Tigers dominate - Arcata
    girls headline all-star picks


    The Times-Standard

    Arcata High's girls' basketball powerhouse and the lone star of a Little
    Six Conference squad headline the 1998-1999 Times-Standard
    Basketball All-Stars team.

    Senior center Melissa DeMello and senior guard Sarah Finney were
    voted to the team from Arcata. They are joined by the two-time
    Humboldt-Del Norte League girls' scoring champion Jennifer
    Anderson, of South Fork High.

    The six-player squad was chosen by vote of the Times-Standard sports
    staff.

    Del Norte High's junior center Amber Lund earned a spot on the team.
    Eureka High senior guard Danielle Ferris and St. Bernard's senior
    center Suna Marquardt rounded on the squad.

    For leading Arcata to the Big Five Conference crown and into the
    Northern California Division III semifinals, Arcata High's Tahnia
    Campbell was voted Coach of the Year.

Melissa DeMello, Arcata: The senior center was the Tigers' leading
rebounder and scorer. She averaged 13.1 points per game in
Times-Standard statistics. Her presence in the middle was vital to what
was otherwise, without question, the most balanced and athletic girls'
team in the H-DNL. Mid-season injury problems slowed DeMello, but
she bounced back to finish strong as the key to the Tigers on both ends
of the court.

Sarah Finney, Arcata: She didn't score as many points as some guards,
but Finney is a senior who starred under pressure as Arcata rolled over
foes. Finney averaged 12.1 points, but it was her ability to hit the clutch
free throw and play defense that earned her honors. Finney is the most
consistent backcourter on the club.

Amber Lund, Del Norte: This junior is a big force under the basket in
the H-DNL. She averaged 14.3 points per game and dominated the
area around the basket against virtually every team as Del Norte
finished third in the Big Five Conference. Lund is a force in the middle
unlike any other in the H-DNL.

Jennifer Anderson, South Fork: The senior forward won the H-DNL
scoring title for the second straight year averaging 18.1 ppg. She had an
amazing string of consecutive games where she was never held under
10 points for a team without another serious scoring threat. Anderson
spent two seasons in the shadow of Heidi Bowman-led South Fork
teams once Bowman left for Marquette University. Anderson,
however, made her own special mark alongside Bowman for a great
career.

Suna Marquardt, St. Bernard: She was the key player in second-year
head coach Augie Valdez' run to the Little Six title and the Northern
California Division V Tournament. Marquardt provided a unique blend
of power and grace around the basket to finish her career among the
all-time leading H-DNL scorers. Her spark and team leadership also
gave the Crusaders a boost.

Danielle Ferris, Eureka: Ferris finished a brilliant, four-year varsity
career as the flashiest backcourt star in the league. She averaged 13.6
points per game, played aggressive defense and played at a frenetic
pace unmatched in the H-DNL.

Tahnia Campbell, Arcata, Coach of the Year: The Tigers won the Big
Five, finished second in the North Coast Section Division III tourney
— losing to eventual state champion Acalanes, of Lafayette. Campbell
then guided Arcata to Northern California semifinals. Her even-handed
demeanor and unwillingness to stray from a coaching theory based on
strong defense and teamwork showed in her Tigers.



©1999 Times-Standard
Wednesday, March 31, 1999; B1