Four Return for Second Helpings of Accolades

SAN DIEGO — Sharon Turner and Vickie Evans of El Camino High School, Karen Taeatafa of Sweetwater and Terri Mann of Point Loma were all named to The Times’ All-County girls’ basketball team for the second year in a row--and for good reasons.

- Turner, San Diego prep basketball’s all-time leading scorer, and Evans were both instrumental in El Camino’s San Diego Section 2-A championship.

- Taeatafa was the Mesa League’s Most Valuable Player for the second year in a row and helped Sweetwater reach the San Diego Section 3-A playoffs for only the second time in its history.

- Mann was the main reason Point Loma’s girls went undefeated and won their second consecutive San Diego Section championship.

Joining the four returnees are Heidi Erpelding of University, Nicole Jann of Fallbrook, Paula Mascari of Monte Vista, Chris Sherman of Santana, Vickie Williams of Southwest and Julie Evans of Hilltop.

Here is The Times’ 1985 All-County girls’ basketball team. The team consists of six forwards, two centers and two guards.

Julie Evans--The 6-foot senior forward averaged 22.1 points for Hilltop this season. Evans, a three-year starter, was named Co-Player of the Year in the Metro South-Bay League this season along with Southwest’s Vickie Williams. “She is Hilltop’s team,” Williams said. “She controls the tempo of their game. And she has a nice jumper.” Evans improved as the season went on, averaging 25.6 points during league play. Evans is very versatile and saw duty at forward and guard. She also played volleyball and is one of the county’s top shortstops in softball.

Vicki Evans--The 6-0 senior center averaged 16.6 points for El Camino this season. She is a strong rebounder who can score inside and shoot from the outside. Evans is a two-year starter for El Camino. She started at forward as a freshman and sophomore at West End High in Birmingham, Ala. “Vicki’s not just a big person who can only play inside,” El Camino’s Sharon Turner said. “She helps out on the press and can dribble. And she can help us out with her outside shot. A lot of big girls can’t do that.”

Heidi Erpelding--The 5-8 senior forward did it all for University, which was the San Diego Section 2-A runner-up, losing to El Camino in the championship game. Erpelding averaged 16.7 points a game and led the Dons in scoring, rebounding and assists. She played her best game of the season in the San Diego 2-A semifinals, scoring 34 points in University’s 53-49 win over Hilltop. “She could have had even greater statistics, but Heidi was one of the most unselfish players I’ve ever had,” Coach Dana Shelburne said. “She always wanted to make sure the other players were getting the ball, too.” Erpelding was also a standout for the University volleyball team and said she plans to continue play in that sport next year--possibly at UC San Diego.

Nicole Jann--The 5-6 senior forward was the Palomar League Player of the Year this season. She averaged 16.8 points a game this season, leading Fallbrook to its 11th consecutive league title. “Nicole is one of the most natural athletes I’ve ever had,” Fallbrook Coach Buck White said. “The better the competition is, the better she plays.” Jann scored 23 points and had 10 rebounds to lead Fallbrook past Santana, 58-53, in the San Diego Section 3-A semifinals.

Terri Mann--The two-year starter for Point Loma set a San Diego Section record with 520 rebounds so far this season. She had 397 rebounds last season, which ranks eighth. Mann, a 6-1 sophomore center, averaged 25.2 points during the regular season. “She’s the best player I’ve ever coached,” Point Loma Coach Lee Trepanier said. “She’s the best player San Diego has ever seen.” Mann is a very strong defensive player, averaging 6.2 steals this season. The Pointers are 56-0 in Mann’s two seasons.

Paula Mascari--The 5-5 junior guard averaged 23.8 points a game for Monte Vista. She had her best game of the season in the Monarchs’ victory over Granite Hills, scoring 45 points. “I love basketball because it’s such a competitive game,” Mascari said. “I’m very competitive and I don’t like slow-moving games.” Mascari also plays tennis and softball for Monte Vista. She was an all-league pick in tennis last fall and she batted .310 as a catcher for the Monarchs’ softball team a year ago.

Chris Sherman--The 5-11 senior forward averaged 22.5 points and 11.3 rebounds a game for Santana. She was named the Grossmont League’s Most Valuable Player in leading the Sultans through an undefeated regular season. “Without her, we are a .500 club at best,” Santana Coach Wade Vickery said, “not only because of her ability, but because the other players rely on her.” Sherman also built a reputation for good defense and was assigned to guard some of the county’s top players, including Mascari of Monte Vista.

Karen Taeatafa--The 5-6 sophomore forward averaged 19.9 points and 13.7 rebounds a game this season and led Sweetwater with 50 blocked shots. Her finest game of the season was when she scored 38 points against Mar Vista. Taeatafa also had six 20-point games and helped Sweetwater reach the playoffs for the second year in a row. The Red Devils had never made the playoffs before Taeatafa arrived last season.

Sharon Turner--The 5-9 senior guard averaged 33.6 points for El Camino this season and was the county’s leading scorer. Turner is the county’s all-time leading scorer with 2,402 points, well ahead of prior record holder Cathy O’Brien of San Marcos, who had 1,839. Turner needs just 18 points against Pleasant Valley in Saturday’s Division II State championship game to break the county’s single-season scoring record held by Kirsten Cummings of Patrick Henry, who scored 921 in 1981. Turner is a four-year starter. “She’s one of the best guards I’ve seen,” El Camino teammate Vicki Evans said. “I really do believe that.”

Vickie Williams--The 5-5 senior forward averaged 22.3 points and 10 rebounds for Southwest this season. A three-year starter, she was named Co-Player of the Year in the Metro South-Bay League. “She’s a great leaper,” Southwest Coach John Boone said. “Form-wise, she has one of the best jump shots I’ve seen in girls basketball. She’s got great speed and quickness.” Williams is one of the top sprinters in the county and was an all-league selection in volleyball. During Williams’ freshman and sophomore years, basketball and track were both spring sports. Williams played both. “I probably barely scratched the surface of her basketball potential,” Boone said.