Friday, March 24, 2000
Munoz leads girls all-star team
BY DAVE SCHUTTE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Mason's Michelle Munoz didn't have a problem living up to her preseason billing as Ohio's best girls basketball player.
Through leading the Comets to the Division I state championship, the 6-foot junior averaged 21 points and 10 rebounds a game and was named Ms. Basketball.
She was an easy choice for The Enquirer's Division I Player of the Year honor.
“Michelle's amount of improvement from last year to this year is incredible,” Mason coach Gerry Lackey said.
“She stepped up her game in all aspects. By this I mean she was more aggressive, both on offense and defense and is the type of player who can take control of a game.”
Hamilton Badin's Kerri Fiehrer helped lead her team to a Division II runner-up finish at state. Her leadership was the deciding factor in being chosen The Enquirer's Division II Player of the Year.
“I can't say enough about Kerri and what she meant to the team,” coach Dan Purcell said. “She made the offense go and also was very aggressive on defense.”
Eastern Brown, behind Elizabeth Burrows' 16.7 points, three steals and four assists a game, went 20-0 during the regular season and won the sectional district and regional championships.
Burrows is The Enquirer's Division III-IV Player of the Year.
Gerry Lackey, in his 10th year at Mason, is The Enquirer's Division I Coach of the Year for the fourth consecutive season.
Since Mason moved from Division II to Division I four years ago, Lackey's teams are 102-5. The Comets were state runner-up in 1997 and '99 and won the title this year.
In four years at Hamilton Badin, Dan Purcell's Rams have an 85-25 record, winning the 1998 Division II state championship and finishing second behind Columbus Bishop Hartley this season.
Purcell is The Enquirer's Division II Coach of the Year.
Madeira's Dave Schlensker and Eastern Brown's Richard Kiser share The Enquirer's Division III-IV Coach of the Year honors.
Schlensker's Amazons won the sectional, district and regional championships this season.
Madeira was eliminated by eventual Division III state champion South Euclid Regina in the state semifinals, falling short of bringing home the title.
Enquirer's Girls Basketball All-Star Team
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