THE TIMES’ ALL-COUNTY GIRLS’ BASKETBALL TEAM : Guards Take Over This Season

It was the year of the guard in Orange County high school girls’ basketball this season.

Brea-Olinda point guard Aimee McDaniel set school scoring and assist records; Edison’s Debbie Fischer set a national record for three-point shots made; and La Quinta’s Amy Jalewalia, who plays guard--and forward and center--set a county record for most points scored in one game.

McDaniel, Fischer and Jalewalia are among 10 girls named to the 1990 Times’ All-Orange County girls’ high school basketball team. Also named to the team were: Tammy Blackburn, a senior at Brea-Olinda; Sara Bone, a senior at El Toro; Jennifer Harney, a senior at Esperanza; Jennifer Rohrig, a senior at Mission Viejo; Melisa Sortino, a senior at Marina; Jennifer Sullivan, a senior at Ocean View, and Karie Yoshioka, a senior at El Toro.

McDaniel, who set school career records for points (1,845) and assists (602) at Brea-Olinda, teamed with Blackburn to form one of the best guard tandems in the state. They led the Lady Cats to a Southern Section title and second-place in the state.

Both were were Times’ all-county selections in their junior seasons and led Brea-Olinda to a Southern Section record for consecutive victories (55).

Jalewalia, who led the county and the state in scoring last season, led La Quinta to the Southern Section 4-A title, averaging 33 points a game. In four years, she scored 2,205 points, 71 shy of the county record set by Paula Tezak at La Habra (1980-84). Jalewalia, who will attend UCLA, set a county single-game scoring record (60 points).

Fischer set county, section, state and national records with her three-point shooting. She set a national record for three-pointers with 105 this season. The old reported record was 85. She also set a reported Southern Section record for most three-point baskets in a game (10). She averaged 21.8 points, 4.5 assists and had 115 career three-pointers.

Yoshioka, also a guard, led the the county in assists with 8.4 a game. She made close to 50% from three-point range, and averaged 16.5 points. She was the South Coast League MVP.

Bone, a center, led El Toro in scoring (18.1 points) and rebounding (10.4). Harney was one of the county’s most versatile big guards this season, averaging 16.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists to lead her team to the Empire League title.

Rohrig, a two-time selection, led the county in rebounding with a 20.1 average. She also averaged 21.2 points. Sortino helped Marina to a second-place finish in the Sunset League, averaging 20.4 points and 5.1 assists. Sullivan led Ocean View in scoring (17.3) and rebounding (14.7).

Those earning honorable mention were: Jenny Newsome, a senior guard for Rancho Alamitos; Denise Gandara, a senior forward for University High; Tracy Titus, a junior center for Loara; Jinelle Williams, a junior center for Brea-Olinda; Leslie Rathbun, a senior guard for Woodbridge, and Olivia DiCamilli, a freshman guard for Costa Mesa.

GUARD

Tammy Blackburn

Brea-Olinda * 5-8 * Senior

The emotional leader of the Lady Cats, Blackburn overcame major back and shoulder surgery in 1987 to emerge as the team’s best defender and open court player. A two-time all-county selection and an all-state guard, she averaged 13.6 points, 3.8 assists and 3.5 steals. She will play for San Diego State in the fall.

CENTER

Sara Bone

El Toro * 5-11 * Senior

Bone brought the moves, agility and quickness of a forward--her natural position--to the post for El Toro, which needed a center. Her versatility enabled her to power up inside or shoot from three-point range. She led El Toro in scoring (18.1 points) and rebounding (10.4). Bone, an honor student, will play at Dartmouth in the fall.

GUARD

Debbie Fischer

Edison * 5-6 * Senior

Fischer set a national record for three-pointers with 105 this season. The old reported record was 85. She also set a reported Southern Section record for most three-point baskets in a game (10). Fischer, MVP of the Marina tournament, led Edison (17-9) to the 4-AA quarterfinals. She averaged 21.8 points, 4.5 assists and had 115 career three-pointers.

GUARD

Jennifer Harney

Esperanza * 5-9 * Senior

Harney was the county’s most versatile big guard this season. “She can play point guard or center on offense and she can guard a perimeter or post player on defense,” Coach Marc Hill said. Harney averaged 16.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists to lead her team to the Empire League title.

FORWARD

Amy Jalewalia

La Quinta * 6-1 * Senior

Jalewalia led state in scoring (31.2 points) last season and was second this year (33.0). In four years she scored 2,205 points, 71 shy of the county record set by Paula Tezak at La Habra (1980-84). Jalewalia, who will attend UCLA, set county single-game scoring record (60 points) and led La Quinta to 4-A title.

GUARD

Aimee McDaniel

Brea-Olinda * 5-6 * Senior

McDaniel led Brea-Olinda to two Southern Section titles, the state Division III championship last season, another appearance in the state final this year and a national ranking (fourth). She led Brea-Olinda in scoring (16.4 points) and assists (6.4) and is a three-time all-county selection.

CENTER

Jennifer Rohrig

Mission Viejo * 6-3 * Senior

Rohrig, a two-time selection, led the county in rebounding with a 20.1 average and averaged 21.2 points. Her mobility made her a formidable shot blocker (5.8 average) and a force on the offensive boards. Rohrig, all-league in volleyball, plans to attend Duke on a volleyball scholarship in the fall.

GUARD

Melisa Sortino

Marina * 5-7 * Senior

Sortino’s leadership and scoring helped Marina to a second-place finish in the Sunset League. Sortino, a prolific three-point shooter--she made 64--led Marina in scoring (20.4 points) and assists (5.1). Sortino, the co-MVP of the Sunset League with Ocean View’s Jenny Sullivan, will attend the University of San Diego.

CENTER

Jennifer Sullivan

Ocean View * 6-3 * Senior

Sullivan, the Sunset League MVP the last two seasons, led Ocean View in scoring (17.3) and rebounding (14.7). At 6-3, 180 pounds, she did it all, from scoring to rebounding to shot blocking. She has narrowed her college choices to Loyola Marymount, Cal State Dominguez Hills and Orange Coast College.

GUARD

Karie Yoshioka

El Toro * 5-4 * Senior

Injuries slowed Yoshioka as a junior. But the point guard was healthy this season, excelling at the transition game and three-point shooting. She hit close to 50% from three-point range, led the county in assists (8.4) and averaged 16.5 points. She led her team to the South Coast League title and was league MVP.

ALL-COUNTY ROSTER

Name School Hgt Year Statistics Tammy Blackburn Brea-Olinda 5-8 Sr. 13.6 points/game Sara Bone El Toro 5-11 Sr. 18.1 points/game Debbie Fischer Edison 5-6 Sr. 21.8 points/game Jennifer Harney Esperanza 5-9 Sr. 16.6 points/game Amy Jalewalia La Quinta 6-1 Sr. 33.0 points/game Aimee McDaniel Brea-Olinda 5-6 Sr. 16.4 points/game Jennifer Rohrig Mission Viejo 6-3 Sr. 21.2 points/game Melisa Sortino Marina 5-7 Sr. 20.4 points/game Jennifer Sullivan Ocean View 6-3 Sr. 17.3 points/game Karie Yoshioka El Toro 5-4 Sr. 16.5 points/game

Honorable mention: Jenny Newsome, Rancho Alamitos senior; Denise Gandara, University senior; Tracy Titus, Loara junior; Jinelle Williams, Brea-Olinda junior; Leslie Rathbun, Woodbridge senior; Olivia DiCamilli, Costa Mesa freshman.