Girls have co-players of the year

MINNEAPOLIS -- Voting for the Associated Press girls' high school player of the year was so tight, any of five players could have won.

April Calhoun of Armstrong and Marshall's Shannon Bolden will share the honor, edging guard Shannon Schonrock of Blue Earth Area and centers Liz Podominick of Class 4A champion Lakeville and Brandee Gibbs of Orono.

Calhoun, the metro player of the year, did not win this honor on statistics alone. Calhoun, a four-year starter at point guard, averaged just 14.4 points but controlled the Falcons' offense and was a menace on defense.

"In the past, we've always had good shooters and scorers," said Calhoun, who will play next season at Iowa. "I would get the assists and didn't need to score. That was my role, to get them the ball first.

"I think (winning the honor) is cool. There are so many great point guards in the state who don't get the recognition. Maybe this gives point guards hope, that they don't have to be the biggest scorer in the state."

Bolden, a forward, averaged 21 points and made a big impression in the state championship game, scoring the Tigers' first 11 points while leading them to the Class 3A title. She is at the front of the Tigers' press, handles the ball in transition and is the player they look to first for a basket. Bolden, a junior, is being recruited by several Big Ten Conference schools, Stanford and others.

FIRST TEAM

G--April Calhoun, sr., Armstrong

G--x-Shannon Schonrock, jr., Blue Earth Area

F--Shannon Bolden, jr., Marshall

F--Tia Battle, sr., Maple Grove

C--Brandee Gibbs, sr., Orono

SECOND TEAM

G--Kasi Quam, sr., Kenyon-Wanamingo

G--Caroline Keiger, jr., Roseville

F--Stacy Faber, sr., Martin County West

F--Rachel Jobes, sr., St. Michael-Albertville

F--Christy Erickson, sr., Wayzata

C--Liz Podominick, so., Lakeville

HONORABLE MENTION

Guards

Katie Alsdurf, sr., Forest Lake; Mary Kulenkamp, sr., Woodbury; Tasha Martin, sr., Lakeville; Kelly Roysland; Jackie Doerr, sr., Le Sueur-Henderson; Katie Huschle, sr., Eden Valley-Watkins; Mandy Pearson, sr., Eden Valley-Watkins; Sarah Draayer, sr., Owatonna; Jackie Plesha, sr., Mesabi-East; Nakia Carlisle, jr., St. Paul Central; Kati Galovich, sr., Crosby-Ironton; Mia Johnson, fr., Minneapolis North; Elizabeth Krzysek, sr., Edina; Amy Mahlum, jr., Kingsland; Melissa Mulvaney, sr., Elk River; Katy Wiberg, sr., Armstrong;

Forwards

Heather Bertram, sr., Osseo; Jessica Merseth, so., Minnesota Valley Lutheran; Kristi Boese, jr., Rochester Mayo; Kayla Christensen; Krystal Taylor, jr., Minneapolis North; Karly Christensen; Sarah Laposky, Pine River-Backus; Allison Sanderberg, sr., Duluth Denfeld; Lindsay VanGuilder, jr., Mankato West; Kristi Waller, jr., Bemidji; Jenna Ziemke, so., Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton;

Centers

Kristen Kachelmyer, sr., Mankato East; Lindsay Erichsen, sr., Kingsland; Jacquie Bartz, sr., Rochester John Marshall; Kayla Luehmann, sr., Winona Cotter; Tara Schloe, sr., St. Cloud Apollo.