Rayen's Holland named all-state

West Branch's Tori Arndt and Boardman's Jessica Moore earned second-team honors.
STAFF/WIRE REPORTS
COLUMBUS -- The Rayen School basketball standout Taniesha Holland has received Associated Press first-team All-Ohio girls high school basketball honors.
Holland, the 5-foot-8-inch senior averaged 25 points and led the Tigers to their first Division II district championship and regional appearance.
Also in Div. II, West Branch's Tori Arndt (6-2, sr., 12.5) received second-team honors.
In Div. I, Boardman's Jessica Moore (6-0, sr., 15) received second-team honors. Friday at 6 p.m., the Spartans will make their first state appearance, playing Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame at St. John Arena in Columbus.
Two state tournament-bound stars and a 6-6 standout are among the top names on the AP teams announced Monday.
Michelle Jones, a 6-2 senior who averaged 16.3 points, leads poll champion Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame.
Dayton Chaminade-Julienne's Maria Getty, a 5-9 senior who scores 14.6 points a game, leads the No. 2-ranked Eagles to a matchup in the other bracket.
Sharing the Div. I player of the year award with Jones and Getty is Mentor's Megan Skouby, a 6-6 senior who averaged 23.1 points and 12.7 rebounds a game.
Fitz best in Division II
In Div. II, the player of the year was Rachele Fitz of Garfield Heights Trinity, who averaged 27 points and 14 rebounds a game.
The teams were selected based on the recommendations of a state panel of sports writers and broadcasters.
Jones leads defending champion Mount Notre Dame (24-2) up against Boardman (22-3). Sylvania Northview (25-1) meets Chaminade-Julienne (23-2) in the nightcap, with the winners coming back on Saturday night for the title game.
Jones will play for the University of Cincinnati next fall, Getty is going to Villanova and Skouby has signed to play at Iowa.
Toledo coach honored
The coach of the year in Division I is Toledo Waite's Manny May, who led his team to its first City League title -- boys or girls -- since 1953. Several years ago, a May-coached Waite team lost a game by 100 points, showing just how much of a turnaround he has led.
Joining Jones, Getty and Skouby on the first team is Barberton's Shana Andrus (5-11, senior, 19 points per game); Sylvania Northview's Niki McCoy (5-11, sr., 16.7); Jessica Minnfield of Toledo Central Catholic (5-6, sr., 14.1); Elyria's Kate Verhoff (5-10, sr., 20.6); Marshae Dotson of Columbus Mifflin (6-0, sr., 18.9); and Columbus Independence's Star Allen (5-11, sr., 21.1).
In Div. II, Fitz shot 60 percent from the field and 78 percent at the line, also adding two steals, two assists and four blocked shots a game for Trinity.
The coaches of the year guide teams that will meet in the state semifinals: Columbus Eastmoor's Jim Miranda, whose team had an 18-2 regular-season mark against a difficult schedule; and Dresden Tri-Valley's Marty Bice, who led a 19-1 team during the regular season.
Tri-Valley (24-1) meets Eastmoor (24-2) in the tournament opener on Thursday afternoon, with Mentor Lake Catholic (18-8) taking on Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit (23-3) in the second game. The championship is Saturday morning.
Fitz was joined on the first team by: Lindsey Gaut of Navarre Fairless (5-5, jr., 21.3); Shelly Bellman of Ottawa-Glandorf (5-10, sr., 13.6); Kerri Kraus of Upper Sandusky (5-10, sr., 20.0); Thornville Sheridan's Jessie Slack (5-11, sr., 16.4); Dennale Speakman of Chillicothe Unioto (5-7, sr., 25.5); Dover's Natalie Miller (5-9, sr., 20.3); Tri-Valley's Tricia Smith (5-11, sr., 14.3); Lynzee Johnson of Bellbrook (5-10, jr., 21.8); and Columbus DeSales' Christine DiSabato (5-7, sr., 13.3).