Had 22 points in County championship game loss to Catonsville, including four three-pointers. Most
important stat has wow factor: 5-2 assist-to-turnover ratio. Ask Fitzkee how
important that was to the team’s success.
Brittany Spencer, New Town, SR, forward:
Had solid numbers of 17 points, seven rebounds and three assists per game for
New Town (17-5). One of the best offensive players in county with numerous
20-plus point games.
Shamika Williams, Catonsville, JR, guard:
Co-Player of the Year, see above.
SECOND TEAM
T’Arra Cutting, Randallstown, JR, guard:
Played the #2-guard for Rams and averaged nine points, seven rebounds and five
steals per game.
Emily Gladstone, Dulaney, JR, forward:
Junior
forward presented match-up problems for some teams, especially while sharing
the floor with Parker. Averaged 12.6 points and 8.5 rebounds.
Kenesha Gilmore, Dundalk, JR, forward:
The junior forward powered her way to 16.8 points and 10 rebounds per game
to lead the Owls (9-14).
Devon Richardson, Milford Mill, JR, guard:
The talented junior guard led the Millers (14-7) with 15.3 points, nine
rebounds, four steals and two assists per game.
Amirah Tucker, New Town, SO, guard:
Roland Park transfer was other part of dynamic scoring duo for New Town
along with Spencer, averaging 13 points per game.
Andrea Watson, Overlea, SR, guard:
Senior
guard led the Falcons (16-6) to fine season.
Imani Graham, JR, forward:
Despite playing injured for just about the entire season, she still
averaged a double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds for Randallstown,
along with five steals.
NOTE:
Readers, my apologies on the delay in posting – I
have had some serious computer problems the past week, losing many files
and
pictures. Hopefully we can add some more pictures to this feature.
The selections were made by Mike Buchanan after
consulting with DigitalSports staff, area coaches and fans. Selections are NOT
based on just points and statistics. Offense is obviously easier to quantify,
but also factored in are: defense, team-play, impact in
big games and overall
success of a player’s team, in-season AND
post-season. If any errors to edit or additional stats to enter,
please contact
me.
Comments are welcome:
mbuchanan@digitalsports.com