LANCASTER - For you, the PennLive.com L-L League girls' basketball Section 4 All-Star package, which includes first, second and third teams - five players per team - a section MVP, a section top newcomer and the section's top coaching performance of the season.
SECTION 4 FIRST TEAM ALL-STARS
Jada Dunsen, junior G, Lancaster Mennonite - A key reserve a year ago when the Blazers went to the league championship game and to the PIAA playoffs, Dunsen stepped into the starting line-up this winter and immediately became Mennonite's top go-to threat. ... The super speedy, athletic guard averaged 14.6 points, with a season-high of 33 points in a 52-21 win over Twin Valley on December 8. ... She scored in double-digits in every game but two, including five games of 20 or more points.
Emily Martin, senior F, Lancaster Catholic - Has overcome a pair of ACL injuries - one in each knee - to put together an outstanding career for the Crusaders. ... Shot-blocker and rebounder is chipping in 10.7 points per game for Lancaster Catholic, which takes a 29-1 record into the second round of the PIAA playoffs. ... Really stepped up her tenacity around the glass this season and made herself a blue-chip college recruit, and, with co-captain Porscha Speller, has become a team leader. ... Season-high to date is 22 points, in an 89-41 triumph over Columbia on January 7.
PODCAST: Emily Martin interview.
PODCAST: Emily Martin interview about overcoming injuries.
VIDEO: Emily Martin interview.
Jenna Plastino, senior F, Columbia - Four-year starter for the Crimson Tide capped her career in style, averaging 17.2 points with 25 3-pointers. ... Really good catch-and-shooter and can create her own shot - from the perimeter or the dribble-drive. ... Season-high was 29 points in a 73-7 win over Dayspring Academy on December 11; scored in double-digits in 20 of 22 games, with eight games of 20 or more points. ... Short bench for the Tide during her four-year run, so Plastino was called upon to play mucho minutes. And she always delivered, finishing her career with 1,075 points.
VIDEO: Jenna Plastino scores her 1,000th career point.
Abby Shay, senior F, Lebanon Catholic - Seems like the Beavers have never really been blessed with height. And at 5-8, Shay was Lebanon Catholic's top inside threat - and she was tough to stop. ... Major glass-crasher got almost all of her points going to the rim. And she wore out a path to the foul line, making 106 free throws this season while averaging 15.6 points. ... Season-best was 26 points in a 60-59 OT setback to Lancaster Mennonite on January 22.
Porscha Speller, senior G, Lancaster Catholic - Just when you thought Speller couldn't top last year's eye-popping breakout junior season, she did - convincingly. ... Athletic combo guard takes an 18.2 average - plus 28 3-pointers - into the second round of the PIAA playoffs. But she was about so much more than scoring this season. Coach Lamar Kauffman raved about her improved defense, and ability to force steals in the Crusaders' in-your-face pressure schemes. ... One of the best 5-8 rebounders you'll every see, too, particularly on the offense end, where Speller feasts on stickbacks and keeping possessions alive. ... To date, her season-best is 31 points in Lancaster Catholic's double-OT 89-79 thriller over Susquehannock in the first round of States. ... Undecided on a college at this point, but is going to make someone extremely happy.
VIDEO: Porscha Speller interview.
VIDEO: Porscha Speller interview.
VIDEO: Porscha Speller interview.
SECTION 4 SECOND TEAM ALL-STARS
Danielle Atkinson, junior G, Lancaster Catholic - Teams with Porscha Speller to form one of the best backcourts not only in the L-L League, but in District 3 and the state. ... Shook off an early season foot injury - suffered during cross country season - to once again become a reliable perimeter scorer in the halfcourt and an absolute terror in transition. ... Averaging 9.7 points with 14 3-pointers heading into the second round of States. ... Season-high to date is 18 points in a 78-39 win over Bishop McDevitt on January 5. ... Great defender and clutch shooter; has ice water in her veins, and she's not afraid to pull the trigger. ... Should be a safe bet to join the 1,000-point club in her senior season next winter.
VIDEO: Danielle Atkinson interview.
PODCAST: Danielle Atkinson interview.
PODCAST: Danielle Atkinson interview.
Holly Marinkov, senior G, Lebanon Catholic - Was one of the top perimeter players in the L-L League this winter, splashing 52 3-pointers for the Beavers. ... Averaged 10.8 points, including 23 points and seven 3's in a 56-54 win over Pottsville Nativity on December 15.
Megan Seibert, junior G, Columbia - Teamed with Jenna Plastino to form quite the 1-2 scoring punch for the Crimson Tide. Major perimeter threat drilled 25 3-pointers and averaged 13.5 points for Columbia, which struggled with numbers this season; first-year coach Maureen Schulz had nights where she had as many as six kids suited up. ... Seibert's top games this season: 22 points in a 73-7 win over Dayspring Academy on December 11, and 21 points and four 3's in a 63-41 setback vs. Garden Spot on December 19. ... Should get even more defensive attention next season with Plastino moving on.
Alex Siebecker, junior G, Annville-Cleona - Solid breakout junior season for the Little Dutchmen's sharpshooter and playmaker. Averaged 13.8 points and knocked down 32 3-pointers for A-C, which finished alone in second in Section 4 and went to the league, district and PIAA playoffs; beat Oley Valley in the third-place game in Districts before bowing out to Neumann-Goretti in the first round of States. ... Siebecker scored 19 points in the Goretti game, and her season-best was 23 points in a 62-32 win over Donegal on January 18. That was part of a four-game clip when she averaged 19.3 points with 11 3's.
Elaina Wanamaker, senior F, Annville-Cleona - Little Dutchmen's wing/post threat was steady-as-she-goes, averaging 12.8 points while helping out on the glass and in the post. Also canned 16 3-pointers and was tough to guard on the perimeter, as well. ... Season-high was 23 points in a 49-42 victory over Lancaster Mennonite on January 29, which helped put a bow on the Dutchmen's runner-up finish behind 16-0 Lancaster Catholic.
VIDEO: Elaina Wanamaker interview.
SECTION 4 THIRD TEAM ALL-STARS
Alyssa Hershey, freshman F, Pequea Valley - Earned a spot in the starting five as a frosh and had a nice breakout season for the Braves, averaging a team-best 11.0 points and sinking six 3's. ... Career-high was 18 points - twice - including 18 in a 43-35 win over Octorara on December 8. ... Hershey has the size to tangle in the paint, too. Remember her name.
Kayla Parks, sophomore G, Annville-Cleona - Another key cog for the Dutchmen's second-place unit, Parks chipped in 9.0 points and dropped five 3-pointers. ... Season-high was 19 points on February 1 in a 45-36 win over Lebanon Catholic - which made A-C coach Jaime Walborn, an LC grad, very happy. ... Parks will team with Alex Siebecker to give A-C a really nice nucleus in the backcourt next winter.
Mady Reeser, junior G, Lancaster Mennonite - Transferred in from Pequea Valley and was an instant hit for the Blazers, popping in 12.3 points and 14 3-pointers, while teaming with Jada Dunsen to give Mennonite a speedy backcourt. Those two will be back to inflict more damage next winter. ... Season-best was 19 points in a 45-39 setback to Elco on December 29.
Helen Reist, junior G, Lebanon Catholic - Teamed with Abby Shay and Holly Marinkov to give the Beavers three legit scoring options. Reist averaged 11.3 points and drilled 32 3-pointers, including a season-high 21 points in Lebanon Catholic's opener, a 60-14 win over Lititz Christian on December 10.
Lil Veronis, sophomore F, Lancaster Catholic - Hit basketball season running, fresh off teaming with Julia Davis to win the PIAA-AA tennis doubles championship. ... Has the size to tangle in the paint, but is dangerous from the perimeter and in transition. ... Takes an 8.2 average and 23 3-pointers into the second round of States. ... season-best is 19 points in an 87-51 win over Columbia on February 1; also had memorable 16-point, four-3-pointer-night in an 81-37 win over Penn Manor on January 17.
VIDEO: Lil Veronis/Julia Davis interview after winning PIAA gold.
PODCAST: Lil Veronis interview.
SECTION 4 TOP NEWCOMER
Caroline Scarff, freshman F, Lancaster Catholic - Cracked coach Lamar Kauffman's starting line-up coming out of camp and has remained there ever since. She's got a bright future ahead of her, considering she's already starting and is averaging 7.6 points for the Crusaders, heading into the second round of States. Rebounder. Shot blocker. Stickback artist. Marches to the line quite a bit. And she helps out in the press. Sky's the limit.
SECTION 4 TOP COACH PERFORMANCE
Jaime Walborn, Annville-Cleona - The former Lebanon Catholic standout gets the nod after directing the Dutchmen to a solo second-place finish in Section 4, to a third-place finish in the District 3-AA playoffs, and to the program's first trip to the PIAA playoffs since the late 1980's. That's a long time. Walborn also did it with a short bench, and against a daunting league schedule, including the usual Section 4 suspects in Lancaster Catholic, Lancaster Mennonite and Lebanon Catholic.
SECTION 4 MVP
Porscha Speller, senior G, Lancaster Catholic - For our money, pound-for-pound the best player in the L-L League. What she can do on both ends of a basketball court from her 5-8 frame is simply incredible. And the last two seasons, she's flat-out willed the Crusaders to win. Heading into the second round of States, with Speller on board, Lancaster Catholic is 59-5.
REINHART ON TWITTER: @JeffReinhart77