Mercer County well-represented in all-state basketball

This year one had to be some kind of a basketball phenom to be named to the Associated Press Pennsylvania boys and girls all-state teams.

Mercer County once again captured its share of honors with Kennedy Catholic’s outstanding junior marksman, Kyle Randall, taking a first-team berth in Class A. Also capturing honors was Farrell’s Donald Jackson, who pulled in a second-team spot in Class AA. These two players were highly instrumental in leading their teams to the Western Regional finals, just one step away from a berth in the state finals at Penn State.

Kennedy was ousted by ousted by Serra Catholic, 78-76, in overtime, while Farrell bowed to North East, 66-60.

Randall, only a junior, was the top-scorer in the county with 798 points, a mark that was second-best in county history. West Middlesex’s Rick Ladjevich holds down the record with 827 points.

Randall increased his career scoring total to 1,298 points in leading the Eagles to a 20-10 mark. Against Serra, Randall fouled out in the late going which hampered the Eagles’ attack considerably.

Jackson not only was a highly effective scorer but his rebounding and blocking of shots figured high in the Steelers’ attack. He averaged 16.9 points per game which upped his career total to 1,124 points. He led the Steelers to a 25-5 record before they lost to North East.

Two of the country’s top high school athletes also nailed down first team berths.

Terrell Pryor of Jeannette was a first-team pick in Class AA as he led his team to the state title, while Tyreke Evans captured his honors in AAAA. Evans played his at America Christian in Philadelphia, which is not as yet a PIAA member. The 6-foot-5 senior is the nation’s most recruited point guards and he averaged 29 points per game and was the Class AAAA player of the year.

Pryor, the Class AA player of the year, made the all-state first team for the second year in a row. He was a second team pick as a sophomore.

In the girls ranks, Farrell placed players two on the Class A team. Seniors Tieshia Stubbs was a first team pick and Chloe Stewart, another senior, was a third team pick.

Stubbs, a 6-0 senior is headed to Akron. She scored 453 points this year and 1,302 for her career. Stewart (5-3) was Farrell’s playmaker and defensive ace and she scored 424 points this season and totaled 1,272 for her career. She is still undecided about college.

Jennifer Emery, sophomore pitcher for the Westminster College softball team from Laurel High School, fired a one-hit shutout against 2006 NCAA Division III national champion Rutgers-Camden, recently. She walked one and struck out in a 4-0 victory. She also posted a no-decision against St. Norbert, allowing two runs on five hits with a walk and a strikeout in five innings.

She was named Presidents’ Athletic Conference pitcher of the week.