News Library

THE LION'S SHARE

Published on April 3, 2002
Author:    MARY JO MONNIN - News Sports Reporter
© The Buffalo News Inc.

Daemen coach Dave Skolen figured he had no shot at signing Allison Depp of Lockport.

Not with the U.S. Naval Academy promising a congressional appointment and those offers from Mercyhurst and Slippery Rock on the table. So when Depp called Skolen to accept his offer, he almost lost his grip on the phone. "Early on, to be honest, I thought it would be pretty difficult. Sometimes you get the player and sometimes you don't," said Skolen. "It came down to her wanting to stay closer to home, and we are a scholarship program, so we could give her something similar to Mercyhurst and Slippery Rock. I'm very excited. We are thrilled to be able to get her.

"She was amazing during the playoff games. She's double- and triple-teamed, and she can still dominate a game," he said.

It was Depp's ability to dominate in the big games that made her The Buffalo News choice for Player of the Year.

Depp will be on a Warriors team next year with a distinct local flavor with Angela Tylec (Niagara-Wheatfield), Renae Hartmans (Orchard Park), Holly Betti (West Seneca West) and Adrienne Welka (North Tonawanda). Daemen is an NAIA school in Amherst. Although the Warriors were 12-18 last year, Daemen has averaged 21.4 wins a season for the last seven years.

"It (Daemen) filled all my expectations for college. That's why I chose to go there," said Depp. "It will still be competitive, and I want to play, but I don't want basketball to be, like, everything, you know what I mean? I want it to still be fun, and to not play so much that I get sick of it. I don't want to wreck that."

Depp can only hope she leaves as big a mark at Daemen as she did at Lockport. Depp was one of Western New York's leading scorers, averaging 24.3 points per game, and she averaged 13.1 rebounds. In three playoff games, she averaged 32 points for the Lady Lions. The 6-footer ends her career with 1,606 points, good for 19th all-time in Western New York. She is second in her school to Lucy Kelley (1,662).

Depp also ends her career with 817 rebounds and 344 blocks. She had an amazing 42 points and 21 blocks against Kenmore West. She holds the school record for most points in a game, scoring 43 as a junior.

It is her second consecutive year making first-team All-Western New York.

"When she's on her game, there's nobody better," said Lady Lions coach Bill Shaw. "She's the best player in the area, there's no question in my mind."The Lady Lions finished 13-10, reaching the Class A-1 final before falling to Kenmore East. Depp's play contributed to Lockport winning four sectional titles in her five years on the varsity.

Here's a look at the rest of the 2001-2002 All-Western New York team chosen by The Buffalo News in consultation with local coaches and officials.

First team

Rachel Michalek, Sacred Heart: When Michalek went to states as a sophomore, she came across a player from St. John Villa who took her to school. Freshman Christie Marrone outclassed Michalek for 20 points in a 62-49 Sharks loss.

Instead of making excuses, Michalek approached her coach, Sister Maria Pares, immediately after the game and asked what she could do to reach Marrone's level. That's the type of player Michalek is - always wanting to get better and willing to work at it. She made giant strides this year, earning MVP honors of the Monsignor Martin Association.

The junior earned first-team All-Catholic honors for the third year in a row. For the last two years, she was named MVP of the Al Pastor Tournament. Michalek surpassed 1,000 points this season against Immaculata. An ankle injury slowed her the last two weeks of the season. She is a heady and steady guard who averaged 15 ppg and 6.5 assists per game. She carries a 3.85 grade-point average.

Tiffany Walton, Nichols: Walton emerged from last summer's Empire State Games with more than a medal. That's where Open Division and Niagara University coach Bill Agronin saw her play as a member of the scholastic team. He offered her a scholarship and Walton accepted, signing during the early period. She is the only player among WNY's 111 girls basketball teams to sign with an NCAA Division I program.

Walton, a physically imposing 6-footer in the middle, leaves Nichols as its all-time leading scorer. Her 1,297 points as a four-year starter surpasses Sarah Kloepfer by 10 points. She also holds the career record for rebounds (1,116). This season, she averaged 19 ppg and 17 rpg.

After losing to Holy Angels the first time around, Walton had 24 points and 16 rebounds in the second meeting. With Agronin in the stands against Lockport, she had 25 points and 18 rebounds while holding Depp to nine points through three quarters.

"I always worry about Tiffany getting in foul trouble when we go against somebody strong, but she asked to play Depp," said Viking coach Bob Torgalski. "Those two games she came to play."

Walton had a season-high 29 points against Niagara-Wheatfield. Her team, loaded with underclassmen, finished 15-7.

Rachel Pitkin, Kenmore East: With the departure of Maria Atti and Felisa Brown, the Bulldogs needed someone this year who could score. Enter Pitkin. A senior guard with plenty of range, Pitkin averaged 24 ppg. in the Bulldogs' four playoff games and 16.3 ppg for the season. Her career high came this year as she netted 32 against North Tonawanda in the Class A-1 quarterfinals. She led her team to the Class A-1 title this year and Class A-2 last year. She played five seasons on the varsity.

"She's one of the best shooters we've ever had in the program," said Bulldogs coach Jack Blanch. "Last year she did a job as a team player, this year we needed her to step up and score. That just shows you what kind of player she is."

Pitkin scored 391 points and led the team in three-pointers with 38. She holds the school record for threes in a career (74). Her 780 career points is No. 4 all-time behind Atti (1,327), P.J. McTigue (1,144) and Brown (874). She'll attend Geneseo this fall.

Jill Ratchuk, Mount Mercy: No one had to beg Ratchuk to drive. She'd find a small opening and the ball would soon be floating through the net.

Ratchuk's play helped the Magic win the Monsignor Martin Association title for the first time since 1994-95. A 5-foot-10 guard, she led her team in points per game (12), steals (3.3) and assists (3.0) and was second in rebounds (5.7). She also brought the ball up the floor against pressure as teams tried to counter the Magic's height. "She's a very good rebounder for a guard," said Magic coach Ron Stepien. "Teams would always put their best defensive player on her."

She shot 39.6 percent from the floor as the Magic finished 22-4. She carries a 94 academic average.

Second team

Katy Irving, Olean: The way Irving played inside, it was hard to believe she's only 5-8. Her hustle and boxing out skills allowed her to control the boards against taller opponents and helped her earn MVP honors of CCIAC I. "She had to play her position extremely well," said Olean coach Martha Altmire. "She was just a tough, all-around player."

Irving, a junior, averaged 13.7 ppg, 7.2 rpg and had 41 blocks. Her play contributed to the Huskies running away with their division and reaching the Section VI Class B title game. The Huskies' 22-1 record includes 20 consecutive wins.

Karolyn Baker, Olean: Baker set the tempo for the Huskies' fast-paced offense. The junior's ability to create, drive and dish make her tough to contain. "She created passes that made us a championship-looking team," said Altmire. "That's what we missed the most when we didn't have her." Baker missed the last two sectional games with a knee injury. She had surgery, and her recovery is well ahead of schedule.

She averaged 10.6 ppg, 3.4 assists and 3.3 steals. She was MVP of the Lockport Lady Lions Classic and the IAABO Tournament.

Katie Jaus, Holy Angels: Jaus is a clutch shooter who can also come up with the big play on defense. Jaus, nicknamed "Juice," has played on the varsity since eighth grade. She'll enter her senior season 21 points shy of 1,000. Among her memorable games this year was a 28-point performance against Olean and 19 in a playoff win over Sacred Heart. A two-time All-Catholic guard, she averaged 13 ppg and 7.5 rpg.

She has taken the Angels to three consecutive Monsignor Martin Association title games. She works on her game in the offseason playing with the AAU Niagara Rapids. She also was All-Catholic in soccer.

Jamie Wolff, Nardin: Just a sophomore, Wolff came up with either game-winning or game-tying baskets this season in wins over St. Dominic's, Olean, Nazareth and Lockport. She led the Gators in scoring (12 ppg) and assists (4.5). She had 24 points against Olean, 19 against Nichols and 18 vs. Holy Angels. She showed excellent range with 42 three-pointers.

She's an All-Catholic pick who led the Gators to a 19-7 record and a berth in the New York State Catholic schools Class D finals.

Joelle Brunetto, Depew: Brunetto's a complete player who can run, shoot, pass and think. Her 15.8 ppg and 10 rpg led the Wildcats. She's a four-year starter who ended her career with 965 points. Her consistent play contributed to the team's 18-2 record and ECIC III title. She was the top vote-getter when coaches gathered to pick ECIC all-stars. She signed a partial athletic scholarship with St. Bonaventure for softball and also made the WNY All-Academic team (94 average). She said one of her career highlights included "watching my sister (Kristin) achieve her 1,000 points."

Third team

Sarah Cornwall, Williamsville East: She's a point guard any team would love to have. She holds six school records: most assists in a game (10), season (143) and career (329), and most three-pointers in a game (5), season (33) and career (50). She had five threes against eventual Class A champion Hamburg. The three-year starter known for her unselfish play and leadership will join Pitkin at Geneseo this fall.

Emily Skinner, Williamsville East: Skinner's four-year varsity career includes three sectional titles, one state final four appearance and three ECIC II titles. She finishes with 935 points. Skinner shot 81 percent from the free-throw line this season to break Maureen Lankes' record of 77 percent (1997-98). She has visited the University of Rochester, John Carroll and Geneseo, where she hopes to continue her basketball career. Besides maintaining a 93 academic average, she also has an impressive resume of volunteer work.

Kay Martin, Cassadaga Valley: Martin's coach, Mark Petersen, described her as "the hardest working kid I've ever had, and I've been a football coach for 22 years. She goes from practice to the weight room, and then back to the practice floor and shoots on her own. I've never had anyone do that," he said. Martin, a scrappy, speedy guard, led her team to the Section VI Class C title game, averaging 18 ppg. She ends her career with 1,529 points, 23rd overall in WNY. She also made third team last year. She is considering Houghton College. Also made WNY All-Academic team.

Val Argauer, Iroquois: Argauer stepped into a leadership role this season, working hard to average 15.4 ppg and 9.2 rpg. The repeat third-team selection had 23 points in the sectional win over Depew. A four-year starter who became the program's second player to surpass 1,000 points, she also made the WNY All-Academic team (96 average). She'll study pharmacy at the University at Buffalo.

Germany Jackson, Traditional: The multi-talented, 5-10 junior swing player led the Bees to a share of the Canisius Cup title. She's a 1,000-point scorer who averaged 18 ppg, eight rpg, eight assists and seven steals. "We tried to run a pretty true motion offense to get her to pop up in more spots," said Traditional coach Dave Sardo. "She saw nothing but diamond-and-ones and box-and-ones, and nobody made any attempt to hide it." Jackson also made the third team last year.

Fourth team

Jamie Feagin, Wilson: She's a versatile player who could play up top or in the paint depending on the opponent. The Lakewomen have been dominant with Feagin in the starting lineup the last three years, losing only one league game. She'll enter her senior season 118 points shy of 1,000. Wilson was 21-2 with its only losses coming against Monsignor Martin champion Mount Mercy and Section VI Class C champ Pine Valley. Feagin played in the Blue Chip Tournament in Iowa on March 16-17.

Kristin Brunetto, Depew: Brunetto became the Wildcats' sixth 1,000-point scorer. The WNY All-Academic team selection (95 average) signed a partial athletic scholarship with St. Bonaventure for softball. During their four years on the varsity, Kristin and Joelle won 82 percent of their games along with three ECIC III titles and two sectional crowns.

Jodi-Sue Williams, Gowanda: Tough to move and tough to stop, Williams was MVP of the JFK and St. Mary's Tournaments. "She's not afraid to bang with anybody," said Gowanda coach Tiffany Rogers, whose team finished 17-5. The four-year varsity player led the team in assists (52), steals (80) and blocks (15). Williams is considering Genesee Community College and Hilbert. She plays AAU ball in the offseason.

Sally Head, Grand Island: Her strong play led the Vikings to the Class A-2 title game, Grand Island's first Niagara Frontier League title and a 20-3 record. She's also a volleyball and softball all-star and has twice been named Grand Island's Female Athlete of the Year. Other impressive credentials include a No. 2 ranking academically in a senior class of 221. She carries a 4.0 GPA and earned a spot on the WNY All-Academic team.

Rachel Hicks, Pioneer: Hicks' outside shooting demanded respect. She hit seven three-pointers in the season-opener against Byron. A five-year varsity player, she holds the school record for most threes in a game (8), season (45) and career. Her 13 ppg helped the Panthers finish 17-5. She scored 872 points in her career. She hopes to continue her career at St. John Fisher or Buffalo State.

GIRLS ALL-WNY BASKETBALL TEAMS
First Team
PPlayerSchoolHt.Yr.
CAllison Depp Lockport 6-0 12
GRachel MichalekSacred Heart 5-8 11
CTiffany Walton Nichols 6-0 12
GRachel Pitkin Kenmore East 5-7 12
GJill Ratchuk Mount Mercy 5-1011
Second Team
PPlayerSchoolHt.Yr.
FKaty Irving Olean 5-8 11
GKarolyn Baker Olean 5-3 11
GKatie Jaus Holy Angels 5-9 11
GJamie Wolff Nardin 5-5 10
GJoelle Brunetto Depew 5-7 12
Third Team
PPlayerSchoolHt.Yr.
GKay Martin Cassadaga Valley 5-5 12
CEmily Skinner Williamsville East6-1 12
CVal Argauer Iroquois 6-0 12
G/FGermany Jackson Traditional 5-1011
GSarah Cornwall Williamsville East5-612
Fourth Team
PPlayerSchoolHt.Yr.
FJodi-Sue WilliamsGowanda 5-8 12
GKristin BrunettoDepew 5-7 12
GJamie Feagin Wilson 5-1011
GSally Head Grand Island 6-0 12
GRachel Hicks Pioneer 5-7 12
Honorable mention
(Underclassmen indicated by grade after name)
Caitlin Corr-11 (Nardin), Meaghan Himelein-11 (Gowanda), Val Gasbarro (Grand Island), Jenny Lardo (Hamburg), Sarah Bishop-11 (East Aurora), Timyra Hudson-11 (Sweet Home), Sara DeVoe (Newfane), Cheri White (Tonawanda), Jessica Smith-11 (Nichols), Meghan McAllister (Olean), Andrea Laux (West Seneca East), Jessica Turner (Mount Mercy), Katie Miranto-10 (North Tonawanda), Sarah Regdos (Iroquois), Nicole Smith (Bennett), Gabbie Richardson-9 (Amherst), Kourtney Troutman-10 (Pine Valley), Kristen Martin (Allegany-Limestone), Kelly Niewczyk (Springville), Maggie Boryszak (Mount Mercy), Jamie Glover (Seneca), Emily Pitek-11 (Nardin), Caitlin Krumm (Williamsville North).

e-mail: mmonnin@buffnews.com