By Thomas Jones, Sports Editor

Who says you need seniors to soar into the playoffs?

Certainly not the District 25-5A basketball coaches, who watched as an impressive group of youngsters dominated in both the boys’ and girls’ district races.

The Westlake Picayune’s selections to the 2009 All-District 25-5A basketball teams reflect that influx of youth.

The Player of the Year honor for the girls belongs to Pflugerville sophomore Nneka Enemkpali, a 6-foot-1-inch powerhouse in the paint that didn’t let her inexperience take away from a dominance on bothe ends of the court. Assuming she recovers from a knee injury suffered during the state tournament, Enemkpali should make the Panthers a favorite to repeat as district champions next season.

Another first-team sophomore – Anderson’s Kelly Gramlich – led the district in scoring, and juniors Kali Jarrell of Akins and Courtney Duever of Westlake also earned spots on the first team.

The girls’ second team gets even younger. Four sophomores earned selections, including Westlake point guard Cherrell Mays.

The all-district boys team may not included quite as many sophomores, but only one senior – Akins’ Jonny Drass – receives first-team recognition.

Sophomore point guard Deon Mitchell directed Pflugerville to a perfect district season, and junior point guard Cody Doolin of Westlake became the most dangerous Class 5A offensive player in Central Texas.

Only one question surrounds Doolin, Mitchell and the majority of the rest of the team: What can they do for an encore?

The Westlake Picayune’s All-District 25-5A girls basketball team

 Player of the Year: Pflugerville’s Nneka Enemkpali, 6-1 sophomore, post : The wunderkind anchored the district champion’s defense and led the Panthers in scoring.

Coach of the Year: Pflugerville’s Nancy Walling: The veteran coach guided the district newcomers to the 25-5A title with a 14-0 district record and led her team to the state tournament for a third time.

 First team

• P: Nneka Enemkpali, 6-1 sophomore, Pflugerville

Agile big averaged 12.6 points, 11.2 rebounds and 3.4 blocks.

• F: Courtney Duever, 6-1 junior, Westlake                 

Led Chaps in scoring (14.3 a game), rebounding (7.7), assists (1.8), steals (4.0) and blocks (1.7).

• G: Kali Jerrell, 5-4 junior, Connally                 

Ballhawk led third-place Cougars in steals and assists

• PG: Kaylan Martin, 5-6 senior, Pflugerville.                 

Veteran commanded floor, anchored perimeter defense for champs.

• SG: Kelly Gramlich, 5-7 sophomore, Anderson        

Fearless gunner led district in scoring , three-pointers.

 Second team

• P: Danielle Lofton, 5-9 sophomore, Akins                 

Rugged youngster led playoff-bound Eagles in scoring, rebounding.

• F: Caroline Durbin, 6-0 senior, Westlake                 

Scored 12.3 points a game; shot 40 percent from 3-point range.

• G: Selena Hernandez, 5-1 sophomore, Austin High

Promising youngster led Maroons in scoring.

• PG: Vannessa Winston, 5-4 sophomore, Akins                 

Led Eagles in assists and steals while adding 11.6 points per game.

• G: Cherrell Mays, 5-6 sophomore, Westlake        

Surprising offense (9.2 points per game), tough defense on perimeter highlighted debut season.

 

The Westlake Picayune’s All-District 25-5A boys basketball team

Player of the Year: Westlake’s Cody Doolin, 6-2 junior, guard: Doolin thrived in the Chaps’ up-tempo offense, leading the district in scoring (19.2 a game) and assists (6.2) for the runner-up Chaps.

Coach of the Year: Akins’ David Peavy: In his second season at Akins, Peavy continued to build the program with a 20-10 regular-season record and the Eagles’ first playoff appearance.

 First team

• F: Demetrius Smith, 6-5 junior, Pflugerville

Wing averaged almost double-double and shot 49 percent from floor.

• F: Connor Kemper, 6-6 junior, Westlake

Versatile big man led Chaps in rebounding  (7.5) while scoring 15.6 points a game.

• G: Jonny Drass, 6-2 senior, Akins                 

Personified high-scoring team in district with 15.2 points a game, 105 treys.

• G: Cody Doolin, 6-2 junior, Westlake                 

Varsity player since his freshman season already a seasoned veteran.

• G: Deon Mitchell, 6-0 sophomore, Pflugerville

Led district champs in scoring while running the offense.

 Second team

• F: DeAndre Perry, 6-4 junior, Bowie                 

Averaged double-double in district play.

• G: Aaron Urbanus, 5-10 senior, Bowie                 

The heart of playoff-qualifying Dawgs averaged 13.5 points a game.

• G: Brandon Wooley, 6-3 senior, Akins                 

Jack-of-all-trades tallied 9.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game.

• G: Jordan Monroe, 5-9 sophomore, Bastrop

Run-and-gunner scored 17 a game for Bears

• G: Pauly Serna, 6-0 senior, Austin High        

Steady floor leader averaged 10.3 points in district play.