Three Lady 'Birds on all-county first team
By KRIS BAGLEY sports@leader-news.com

L-N Photo by Kris Bagley All-Wharton County Girls Basketball Members of this year's El Campo Leader-News and Wharton Journal-Spectator All-Wharton County Girls Basketball first team include (front, l-r) Ebony Ashley, Coach Laura Guidry, J'lessa Jones, Ebonee Spencer, (back, l-r) Chandra Johnson, Ashley Brooks, Katie Brown, Shaniqua Dogins and Angel Brooks. The All-Wharton County teams reflect overall individual performances and team success through the 2007-08 season. Verne'qua Taylor, MVP, is not pictured.

The Lady 'Birds and Lady Hornets joined with Wharton, Boling and East Bernard on the El Campo Leader- News and Wharton Journal-Spectator All-Wharton County Girls Basketball Teams.

The elite group of girls represent the county's strong athletic achievement. With a team comprised of several different schools that achieved playoffs and strong records, these three all-county teams could do some major damage if ever officially united on the court.

Leading the first-team honors are El Campo's Ashley Brooks, Angel Brooks, Ebonee Spencer and Louise's Katie Brown.

Angel and Ashley Brooks stepped up in their junior season and became major team leaders. They helped push the Lady 'Birds to a 22-9 overall record and a one-game playoff with Foster.

El Campo fell to Foster and missed out on a playoff appearance. Next year, the twins senior season, the same fate is not acceptable.

"I think we did really good," Ashley Brooks said. "We advanced from last year and our previous years into this year. It didn't turn out the way we wanted, but we look forward to next year.

"It's our team chemistry. That's all we were really missing (in past years). The talent was there. We just all came together this year."

Practices may look different next season. After a great start, the team became too comfortable and fell into the trap of not taking practice seriously enough.

"We're going to try our hardest and we're not going to goof around in practice like we normally did during district," Angel Brooks said.

Expect Angel to be a key part in keeping a serious tone. She moved past her silent style and became a vocal leader this year.

"I just got tired of being quiet," Angel said. "If I had something to say, I decided I was going to say it. I think it helped the team come together."

The Lady 'Birds will try to obtain a more solid identity next season. This year's district play, Spencer admitted, featured a team that would be hot some nights and cold on others.

"(We need to) be consistent when we play," Spencer said. "Not having bad games and then good games and then bad games. Just be good all the time.

Spencer, a sophomore and first-year varsity member, was El Campo's leading scorer this season. She netted 324 total points and averaged 10.5 pointsper game.

A strong post player, Spencer earned most of her baskets on rebounds and put backs. She pulled down a teamhigh 236 boards with a 7.6 average.

Angel Brooks finished second on the team in scoring with 317 points and a 10.2 average. She led El Campo with 65 assists and a team-high 130 steals and was only a few boards behind Spencer this year with 231 rebounds.

Ashley Brooks was possibly El Campo's greatest scoring threat this season. Though she finished behind the other two first-team selections with 221 points, she was the team leader when it mattered most - district.

She scored 131 total points in district play and averaged 11.9 per game, far more than any other Lady 'Bird in district competition. Throughout the entire season, Ashley Brooks totaled 98 steals and 48 assists.

The Lady Hornets finished third in their district and enjoyed a playoff appearance. The team fell in the first round, but made major strides throughout the year just to claim the post-season spot.

Brown was one of the main reasons for Louise's success. She led the team with 440 points and averaged 17.6 points and 4.2 rebounds-pergame.

As a freshman, she was the go-to option for the Lady Hornets and an obvious choice for the all-county first team.

"It's kind of exciting," Brown said of making the team. "I was just waiting for this day. It was weird because, Coach Branch told me and I was like, 'What? I got first team?' It's pretty cool."

Leading as a first-team varsity member can be tough, but Brown said the experience was worth it.

"During the season, it was kind of hard," Brown said. "Throughout the whole season, it got easier and easier for me."

Claiming second-team honors were El Campo's Shae Solomon and Ashley Thomas.

Solomon, a senior, made a strong impact in her only year on the varsity basketball team. She totaled 218 points, 120 rebounds and 50 steals.

Thomas was a prime scoring option for El Campo. As a senior, she earned 218 total points including a team-high 11 3-pointers. At guard, Thomas made 58 assists, 71 steals and 88 rebounds.

Honorable mention went to seniors Chelsi Robinson and Kela Johnson of El Campo and sophomores Amber Bain and Kirsten Machicek of Louise.

Robinson played at guard for the Lady 'Birds and scored a total 116 points, made 95 steals, 32 assists and 84 rebounds.

Johnson also played guard and scored 105 points including five 3-pointers with a team-high 20 percent from 3-point range. She totaled 38 assists and 80 rebounds.

Bain was a prime post player for the Lady Hornets. She averaged 6.2 points-per-game and 7.5 rebounds. Machicek scored 4.8 points-pergame and made 3.2 assists as a guard.

The All-Wharton County Teams are selected by the sports editors of the El Campo Leader- News and Wharton Journal-Spectator.

The selections are based on individual and team success.