Sun All-State Basketball Team: Girls First Team

Tuesday, March 7, 2000 | 11:27 a.m.

JASMERE KIRBY / POINT GUARD

Las Vegas, 5-8, senior

Statistics: 29.2 ppg, 6 spg

Noteworthy: Two-year varsity starter; state's leading scorer; MVP of Northeast Division; led team to 22-6 record and second consecutive 4A state tournament appearance; scored career-high 39 points in regular season, 32 in state tournament.

Said Wildcats coach Annette Smith: "She dominated in all areas for us. She scored and got other players involved, and there wasn't a press that she couldn't break. She did it all this year."

CRYSTAL THACKER / SHOOTING GUARD

Elko, 5-6, senior

Statistics: 18.9 ppg, 4 spg, 3 apg

Noteworthy: Three-year varsity starter; MVP of Northern Nevada's Division I; leading scorer among north's 4A players; scored 30 or more points in three games; helped Elko to 16-13 record, berth in Northern Region playoffs.

Said Indians coach Lynette Davis: "She really carried a big load for us this year. She handles the ball well, she's a very good scorer and the thing I like about her is she plays both ends of the court hard."

ELIZABETH CANSDALE / SMALL FORWARD

Bishop Gorman, 5-8, junior

Statistics: 17.8 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 3.2 spg

Noteworthy: Two-year varsity starter; MVP of Southwest Division; one of area's top outsider shooters; scored career-high 29 points vs. Valley on Feb. 8; led club to 20-8 record, appearance in Sunset Region Tournament.

Said Gaels coach Sheryl Krmpotich: "Liz is a true leader. She leads on the floor with her defensive effort and her offensive attacking. She plays so hard and she's so talented. I think she'll go D-I next year."

MELISSA PADGETT / POWER FORWARD

Reno, 6-1, senior

Statistics: 13.2 ppg, 8 rpg

Noteworthy: Four-year varsity starter; co-MVP of Northern Nevada's Division II; spearheaded team's 25-8 season and run to 4A state championship game; tallied 50 points in three state tournament games; signed with University of San Diego.

Said Huskies coach Craig Campbell: "Being a coach's daughter, she obviously understands the game. She's played one through five for us at times, and she really competes at both ends. She does it all."

ASHLEE ORNDORFF / CENTER

Mineral County, 6-2, senior

Statistics: 20.6 ppg, 16.6 rpg, 5.8 apg, 4.6 bpg, 3.6 spg

Noteworthy: Four-year varsity starter; school's all-time leader in points, rebounds, blocks and steals; scored 30 or more points twice while leading team to 31-1 record, 3A state title; sank 34 3-pointers in '99-00; signed with Nevada-Reno.

Said Serpents coach David Gelmstedt: "She's a student of the game, and she knew how to get everybody else involved. She shows all the hours spent in the gym can pay off."

KAREN WEITZ / COACH

Centennial

Noteworthy: Led first-year school to perfect 27-0 regular season record, Southwest Division title, Sunset Region championship and 4A state tournament appearance with only seven players on varsity roster, none of which were seniors.