East siders named to county team
By MIKE KONVICKA sports@leader-news.com

El Campo and Louise members of the El Campo Leader-News and Wharton Journal-Spectator All-Wharton County Girls Basketball team were announced last week. Now, players from the east side of the county are released.

Wharton, Boling and East Bernard all earned places on the all-county rosters.

Wharton junior Verne'qua Taylor enjoyed another spectacular season on the Lady Tiger basketball team.

She totaled a whopping 443 points for an 18.5 per game average. She also had 91 rebounds and 115 points.

For the second year in a row, Taylor is the Most Valuable Player on the All- Wharton County Girls Basketball Team.

Taylor, who was the Newcomer-ofthe Year in 2006, scored more than 20 points in games several times throughout the season.

"She had a great season," said Wharton coach Laura Guidry.

Teammate and freshman Shaniqua Dogins is the Newcomer. She scored 312 points, grabbed 128 rebounds and dished out 82 assists.

"It was different than playing in junior high," said Dogins. "The pace was much quicker.

"She came in there and did a great job as a freshman," said Guidry.

And Laura Guidry earned Coach-of- the-Year honors.

"It's pretty incredible and I was excited," said Guidry, referring to her selection.

Not knowing anything about the team, she led the Lady Tigers to the District 24-3A championship and won 19 games.

"It was very tough coming in here and not knowing the girls," said Guidry. "They adapted to my discipline and they were some athletes."

Wharton junior Jaleessa Jones earned first team honors. She scored 286 points, pulled down 128 rebounds and had 82 assists.

"I'm really happy with the way I played," said Jones.

She was joined by junior teammate Chandra Johnson as a first team pick. She scored 232 points and had 153 rebounds and 22 assists.

Boling junior Ebony Ashley earned first team honors.

She scored 350 points, pulled down 241 rebounds and added 150 steals and 83 assists.

"I was surprised," said Ashley, who was a second team selection last year.

"I had a good season but it could have been better."

Heading up the secondteam selections is Boling junior Stephanie Rachunek, who scored 254 points and pulled down 157 rebounds.

East Bernard's selections included junior Haley Dawson and Florence Wilson.

Dawson averaged 13 points, four rebounds, and two assists steals per game. Wilson averaged 10 points, nine rebounds and three steals per game.