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Chieftain girls reap honors By KRIS HENRY Skyline Conference basketball champions reaped rewards in all-star voting, with the Henley boys and Rogue River girls taking top honors. Rogue River senior Shae Wright was named player of the year for girls, and the Chieftains' Dan Mortinson was coach of the year. For the boys, Henley's Tim Frost was named player of the year and Jess Schefstrom of the Hornets was coach of the year. Joining Wright on the first team were teammate Mindi Yost, Ashley Enoch of North Valley, Dena Young of Mazama and Jessie Horsley of Henley. Rogue River (18-6) won the conference championship with an 10-2 record and placed seventh in the Class 3A state tournament. Mortinson was quick to give credit to his players for his being named the top coach. "Certainly it's an honor to be selected as coach of the year, but of course you have to look at the kids and what you have," he said. "They did a lot of work this year to make that happen for me." Wright and Yost played significant roles in the Chieftains' success, with one or the other stepping up when Rogue River needed it most. "(Shae) was critical on our defense," Mortinson said. "She was the person in the lane who created havoc for anyone who was driving with the blocks but also with the mental aspect of her presence. "Offensively, she struggled at times, but at the end of the year when we really needed her, she stepped up and performed really well for us." Wright averaged 18 points, seven rebounds and six blocks. She was the state tournament leader in blocked shots (19) for the second straight season. Yost was a little more diverse. The senior played point guard, wing and power forward at varying times. Through it all, she averaged 11 points, seven rebounds, four steals and four assists. "Mindi was not far behind in the voting for player of the year," Mortinson said. "She could have easily garnered that award as well because she's so versatile. She's just done so much for our team." Yost was named to the all-state tournament second team. Rogue River junior Michelle Anderson was named third-team all-conference, with honorable mention nods going to teammates Melissa Badley and Alison Marland. Jennifer Bones received the highest recognition for Phoenix, with the junior post named to the third team. Juniors Tara Curtis and Beth Nikodym earned honorable mention nods. In the boys all-star voting, Frost was joined on the first team by teammate Matt Johnson, Willy Isley of Hidden Valley, Orly Despacio of Illinois Valley and Troy Fast of Mazama. Henley's Michael Nunes and Greg Cunningham each were named to the second team, with teammate Rick Warnick earning third-team honors to round out the Hornets' five selections. Henley (23-4) swept through the Skyline Conference with a 14-0 record and was the top-ranked Class 3A boys team heading into the state playoffs. The Hornets fell shy of the championship, losing to eventual champion Pleasant Hill in the first round. Henley rebounded with two wins and advanced to the consolation finals, where the Hornets lost to Newport and placed eighth. Gabe Willard was one of three Phoenix players honored. The senior sharpshooter earned third-team acclaim. Junior Andy Bartels and sophomore Sean Murphy were each named to the honorable mention squad for the Pirates. Rogue River's Ron Wessels and Ryan Paxson were each honored. Wessels was named to the second team and Paxson gained honorable mention. SKYLINE GIRLS First Team Player, School Class Jessie Horsley, Henley................Sr. Dena Young, Mazama..................Jr. Ashley Enoch, North Valley..........Sr. Shae Wright, Rogue River.............Sr. Mindi Yost, Rogue River................Sr. Second Team Brooke Case, Henley....................Sr. Brooke Beeks, Henley..................Jr. Shantay Sabin, Lakeview..............Jr. Robin Teeples, Mazama...............Sr. Sarah Towns, North Valley............Sr. Julia Arnado, North Valley.............Sr. Third Team Carrie Knox, Henley......................Jr. Jamie Ruda, Lakeview..................So. Mindy Bishop, Mazama................So. Kelsey Reinhart, North Valley........Sr. Jennifer Bones, Phoenix................Jr. Michelle Anderson, Rogue River.....Jr. Honorable Mention Jeanette Pine, Sr., Henley; Derra Gannon, Sr., Hidden Valley; Lynsey Merrill, Jr., Hidden Valley; Jodi Cope, Sr., Hidden Valley; Kelli Holloway, Sr., Lakeview; Marcy Burk, So., Mazama; Charlotte Beck, Jr., North Valley; Tara Curtis, Jr., Phoenix; Beth Nikodym, Jr., Phoenix; Melissa Badley, Sr., Rogue River; Alison Marland, Jr., Rogue River. PLAYER OF THE YEAR -- Shae Wright, Rogue River. COACH OF THE YEAR -- Dan Mortinson, Rogue River. SKYLINE BOYS First Team Player, School Class Tim Frost, Henley.............................Sr. Matt Johnson, Henley.......................Sr. Willy Isley, Hidden Valley..................Jr. Orly Despacio, Illinois Valley.............Sr. Troy Fast, Mazama...........................Sr. Second Team Michael Nunes, Henley .....................So. Greg Cunningham, Henley..................Jr. Kyle Michaelis, Mazama....................Sr. Matt Byers, North Valley....................Sr. Ron Wessels, Rogue River.................Sr. Third Team Rick Warnick, Henley.........................Sr. Dereck Horning, Hidden Valley............Jr. Steve Blevins, Mazama......................Sr. Sam Jarrett, North Valley....................Jr. Gabe Willard, Phoenix........................Sr. Honorable Mention Craig Lee, Sr., Hidden Valley; Andy Sakraida, Sr., Hidden Valley; Dan Reid, Sr., Hidden Valley; Caleb Thomas, Jr., Illinois Valley; Brandon Henry, So., Illinois Valley; Dustin Keitges, Sr., Illinois Valley; Thomas Hartman, Sr., Lakeview; Dustin Simms, Sr., Lakeview; Nick Hadley, Sr., Lakeview; Tyler Starkey, Jr., Mazama; Josh Grosenbach, Jr., North Valley; Dan Burton, Sr., North Valley; Luke Gentry, Sr., North Valley; Andy Bartels, Jr., Phoenix; Sean Murphy, So., Phoenix; Ryan Paxson, Sr., Rogue River. PLAYER OF THE YEAR -- Tim Frost, Henley. COACH OF THE YEAR -- Jess Schefstrom, Henley. Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.